Abel Wins Sports Equipment Installation Award!
Abel Sports Goals celebrated a fitting end to the finals season by winning both first and second place in the Sports Equipment Installations (Outdoors) category at the Sports & Play Industry Association (SAPIA) 2024 Awards!
The SAPIA Industry Awards presentation took place during the National Conference’s Gala Dinner in September. Our Director, John Cann, attended the conference and returned with an impressive collection of awards!
SAPIA’s Industry Awards Program aims to promote excellence in the design, construction, maintenance, surfacing, and servicing of sports courts, fields, playgrounds, and recreation facilities, along with product innovation. The Abel team feels humbled by this recognition of our work and the celebration of our projects within the industry.
In its 24th year, SAPIA received a record 133 award entries in 2024, emphasising that “every one of them is a resounding endorsement that members of the Sports & Play Industry Association are Australasia’s experts in the design, construction, surfacing, and installation of sports facilities and playgrounds.”
Sports Equipment Installation Award – 1st Place
Allianz Stadium NSW
In 2022, Allianz Stadium (part of the SCG precinct) was built as a multi-purpose replacement for the original Sydney Football Stadium, to enhance its capacity for national and international sporting competitions. Abel manufactured and installed a world-class sports goal system that accommodates Rugby League, Rugby Union, A-League Soccer competitions, and NFL American football, featuring both semi-permanent and portable goals.
What we Installed:
- 17m Rugby goals with sliding hinge bases
- Pro-Series senior soccer goals and footings
- Portable senior soccer goals
- NFL American football goal footings with custom made pad footings, hinged base plate system and structural cages
Given the diverse ground conditions, geotech reports indicated the need for various footing solutions across different areas of the Allianz Stadium playing field. Abel collaborated closely with the construction and engineering teams to provide a complete manufacturing and installation solution, including deeper footings and customised base plates to meet engineering specifications.
Our expert team installed all footings 150mm below the ground turf surface, allowing for quick and easy rotation based on the sporting event. Abel takes pride in supplying world-class sporting equipment for Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer, and NFL in one of Australia’s premier sports stadiums.
Sports Equipment Installation Award
2nd Place – Kardinia Park Geelong
In January 2023 GMHBA Stadium (Kardinia Park) upgraded their facilities to include a new set of Abel AFL and Rugby Goals with Slide Shift footings to cater for Ruby League and Union competition.
What we Installed:
15m tapered AFL Goal Posts /10m Point Posts with hinged base-plate footings
- Structural cages
- 16m Rugby goals with slide-shift hinged base-plate footings
- Rugby League Crossbars (5.5m)
- Rugby Union Crossbars (5.6m)
- Structural cages
Each stadium across Australia presents unique challenges in design and installation. Kardinia Park offered a mix of silty and sandy clays. Abel prides itself on customizing footings for any installation and constructing all components to precise engineering specifications.
As with all premier sporting facilities, scheduling upgrades for access to the ground requires careful planning between seasons for each sporting code. Abel consistently accommodates major stadiums, providing professional installation services during the offseason—often within tight timelines. This project was scheduled for early January, just in time for the start of the NRL season!
We would like to thank the SAPIA judges for recognising the outstanding work our installation team accomplished at these two major sporting venues in Australia.
Meet the Team
Headed by Abel’s expert Project Manager – Martin O’Keefe and chief installer Eugene Mott, our highly skilled installation team have installed goals at every major stadium around Australia. From Perth Stadium to the MCG and all the way up to the Gabba, every single premiership goal scored this season is through a set of Abel goals.
This Sports Equipment Installation Award is a testament to our team’s tireless effort and outstanding attention to detail installing world-class sports goals around the county.
It’s great to see them recognised by the peak industry body for sports and recreation as Australia’s leader manufacturer and installer of sports goals.
Have you got a similar project that we can help with?
You can’t look past Abel to delivery outstanding quality AFL Goals for your venue or sports facility. Our team of engineers, designers, technicians and installers manufacture and deliver the most durable and sustainable AFL Goals in Australia.
To get a quote or to learn more about our sports goals, get in touch with us today.
Call us on 1300 193 714 or fill in this form for all your sports goal requirements.
