Geelong is one of Australia’s great sporting cities and a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will make sure locals can see the best international sports, concerts and events in their own backyard by completing the fifth and final stage of the Kardinia Park redevelopment.
The $102 million project will increase the stadium capacity to 40,000 and complete the stadium bowl, with a new 14,000 capacity two-tier northern stand to replace the ageing Ford Stand and Ablett Terrace.
It will also include a new northern entry plaza for patrons entering from Geelong city centre and the South Geelong train station.
Geelong will be able to host more domestic and international cricket with the existing Geelong Cricket Club rooms at the stadium to be replaced and new cricket facilities to be built as part of the redevelopment.
The project will include new media and loading facilities with better pitch access to allow the delivery of drop-in pitches to enable Kardinia Park to host international and top tier cricket. The improved pitch access will also allow the stadium to host major concerts and family events, such as Disney on Ice or Monster Truck Jams.
Women’s sport will be boosted with the redevelopment to include new unisex changerooms and facilities that will allow more professional women’s sport to be played at the stadium.
Geelong’s rich sporting history will also be celebrated with a new sports museum, the Geelong Sports Discovery Centre, to be built at Kardinia Park as part of the project.
Geelong Football Club Vice President Bob Gartland will loan his collection of thousands of pieces of memorabilia to the new museum, including what’s believed to be the oldest football club membership card in the world, dating back to 1864.
The project will create around 300 jobs. Work will start after the ICC World T20 matches being held at Kardinia Park in 2020, with construction to finish in 2022.
Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Only Labor will finish transforming Kardinia Park from an ageing footy ground into the best regional sporting stadium in Australia, delivering jobs, tourism and top-level sports and events to Geelong.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Sport John Eren
“This will boost women’s sport and give local families access to world class sports and entertainment in their own backyard.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville
“The new Geelong Sports Discovery Centre will increase tourism and attract thousands of visitors to Kardinia Park to see this amazing collection of Geelong Football Club memorabilia.”
Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
“Local families will no longer have to travel to Melbourne to see big concerts and sporting events – they’ll be able to see them right here in Geelong. This is great news for jobs, liveability and our economic prosperity.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020