More fans than ever before can gather under lights at the biggest and best stadium in regional Australia, with the new Joel Selwood Stand at Geelong's Kardinia Park ready for first bounce on Saturday night.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos joined Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin and Geelong Cats premiership legend Joel Selwood to announce the completion of the new stand - part of the precinct's Stage 5 Redevelopment which has boosted venue capacity to 40,000.
The Labor Government's $142 million investment in Stage 5 has delivered the venue's largest-ever stand, plus a new Fred Flanagan Function Room, a new media centre, the Argyle Bar, AFL-standard unisex change rooms and other key amenities. The stand also includes room for 2,300 standing patrons for a unique matchday experience.
A new Geelong Sports Museum, and a new Barwon Regional Cricket Centre and indoor cricket hub, are also soon to be completed as part of the redevelopment - and the new northern plaza will be named Djilang Plaza, honouring Geelong's First Peoples.
Patrons can now enjoy world-class facilities all year round, with the venue set to host a packed schedule of events of AFL, T20 cricket, football, concerts and the many other community activities which make Kardinia Park such a hub for the region.
More than 120 full-time jobs were created during construction of the Stage 5 project, with the stadium remaining operational throughout in a boost for events, local jobs and the economy.
Construction on the redevelopment - managed and delivered by the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust - is a culmination of five separate stages of upgrades, with the Victorian Government investing $121 million in Stages 1 to 4 between 2003 and 2017.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"World-class sporting venues shouldn't be confined to capital cities, and this upgrade brings more Victorians closer to the action, closer to home."
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
"Kardinia Park is of course home to the Cats, playing to sell-out crowds, but it's also a stage for blockbuster events and a major economic and tourist asset for Geelong."
As stated by Kardinia Park Stadium Trust Chief Executive Officer Gerard Griffin
"Kardinia Park Stadium Trust is looking forward to welcoming the public to experience the Joel Selwood stand for Round 1. With the completion of this Stand, along with the Geelong Sports Museum and Barwon Regional Cricket Centre, the venue is now truly multi-purpose. Our region will only continue to benefit due to this redevelopment and the enhanced opportunity of diverse content for the Stadium into the future."
As stated by Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
"The Stage 5 Redevelopment has transformed this venue, including the new Djilang Plaza, a special way to honour the incredible history and legacy of the Wadawurrung people across the region."
As stated by Member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman
"This is the culmination of a decades-old dream of Kardinia Park to become Australia's biggest and best regional stadium. Today, it is a reality."
As stated by Member for Lara Ella George
"We'll be welcoming visitors from across Australia to a fully redeveloped Kardinia Park with a packed calendar of events, helping businesses and boosting the entire region."
As stated by Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant
"It's not just footy - it's cricket, it's concerts, it's community activities, and so much more. Kardinia Park is our meeting place and now it's bigger and better than ever."
