MARS Stadium will continue to be a second home for the Western Bulldogs for another three years.<\/p>\n
The club has again partnered with the City of Ballarat and the State Government to play two AFL home and away games per season from 2022 to 2024.<\/p>\n
A separate deal for an annual AFLW home and away game at the ground has also been made.<\/p>\n
Bulldogs\u2019 captain Marcus Bontempelli said the team feels \u201cembraced\u201d by the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s made it a home away from home for us, and we\u2019ve managed to string together a few wins here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On returning to Mars for the next three years, Western Bulldogs\u2019 CEO Ameet Bains said the club is proud to honour their \u201clong-term commitment to the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only has the partnership successfully brought official AFL games to Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, but it has also actively supported visitation to the region, and assisted in the facilitation of… community, school and junior football programs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While the men\u2019s side have been playing, and seeing success, at Mars Stadium for some time, the ground it yet to host a regular season AFLW match, but that\u2019s about to change.<\/p>\n
AFLW Bulldogs forward Bonnie Toogood said the Mars\u2019 surface is similar to the Whitten Oval ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully we can make it a fortress like the boys,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
With the Western Bulldogs connection to Ballarat and Mars Stadium ongoing since 2017, mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said the links were more than just sporting with programs like the Sons and Daughters of the West, and Bulldogs Read underpinning the club\u2019s commitment to the region.<\/p>\n
He also noted that the ability for Ballarat to host top-level AFL games came down to the quality of the facilities on offer in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re proud of the fact Mars Stadium\u2019s playing surface has been rated one of the best in the country,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s to the enormous credit of the City of Ballarat staff… and the ongoing support of the State Government.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MARS Stadium will continue to be a second home for the Western Bulldogs for another three years. The club has again partnered with the City of Ballarat and the State Government to play two AFL home and away games per season from 2022 to 2024. A separate deal for an annual AFLW home and away […]<\/p>\n