GMHBA Stadium wins Austadiums award for fourth time

GEELONG’S GMHBA Stadium continues to be top of the table for fans outside Australia’s capitals, winning its fourth Best Regional Stadium gong in the latest Austadiums Stadium Awards, announced earlier this week.

The Geelong landmark has gone back to back in the category, winning the same award in 2022, but the 2023 win was closer, with GMHBA Stadium pulling in 28 per cent of votes to edge out Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on 26 per cent.

McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle was third with 12 per cent, followed by Sunshine Coast Stadium with 8 per cent.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust has managed the stadium itself – with tenants including the Geelong Cats in the AFL and AFLW, the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League and the Melbourne Storm in the NRL – and the entire stadium precinct since 2016.

The stadium’s $142 million Stage 5 redevelopment.- part of which was officially named as the Joel Selwood Stand in November 2023 – is expected to be finshed before the start of this year’s AFL season.

Run by national independent stadium website Austadiums, the fan-voted Austadiums Stadium Awards annually determines the best stadiums in Australia.

Perth venues were voted the best in all four other categories: Optus Stadium winning Australia’s Best Stadium and Best Cricket Ground, HBF Park winning Best Rectangular Stadium, and RAC Arena winning Best Indoor Arena.

For full results in all categories, head to austadiums.com