State celebrates completion of GMHBA Stadium

(L-R) Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin, South Barwon MP Gerard Griffin, Lara MP Ella George, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corinna Eccles, Premier Jacinta Allan, Geelong MP Christine Couzens, former Geelong captain Joel Selwood, Bellarine MP Alison Marchant and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos.

GMHBA Stadium’s new stand is finally complete after years of works and tens of millions of dollars, ahead of the AFL match between Geelong and St Kilda tomorrow (Saturday, March 16) night.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos joined Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive officer Gerard Griffin and Geelong Cats premiership legend Joel Selwood on Tuesday this week to announce the completion of the Joel Selwood Stand, part of the precinct’s Stage 5 redevelopment, which has boosted venue capacity to 40,000.

Premier Jacinta Allan (first from left) inspects one of the new changerooms in the stand.

The Victorian government committed $142 million towards Stage 5, which delivered the new 14,000-capacity stand, a new Fred Flanagan Function Room, a new media centre, the Argyle Bar, AFL-standard unisex change rooms and other amenities.

The Joel Selwood Stand includes room for 2,300 standing patrons.

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.

Premier Jacina Allan and Joel Selwood walk past the new stand’s standing room section.

As well as sporting events such as AFL, T20 cricket and football, the stadium is expected to host community activities and concerts.

“Kardinia Park Stadium Trust is looking forward to welcoming the public to experience the Joel Selwood stand for Round 1,” Mr Griffin said.

“With the completion of this Stand, along with the Geelong Sports Museum and Barwon Regional Cricket Centre, the venue is now truly multi-purpose.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin (first from right) talks about some of the features of the Joel Selwood Stand. Photos: JAMES TAYLOR

“Our region will only continue to benefit due to this redevelopment and the enhanced opportunity of diverse content for the stadium into the future.”

The redevelopment was managed and delivered by the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, and the Victorian government committed $121 million to Stages 1 to 4 between 2003 and 2017.

“World-class sporting venues shouldn’t be confined to capital cities, and this upgrade brings more Victorians closer to the action, closer to home,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.