Western Bulldogs and Ballarat extends deal for matches to be played there

The Western Bulldogs will continue to play home games in regional Victoria after again extending their contract in Ballarat. See the details.

Western Bulldogs player Marcus Bontempelli leads his team on to the field during the match against GWS in Ballarat. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs will be calling Ballarat home for at least the next three seasons after a deal was struck for the club to play more matches at Mars Stadium.

The deal, which runs to 2027, will see the Dogs play two AFL matches and one AFLW game in the regional city each year with the potential for more pre-season matches.

Last season the Bulldogs played Gold Coast and GWS in the AFL before recently playing St Kilda in the AFLW.

In 2025 the Bulldogs will take on South Australian opposition with Port Adelaide and Adelaide visiting while an AFLW opponent is yet to be determined.

Mars Stadium is set to receive upgrades in the coming years with 5000 new permanent seats set to be installed, increasing the seating capacity to 10,000 with works set to start in early 2025.

The venue has become somewhat of a fortress from the Dogs who have won eight of their last 10 AFL games in Ballarat.

Western Bulldogs players Tim English (back left) and Marcus Bontempelli with Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains (front left), Member for Eureka Michaela Settle, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, and City of Ballarat Central Ward Councillor Samantha McIntosh at the announcement of a new deal between the club and the city. Picture: City of Ballarat Council.

Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains said it was clear the Bulldogs footprint in Ballarat was continuing to grow.

“When we play at Mars Stadium the passion of the support we receive from our home crowd is evident and over the years it’s been wonderful to see the city becoming a little more red, white and blue every time we play,” he said.

“As a club we have built an enduring connection to this region and will continue to do everything we can to engage the community each and every day of the year and well beyond our always eagerly anticipated home fixtures in Ballarat.”

The Bulldogs will visit Ballarat in round 8 and 18 in 2025.