Future Geelong: Kardinia Park and Arts Centre redevelopments a sign of the times as events push grows

With an increasing amount of modern infrastructure capable of hosting an array of both national and international events, Geelong is primed to make a big push for some international acts.

The convention centre project has been labelled a “game-changer” for Geelong.

Kardinia Park will always have a place in Geelong’s heart as home of the city’s beloved Cats, but recent history suggests it can be much more than a football stadium.

When American rockers Foo Fighters played there in March 2022 as part of the state government’s post-Covid campaign to re-energise the regions, the impact was immediate.

An additional $1.3m was injected into Geelong’s hospitality sector as hotel bookings soared, bars and restaurants filled, and visitor spending in the inner-city jumped 75 per cent.

After two years of intermittent lockdowns and limited social interaction, the gig was a watershed moment.

Geelong could now be certain it was capable of holding headline acts.

Around 30,000 people attended the Foo Fighters’s concert at Kardinia Park. Picture: Mark Wilson.

With the impending completion of Kardinia Park’s $142m redevelopment boosting capacity to 40,000 and modernising its facilities, the time is now right to make a play for more regular international acts at the venue.

“If we look at the current infrastructure we have and Geelong’s capacity to deliver large scale events and attractions, I think we’re absolutely poised to be thinking much bigger and broader and really looking nationally and internationally at what some of those big economic-driving events could be,” Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jeremy Crawford said.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief Gerard Griffin said the redevelopment would allow the site to be a true multipurpose venue capable of hosting a range of events, including concerts.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games was one international event supposed to showcase Geelong to an international audience.

While its axing in July was met with shock by city leaders who were eagerly awaiting a significant slice of the $3bn economic pie it was supposed to deliver, that disappointment has largely dissipated, replaced by optimism at the existing and developing assets that the city can leverage.

Fronting a Victorian upper house inquiry into the cancellation yesterday, Geelong council chief executive Ali Wastie was glass half full.

“Some businesses and some people were very adversely impacted by the cancellation of the games, there’s no doubt about that,” she told the nine-member committee.

“But, in general, what’s happening in the City of Greater Geelong, in terms of the investment that is coming in, it’s never been stronger.”

The $140m redevelopment of the Geelong Arts Centre has significantly expanded capacity and transformed the venue into the largest dedicated regional arts centre in Australia.

Construction of the $456m Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre is under way.

Jessica Mauboy at the opening of the redeveloped Geelong Arts Centre. Picture: Mark Wilson.

To be known as Nyaal Banyul – “open your eyes to the hills” in Wadawurrung language – the project is supporting 1450 jobs during construction and 700 new jobs created once its opened in 2026.

A 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel is part of the plans, while just down the road the $280m Cunningham Place development will feature a 180-room five-star hotel.

In a further sign of the region’s ability to accommodate an influx of visitors, Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong on Ryrie St – Geelong’s first major hotel build in two decades – opened its 180 rooms last year, as did Quest on Gheringhap St.

Mr Crawford said part of his job was to ensure the region’s business community was prepared for a greater level of exposure.

“When you bring audiences and new people into the region for the first time, you want them to leave with a lasting impression of a region that is self-supporting, that is entertaining, that is liveable and has investment that can back other areas for the economy,” he said.

While the specifics of a $150m regional tourism and events fund the government announced in the wake of the cancellation have not yet materialised, Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine boss Tracy Carter said a collaborative approach was needed to capitalise upon the opportunity.

Ms Carter described Nyaal Banyul as a “game-changer” that would provide flow-on benefits to the wider economy as conference delegates extended their stay to explore the region.

She also said Geelong was poised to secure more headline music acts and that enticing concert goers to stay for a night or two would be the cream on top.

“We’ve demonstrated the region has the capacity to host these things really well and it’s about all the partners lining up together and putting our case our forward to attract those type of events,” she said.

“It’s just about picking the right opportunities.”

Originally published as Future Geelong: Kardinia Park and Arts Centre redevelopments a sign of the times as events push grows