GMHBA Stadium seat saga comes to a conclusion

There has been much chatter online about one particular seat within the new Joel Selwood Stand – but it’s not all as it seems.

A social media post claimed this photo was taken in the new Joel Selwood Stand at GMHBA Stadium.

Fear not Cats fan.

A photo doing the rounds on social media claiming to be of a construction working sitting in the new Joel Selwood Stand at GMHBA Stadium in what could generously be described as a restricted viewing seat has been dismissed as fake news.

The photo was posted on Facebook with the caption: “One of the new premium range seats in Geelong’s new GMHBA Stadium”.

It gained significant traction, with people divided on whether planning for the $142m redevelopment could have produced such a farcical outcome.

“I’d like to know which bright spark designed the plans,” one person commented.

Another immediately saw the funny side.

“It’s reserved for a Collingwood supporter – they talk to brick walls,” they said.

Turns out the photo was taken at Stadion Poznań in western Poland during its reconstruction more than 10 years ago.

Cats fans keen to take in the action in 2024 can rest easy.

The state government has said the GMHBA Stadium redevelopment was on track to be completed in time for the Cats’ round one Saturday night clash against St Kilda on March 16.

The Joel Selwood Stand is the cornerstone of the redevelopment.

Replacing the Ford Stand, it will hold 14,000 people and include a Gary Ablett Terrace on the ground level of the two-tiered stand.

It will also contain a new Fred Flanagan Room.

The redevelopment was significantly delayed after defects were identified in 1200 tonnes of steel that was imported from Qatar.

Once complete, the stadium’s capacity will be 40,000.

Originally published as GMHBA Stadium seat saga comes to a conclusion