Geelong Cats ‘don’t need to be apologising’ for planned $60m upgrade to GMHBA Stadium

Geelong is looking to raise $20 million on its own as part of a $60 million development for a new training and events facility at GMHBA, while Tasmania is preparing to unveil plans for its stadium.

Geelong is on track to build a $60 million training facility incorporating an events space next to GMHBA Stadium, making no apologies for its vast ambition.

The Cats have only just finished the latest upgrade to GMHBA Stadium which puts the ground capacity at 40,000, with the state government contributing $260 million to the five stages of its redevelopment.

Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking told the Herald Sun on Thursday the club already raised $14 million of its $20 million donation target for a purpose-built training venue for its men’s and women’s players.

The Cats received $4.1 million for a new scoreboard from the state government in the May budget amid outcry over the government’s largesse in a city with many marginal seats.

The Cats hope to continue fundraising and working with governments to bridge the gap between their donations and the $50-$60 million budget.

\Cats CEO Steve Hocking and Geelong coach Chris Scott at GMHBA Stadium in Round 1. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Hocking pointed out that GMHBA Stadium was the largest events space in the region and was delivering a huge return to the community over and above football games.

Sydney is believed to have recently spent $72 million on its training facility revamp for Sydney Swans HQ, with Hocking saying the club was keen to secure more government funding to secure the project’s future.

He said given the huge use of the GMHBA Stadium events space it was a no-brainer to continue finding new ways for the precinct to be used.

“There is a master plan being put together for the entire Kardinia Park area. Our facility would be a combination of a 60m by 40m indoor field which would be surrounded by facilities which would have community use and commercial elements,” he said.

“It would be utilised as an events space and on top of that there would be a decent merchandise shop and we would upgrade the cafe we currently run.

“We didn’t have a game two weeks ago in the round we played Carlton and we had 480 people through (restaurant) Club Chin Chin, 350 in our President’s Room for a Hall of Fame function and 300 people from the Lara football club attending a mid-season ball in our Captain’s room.

Joel Selwood as his stand is officially opened during the Round 1 match at Geelong. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“So that is 1000 people utilising the facility outside football. It’s the biggest events centre in the region and we don’t need to be apologising for that. It is there for everyone to use and we are proud of the fact it’s available to Geelong.

Clubs now believe an indoor field to hone kicking skills and walk through tactics away from prying eyes has become the new non-negotiable in footy’s arms race.

The Pies were able to turn their netball court into an indoor kicking space after they sacked their Super Netball team amid controversy over their support for women’s sport.

Over two decades GMHBA Stadium has received $340 million in state and federal funding including $90 million for the Brownlow Stand and new football department.

The most recent $142 million development includes the 14,000-seat Selwood stand and also includes a new indoor cricket hub, sports museum and entry plaza.

TASMANIA TO UNVEIL MACQUARIE POINT STADIUM VISION

Tasmania’s grand vision for the Macquarie Point Stadium is about to be unveiled with the Devils board to be handed the architectural plans on Friday.

Cox Architects will hand detailed concept designs to the board ahead of their public release in coming weeks as a major breakthrough in the timeline towards the club’s AFL launch in 2028.

Previous concept designs by Cox were of a more traditional stadium-build like Marvel Stadium, with the stands closed to the surrounds of Macquarie Point.

But Cox director Alastair Richardson said recently the new vision will be of a roofed stadium, which has parts open to the surround instead of a fully closed venue.

Concept drawings of a Macquarie Point Stadium which includes an outer shell of apartments, proposed by the Stadia Precinct Consortia. Picture: SolutionsWon

“When you look at the renders done last year it was seen as a solid mass,” he said.

“This building needs to be scaled, transparent, open – something that actually has an engagement with the city and not a concrete wall, blocking off its access.”

One idea is for a Wimbledon-style roof with maximum transparency to allow the most amount of sunlight into the stadium.

Cox spearheaded the update of Adelaide Oval and the new Optus Stadium build in Perth – both of which received rapturous feedback as among Australia’s best.

The stadium has been at the centre of a tug of war between the Liberal government and Labor, but the opposition has recently backflipped and thrown its support behind the stadium.

The Macquarie Point Development Corporation is still confident the stadium can be delivered for under $750 million, despite rising building and material costs. But if the new architectural vision inspires the Tasmanian public it will be another step towards the team’s inclusion.

Macquarie Point Stadium 2.0 shown from above. Picture Stadia Precinct Consortia

The AFL again made clear last week that the stadium – likely to be ready a year after the 2028 introduction of the Devils – was a non-negotiable for the league.

The club will not consider its first coach until chief executive Brendon Gale comes on board at the back end of this season.

But Tasmania Devils chairman Grant O’Brien said when AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon visited the state last week there was always huge interest in the role.

“It’s a question for Brendon (Gale) and an important question for the club,” O’Brien said.

“Just as we have worked hard to get the right CEO, we will work hard to get the right coach.

“They will want to be on the ground before the playing season in 2028 and a number of people have signalled their interest, which has been a pattern for this club.

“People want to be part of this club and that’s encouraging.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats ‘don’t need to be apologising’ for planned $60m upgrade to GMHBA Stadium