GMHBA Stadium open to more Melbourne Storm action
The Storm are headed to Geelong for a pre-season match in February, but that might not be the last we see of the NRL powerhouse.
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GMHBA Stadium is open to bringing more top-flight rugby to Geelong after locking in a return for the Melbourne Storm, as the NRL powerhouse eyes two empty holes in its 2023 fixture.
The Storm will play a pre-season match against Sydney Roosters at GMHBA Stadium on February 12, the club’s first visit to play in Geelong since a pre-season fixture against New Zealand in 2019.
The Storm is no stranger to venturing down the highway however, given it is holding its annual training camp at Geelong Grammar this week.
The Craig Bellamy-led club has two holes remaining in its 2023 fixture, with Friday night home matches against Penrith on June 30 and Parramatta on July 28 without a venue due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup taking over at AAMI Park.
While the Storm is hoping to play those two matches at Marvel Stadium, they are yet to lock in to playing at the roofed venue.
While the AFL’s rolling fixture past round 15 has not allocated days for matches that late in the 2023 season as yet, GMHBA Stadium will be free on June 30 as the Cats play the Swans in Sydney that weekend.
Geelong is scheduled to play Fremantle at home on the July 28 weekend but a date for that game is yet to be confirmed.
While Kardinia Park Stadium Trust chief executive Gerard Griffin stopped short of confirming any specific talks with the Storm or the NRL, he said GMHBA Stadium was in the midst of talks to bring more varied events to Geelong.
“(The trust) welcomes the opportunity to host a diversity of sporting and entertainment events at the stadium,” Griffin said.
“We continue discussions with a range of leagues and promoters on opportunities to bring new and varied content to the stadium, consolidating our reputation as a true multipurpose venue.
“We are thrilled the Melbourne Storm will once again join us this summer and encourage fans to create a sea of purple at GMHBA Stadium.”
Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said in November that it was the club’s preference to play the games against the Panthers and Eels at Marvel Stadium.
“Our priority (is) to play those games under the roof at Marvel Stadium,” Rodski said.
Flyers join Storm in huge weekend of action
Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson and NRL powerhouses Melbourne Storm are headed to Geelong for a bumper weekend of action next month.
Jackson and Geelong Supercats star Sara Blicavs will be the main attractions on court when the Southside Flyers tackle the Bendigo Spirit in a WNBL battle at Geelong Arena on February 11.
The next day, the Storm will host fellow NRL giants Sydney Roosters at GMHBA Stadium in a pre-season clash, beginning at 1.50pm.
The Storm, who are currently in the midst of their annual training camp at Geelong Grammar, will promote new local rugby league club Geelong Sharks at the Roosters match.
“It’s a Storm tradition to take a match to the regions during pre-season and the feedback we have received about bringing the game back to Geelong has been overwhelmingly positive,” Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said.
“The game will add to an exciting time for rugby league in Geelong with the birth of the Sharks … everyone at Storm wishes the Sharks all the best for their debut season.”
Geelong Cats AFL members will be able to buy tickets to the game at the same price as Storm members, with initial ticket sales to begin on Wednesday.
The Spirit will host the WNBL battle, thanks to the TAC and Geelong Council.
Bendigo players will visit schools in the lead up to the game to promote road safety.
Led by arguably Australia’s greatest ever basketballer in Jackson and Olympian Blicavs, the Flyers sit second on the WNBL ladder, with the Spirit in third.
Blicavs is averaging 13.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game and was recently named in an Opals extended squad ahead of this year’s Asia Cup and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Originally published as GMHBA Stadium open to more Melbourne Storm action
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