Builder appointed to undertake fifth stage expansion of Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium

The redevelopment of the city end of Geelong's Kardinia Park/GMHBA Stadium will begin after the 2021 AFL season with leading construction firms - BESIX Watpac - confirmed this week as the project builder.

The $142 million fifth stage redevelopment that will increase Geelong's GMHBA Stadium will see the city-end Ford Stand and Ablett Terrace replaced by a two-tier stand that will house 14,000 people, taking the venue's capacity from 36,000 to more than 40,000.

It will include facilities for professional and community sport, including new unisex changerooms and a new entry plaza adjacent to Moorabool Street at the northern end of the ground.

Other features of the project will include a new northern entry plaza, sports museum, function room, high-speed public Wi-Fi and LED signage. Solar panels will also be added to the roof of the new grandstand, while more battery storage space will be provided.

Following previous enhancements that have included new Brownlow, Players, Premiership and Reg Hickey stands, the fifth and final upgrade has been funded in its entirety by the Victorian Government.

Announcing the building program, Kardinia Park Stadium Trust Chair, Stephen Gough stated “continued investment has meant that Kardinia Park has not only kept abreast of global trends, but it is also setting the pace

"We can't wait for the final piece of the redevelopment jigsaw to fall into place so we can provide an even better experience for fans and other users of this highly adaptable stadium."

Stadium operations will be bolstered through the delivery of a new administration area for stadium and event staff, a crowd management centre and additional CCTV capability.

The redevelopment will also provide dedicated sustainability measures including solar panels to the roof of the new grandstand and provision for battery storage.

With forecast to be completed midway through the 2023 AFL season, the venue operate with a reduced capacity during 2022 with the Cats hoping to push a number of 2023 home games into the second half of that season.

Image: Artist's impressions of the redeveloped city end at GMHBA Stadium. Credit: Kardinia Park Stadium Trust.