Cats unveil Elite Training Venue

The Geelong Cats have announced a long term elite sponsorship agreement with Keystone Business Park that will result in the construction of an exclusive training venue within regional Victoria's newest master planned business community.

The partnership with Keystone Business Park will provide the Cats with access to an exclusive training venue (ETV) located just 10 minutes from the recently renamed Simonds Stadium.

As part of the agreement Keystone Business Park will provide the Club with an $8.3million state-of-the-art training venue at its Business Park development in Armstrong Creek. The world class training hub will include an MCG sized oval and an indoor training facility the size of three full size basketball courts.

The Club expects the whole facility will be available in two years time for the start of its 2014 pre-season at which point the Cats will obtain ownership of the land, oval and associated buildings.

The partnership, believed to be one of the largest ever entered into by the Cats, was facilitated and negotiated by the Cats' sports facility development advisors, Waypoint Pty Ltd. Waypoint have also played a lead role in the Cats securing over $100 million of investment into Simonds Stadium.

Geelong Cats Chief Executive Brian Cook said the establishment of an ETV will provide the players with the best possible opportunities to reach their potential.

Cook explained "In an environment of equalisation with the draft and salary cap, this is an area where we can build and sustain a competitive advantage.

"This facility will see us have a training venue that will provide our incredibly skilled and accomplished staff with an equally impressive platform to get the most out of our playing group."

"This is a significant partnership of shared values and shared vision and there is a clear commercial logic for both the Club and Keystone in this partnership."

"As a welcome benefit to this agreement, Simonds Stadium will now be freed up for increased community use and opportunities for other worthwhile events in the Geelong region."

Keystone is earmarked to be one of the largest Business Park's in Australia, based on intensive planning by state and local governments. The new generation business park community with diverse integrated land use promotes connected together design and construction flexibility, advanced communication technologies and a high quality urban environment.

Keystone Business Park Director Trent Keirnan said that the partnership connects Keystone, Australia's next generation business park, with one of the nation's most successful sporting organisations.

"This agreement is far more than a traditional sponsorship, but rather a partnership that helps to create a legacy for the Cats," Mr Kiernan said. "We are thrilled to be embarking on a long term partnership that is beneficial for Keystone, the Cats and the wider business community of Geelong."

"Keystone's focus is on providing state-of-the-art amenities to businesses and employees, establishing Geelong as a first choice employment area in the region and as a key business address in Victoria."

AFL clubs are currently making major investments in improved their training facilities, with Essendon planning a move from Windy Hill to new headquarters at Melbourne/Essendon Airport while redevelopment has begun at the former Melbourne Park as a training base for Collingwood.

For further information click here to contact Waypoint via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

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