Illawarra welcomes WIN Stadium's new western grandstand

The opening of the new western grandstand at Wollongong's WIN Stadium on Friday, increasing the venue's capacity to 22,000, is being seen as a landmark in attracting more high-profile sport fixtures to the NSW Illawarra regaion.

St George Illawarra's home NRL game against the Canterbury Bulldogs was the first match to be played since renovations were completed.

WIN Stadium General Manager Stuart Barnes told local media that the stadium can now attract elite rugby and football games to the region, stating "this is the field of dreams line, build it and they will come.

"(Previously) our stadium was not compliant with elite codes – Australian Rugby Union and Football Federation Australia - and we were not giving the Dragons what they deserved.

"What we've done with the grandstand is that we've made WIN Stadium compliant with the major codes which means that they can now come to Wollongong which they couldn't do before."

WIN Stadium will host a women's international football match between Australia's Matildas and New Zealand's Football Ferns on Sunday while Barnes' team is in negotiations with the Football Federation Australia to bring a Sydney FC A-League game to Wollongong.

The new 5,800-seat grandstand features improved media facilities, including the use of fibre-optic cabling around the ground, 3G mobile phone turnstile service and 21 new corporate boxes that have doubled the stadium's corporate capacity to 2,000.

The development of WIN Stadium also includes:

• Improved patron access and facilities (such as toilets, Box Offices and turnstiles, food and beverage areas);
• Three small leased out areas to be used as eateries and restaurants (providing new attractions to the area and consistent revenue);
• Two new function rooms (for both game days and conference events), separable into four rooms and with contemporary furniture and AV systems and with an entrance lobby and a link to the current Premiers Room Function Centre;
• Improved toilets, catering concession areas and patron ticketing and access facilities; and
• New player facilities (in the Southern Grandstand) including change rooms and other training facilities.

The redevelopment of the Stadium including planning, the demolition of the old western grandstand and trading through the two-year construction period, for which the NSW Government allocated $31 million.

Construction was delayed last September when high winds caused the collapse of a section of the roof of the western grandstand.

Launching the new grandstand, NSW Minister for Finance and Services and Minister for the Illawarra, Greg Pearce, emphasised that "since last September our priorities have been to ensure the safety of workers and the public and to get on with the job of getting the Western Grandstand ready for top-level sporting events.

"NSW Public Works and the Venues NSW have worked closely with the contractor to rectify the problem with the roof that set this project back.

"The new roof has been comprehensively redesigned, strengthened and rebuilt and complies with all appropriate standards.

"The NSW Government welcomes the assurances of independent experts that the redesign has delivered a safe and secure grandstand."

NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Graham Annesley, added that the new western grandstand .marked a major milestone for WIN Stadium and the start of another exciting era for this valuable regional facility.

Minister Annesley stated "these improvements will enhance the venue's ability to attract local, regional and national events which will be a win for the local community.

"The seating capacity has been increased to 22,000, and spectators will be able to enjoy the WIN Stadium experience with better access and improved facilities.

"The NSW Government is committed to quality sporting infrastructure and the completion of the Western Grandstand project delivers another outstanding asset for the people of the Illawarra."

Under a separately funded project ($1.2 million), WIN Stadium's Northern Wrap Grandstand has been fully repainted and restored, in 2012. This structure was brought to Wollongong after the Sydney Olympics, in 2002, where it was originally part of the Olympic overlay to the Sydney Aquatic Centre.

21st September 2011 - HIGH WINDS DAMAGE WIN STADIUM’S ROOF 

12th October 2010 - ADDITIONAL $13 MILLION FOR JUBILEE OVAL REDEVELOPMENT

15th September 2010 - DEMOLITION MAKES WAY FOR NEW WIN STADIUM GRANDSTAND

20th October 2009 - NSW GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO WIN STADIUM DEVELOPMENT

25th May 2009 - TICKETEK WINS WOLLONGONG TICKETING CONTRACT