New Brownlow Stand officially opened at Geelong's Simonds Stadium

The Geelong Cats have officially unveiled the completed stage 4 redevelopment of the Simonds Stadium the Charles Brownlow Stand, just a day before the club’s Friday night AFL Premiership clash.

The new stand was opened yesterday by Victorian Minister for Sport John Eren and Cats Chief Executive Brian Cook.

Commenting on the latest stage in the redevelopment of the famous venue Cook stated “We started with this vision in 2001, a masterplan … and over the four stages we’ve spent $200 million in total amongst all of the stakeholders.

“It’s taken 16 to 17 years and it’s been a real task ... but when your dreams come true, or a vision becomes a reality, it is very comforting in the soul.”

The Charles Brownlow Stand includes 6,500 seats and increases the total capacity of Simonds Stadium to 36,000, providing the ability to host a diversity of events of national and international significance.

The state-of-the-art redevelopment includes, improved media facilities, a new 1000-seat function centre, merchandise store, café, an enhanced football department and the Sunrise Centre, a community facility that will aim to rehabilitate people to return to the workforce following serious injury.

A game-changer for the club, the $91 million redevelopment includes $75 million investment from the State Government, $6 million from the City of Greater Geelong, $4 million from the AFL and $6 million from the Geelong Cats.

The Charles Brownlow name holds a special part in the club’s heritage, Brownlow’s contribution to the club, the city and the game being described as “outstanding.”

A total of seven past and present players have taken home the medal – ‘Carji’ Greeves (1924), Bernie Smith (1951), Alistair Lord (1962), Paul Couch (1989), Jimmy Bartel (2007), Gary Ablett (2009) and Patrick Dangerfield (2016).

Brownlow Medallists Alistair Lord and Patrick Dangerfield attended yesterday’’s formalities and were joined by Carji Greeves’ daughter June Ford, Bernie Smith’s son Jeff & family, and the late Paul Couch’s wife Geraldine, son Joseph and daughter Molly.

Image: The Charles Brownlow Stand. Courtesy of Geelong Cats.

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