Skilled Stadium grand plan

Austadiums • Wednesday 21st July 2010
Skilled Stadium stage three development

Rugby League, A-League soccer and national Twenty20 cricket are on the radar beside AFL at Skilled Stadium as Geelong Football Club seeks Federal Government backing for $75 million stage three development plans.

Cats chiefs have released exclusive images of a proposed reconstruction of the northern end of the stadium which would add 5000 seating capacity and dramatically increase its community use and appeal across codes.

They hope to gain $36m bipartisan federal support in the run into the Federal Election, sealing stage three work before focus shifts to joining Australia's bid for soccer's 2022 World Cup.

"We see stage three work as critical to the future of the Geelong Football Club over the next 10 to 15 years," Geelong Football Club chief executive Brian Cook said yesterday.

"And we are concerned that if we don't win the World Cup bid that people may start forgetting about any further improvements to Skilled Stadium when they are so much required.

"This enables membership growth for ourselves, which is currently limited by the stadium capacity, and caters for increased community use."

Mr Cook predicted stage three construction would mean $34.9m direct new expenditure in Geelong, with equivalent of 94 full full-time jobs. Ongoing use of the stadium would mean $251.6m extra new spending in the city between 2011 and 2020.

The Victorian Government has already committed $25m to the grand plan.

Mr Cook hoped a remaining $14.1m would be made up of $7m from the City of Greater Geelong, $6m from the AFL and $5m from the club.

Skilled Stadium stage three plans include:

A 1000-seat room for private and business functions, the largest in Geelong;

NEW training, playing and spectator facilities for Geelong Cricket Club in Victoria's Premier League;

A MUSEUM celebrating the city's sporting history;

A WELLNESS and education centre to draw students to the stadium and help the Cats deliver their community program;

A BIG-SCREEN live site outside the ground for major events; and,

UPGRADING of Kardinia Park's netball hub.

Mr Cook said Skilled Stadium already stood alone in Australia for multi-purpose use and stage three work would open the door for training or match appearances by Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Rebels rugby and Melbourne Heart soccer clubs.

A drop-in wicket would enable its use if Geelong secures place in a new national Twenty20 cricket competition.

The new two-tier northern stand would stretch from the northern end of the new Reg Hickey Stand and replace Gary Ablett Terrace, Ford and Jack Jennings stands. The Brownlow Stand would remain.

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Rugby League, A-League soccer and national Twenty20 cricket are on the radar beside AFL at Skilled Stadium as Geelong Football Club seeks Federal Government backing for $75 million stage three development plans.
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