Skilled Stadium World Cup plans dashed

Austadiums • Sunday 5th December 2010
Skilled Stadium planned redevelopment for the World Cup

Australia's failed bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup has crushed Geelong's hopes of a massive revamp of Skilled Stadium.

An Australian win would have seen an estimated $300 million spent on transforming the ground into a 44,000-seat venue for the 2022 tournament.

Skilled Stadium had been a big winner in the Australian bid after the AFL declared Etihad Stadium off-limits as a World Cup venue.

A remodelled, floodlit stadium would have seen Geelong also host A-League soccer and NRL games and matches in the national Twenty20 cricket competition.

"It's disappointing, no doubt. It was like a knockout punch in the first round of a title fight," Cats chief executive Brian Cook said.

The failed bid has also cast doubt on $36 million in Federal Government funding the Cats are seeking as part of an alternative $75 million upgrade of the ground's northern end.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard had told the Cats she would wait until the fate of Australia's bid was known before making a decision on the funding, which is aimed at increasing the ground's capacity to 35,000.

"We're waiting for them to come back to us," Cook said.

"We've asked them for $36 million and if they help that will be fantastic. But if they don't we will go with a smaller development."

Cook said construction work would begin at Skilled at the end of next season, regardless of federal funding.

Football Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley said the AFL's initial hardline stance in refusing access to venues - which was matched by the NRL - was not a factor in the failed bid.

Peace was eventually struck between the codes after promises of compensation by FFA and all stadiums bar Etihad Stadium were made available.

GMHBA Stadium

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Australia's failed bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup has crushed Geelong's hopes of a massive revamp of Skilled Stadium.
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