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Delivering an increased capacity of 40,000, the final stage of the redevelopment of Geelong’s Kardinia Park/GMBHA Stadium is set to be unveiled for Round 1 of the 2024 men’s AFL season.

With a new 14,000 seat, two-tier stand as its centrepiece the upgrade also features a new northern plaza, known as the Djliang Plaza, a sports museum, indoor cricket centre, new function rooms and professional standard unisex changerooms complete the package.

The Victorian Government has invested $142 million to deliver this fifth stage of the venue, completing a program that began in 2001.

Gerard Griffin, Chief Executive of the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust (KPST), which manages the venue, commented that after a 23-year journey to completely rebuild the stadium, they’ve left the best to last, noting “since the Trust was created, we were given a brief to make sure this venue was used for more than just AFL football.

“We very much pride ourselves on being a multipurpose venue. We’ve now got a facility that’s truly geared to handle anything and everything that comes its way.

“We’re proud to sit as part of that family tree of infrastructure that Geelong has, to attract a whole range of people to the region for the first time. It’s a big impact to go to 40,000 - it’s a significant number for a stadium of our type.”

The venue’s first fixture will see the Geelong Cats host St Kilda on Saturday 16th March.

Anticipating the completion, the Geelong Football Netball League has announced that its Grand Finals are set to return to the Kardinia Park precinct for the first time since 2019.

As part of the Geelong Cats’ strategic partnership with AFL Barwon, the Cats have worked with the regional football and netball body, along with KPST to develop the plan to host the GFNL’s biggest day at GMHBA Stadium and the adjoining Kardinia Park Netball Complex.

The 2024 GFNL Grand Finals will be held on Friday 27th September (AFL Grand Final Public Holiday).

Images show the nearly completed new Joel Selwood stand - the final stage of the redevelopment of Geelong’s Kardinia Park/GMBHA Stadium.

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