sport
Geelong Sports Venues and Infrastructure Drive Local Participation
Recent upgrades at city facilities are expanding access for athletes and clubs across multiple codes.
How we reported this
Geelong City Council completed a $9.2 million upgrade to training fields and lighting at GMHBA Stadium in Kardinia Park on 28 June.
The work matters now because local clubs report rising demand for pitches after the winter season began and families seek structured activity options near home rather than travelling to Melbourne.
Two venues stand out in the current program. GMHBA Stadium on Kardinia Park hosts Geelong Cats training sessions and community matches on its re-surfaced outer oval, while the Geelong Regional Sports Centre on Ryrie Street added four new indoor courts last month for basketball and netball groups based in the CBD.
Funding and usage numbers
Council documents show the project drew $4.8 million from the state government’s 2025 Active Geelong Fund and recorded 187,400 user visits across the two sites in the past financial year, up 12 percent from 2024-25.
Next steps include online bookings opening on 15 July for the new Ryrie Street courts and a series of free introductory sessions at Kardinia Park for under-12 teams. Details are listed on the council website under the Sport and Recreation section.