sport
Geelong Facilities Venues and Infrastructure Supporting Sport Locally
Council upgrades at multiple sites aim to meet rising demand for training and competition spaces across the city.
How we reported this
Geelong City Council committed $8.4 million last month to expand capacity at three existing venues ahead of the 2027 regional sporting calendar.
The decision follows a 14 percent increase in registered club memberships recorded by the Geelong Sports Association between January and June this year, a surge that has left many fields and courts booked weeks in advance.
Work will begin at Kardinia Park on Moorabool Street, where two additional change rooms and LED floodlights are scheduled for completion by March 2027. At the same time, the indoor courts at the Geelong Sports and Events Centre on Ryrie Street will gain a new retractable seating bank that raises capacity from 1,800 to 2,400 spectators.
North Geelong and Corio sites targeted next
Further spending will reach the Stead Park complex in North Geelong and the outdoor ovals at Corio Bay Sports Complex, where drainage upgrades and new synthetic wickets are listed for the 2026-27 summer season. Both locations sit within 15 minutes of the CBD and already host junior cricket and netball competitions that draw players from Lara and Bellarine Peninsula suburbs.
City records show these four venues together hosted 312,000 participant hours in the past financial year, up from 274,000 two years earlier. Average hourly hire fees remain at $42 for community groups, a rate unchanged since 2024.
Bookings and next steps for clubs
Clubs seeking additional training slots can submit requests through the council’s online portal from 15 July, with priority given to programs that include under-18 teams. Updated facility maps and availability calendars will appear on the Geelong Sports Association website by the end of the month.