Rebel yell: Rebels vice-captain Gareth Delve joins Geelong Mayor John Mitchell to announce the rugby match at Simonds Stadium in February.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A WIDER variety of events could come to Simonds Stadium with the Cats being gifted a new training venue, according to Mayor John Mitchell.
Cr Mitchell said scheduling at the stadium would be more flexible with the football club using it less.
“It gives us greater opportunity to have different events at Simonds Stadium because we can work around the Cats’ commitments more easily.
“For instance, we announced this week the pre-season rugby union game between the Melbourne Rebels and the Waikato Chiefs.
“The game they say is played in heaven will now be played on the hallowed turf of Simonds Stadium.
“But we still have our bid planned for the T20 cricket, there’s the World Cup cricket and I’m keen to see an A League soccer match played here.”
Geelong Football Club has announced a sponsorship agreement with Keystone Business Park, including development of indoor training facilities and an MCG-sized oval worth more than $8 million at Armstrong Creek.
Cr Mitchell said a lower level of AFL use at Simonds Stadium would reduce the wear and tear on its surface, reducing costs to council.
“It takes a lot of traffic off the oval, so I’d expect the maintenance of the surface would be easier,” he said.
“We wouldn’t have to do the amount of repairs, so that would be a cost saving.”
Cr Mitchell said the Cats would remain the anchor tenant but the terms of the lease agreement would be renegotiated once the new Armstrong Creek facility was complete.
“There’s also the opportunity to get an extra AFL game, especially after the redevelopment is completed.”
Cr Mitchell said the City had committed $3 million to the redevelopment “and that’s where it sits”.
“We support redevelopment but we’re mindful that it needs to be a quality redevelopment that meets needs of the people of Geelong as well as the club.
“We don’t want to compromise on that. There will have to be some modifications but they have got to stack up.
“The lights are the key component for us in terms of attracting more events.”
Cats chief Brian Cook said the freeing up of Simonds Stadium was a “welcome benefit to this agreement”.
Mr Cook said the club needed an alternative training venue because more events would be held on the grass at Simonds Stadium.
“When the rugby, soccer or concerts are on we need to find somewhere else to train.
“We’ve used eight different venues since I’ve been at the club, so this is ideal for us. Simonds Stadium will remain our major training venue.”
Mr Cook said the Armstrong Creek deal was completed after five years of negotiations.
“It’s the first of its type that we’re aware of in Australia.”
Melbourne Rebels will play Waikato Chiefs on February 3.
