A-League soccer team Melbourne Victory will play a series of home games at Simonds Stadium over the next three years, Geelong Mayor Cr Darryn Lyons has announced.
“Melbourne Victory is one of the top sides in the national competition and I’m very excited to announce we’re partnering with them to host A League soccer in Geelong,” Cr Lyons said.
“We have been working very hard behind the scenes to attract more events at Simonds Stadium and today’s announcement is great example of what is achievable for our national standard stadium.
“This is an historic announcement in that Melbourne Victory will be the first national team to schedule home games at Simonds Stadium other than the Geelong Cats.”
Simonds Stadium hosted an Asian Champions League round in February when Melbourne Victory took on Thailand’s Muangthong United.
“This Asian Champions League match drew greater crowd numbers in Geelong than equivalent matches at Melbourne venues – and was a great basis for Council to negotiate the next stage of our partnership with Melbourne Victory,” Cr Lyons said.
Deputy mayor Bruce Harwood said City Hall would continue working with Victory “on more opportunities into the future”.
“The three-game package creates a great platform for us to develop an ongoing relationship with Melbourne Victory,” Cr Harwood said.
“Simonds Stadium is renowned for the quality of its playing surface and its sporting and spectator amenities – add to that the large soccer following here in Geelong and there is definitely potential to extend beyond the current contract.”
Cr Harwood said the matches would be scheduled during the peak holiday season when up to 1.3 million people were based in the region.
Victorian Sport Minister Damian Drum revealed the Napthine Government would pay $50,000 to secure the Geelong matches.
Victory expected “up to” 10,000 fans to visit Geelong for the matches, he said.
“The partnership will allow the Melbourne Victory to build a supporter base in the region while promoting participation in the sport.”
