Kardinia Park (stadium)

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Skilled Stadium
nickname = Kardinia Park
"The Cattery"


location = South Geelong, Victoria
broke_ground =
opened = 1941
closed = N/A
demolished = N/A
owner = City of Greater Geelong
operator = Geelong Football Club
surface = Grass
dimensions = 170 x 115 m
construction_cost = Redevelopment: $28 million
architect = Peddle Thorp (Redevelopment)
former_names = Kardinia Park (non sponsorial name)
Shell Stadium
Baytec Stadium
tenants = Current: Geelong Football Club (AFL) (1941-present)| seating_capacity = Current: 28,000Record Crowd: 49,109- 30/8/1952 (Geelong v Carlton)

:"Not to be confused with Skilled Park, home ground of the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL. For the public park of the same name in Geelong, Victoria, see Kardinia Park."

Kardinia Park, currently known as Skilled Stadium is an Australian rules football (AFL) stadium located in South Geelong, Victoria. The stadium is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club.

History

The Geelong Football Club began playing home games at Kardinia Park in 1941 after its previous home ground, Corio Oval, was needed for military reasons.

Previous names of the stadium as results of sponsorship deals have been Shell Stadium and Baytec Stadium (However it was only called Baytec Stadium for less than 2 months, and no AFL matches were played there under the name). On May 23, 2002, Kardinia park hosted a visit from the Dalai Lama who again visited the stadium in June 2007.

The stadium was for many years the only VFL affiliated ground located outside the Melbourne metropolitan area.

Redevelopments

An AUD $28 million redevelopment of the ground was announced in 2003, with $13.5 million in funding from the State Government, $4.5 million from the Geelong Football Club, and $2 million from the AFL. [cite web
url=http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/bc348d5912436a9cca256cfc0082d800/708e97b0d4546049ca256d4e00169c20!OpenDocument
title=KARDINIA PARK UPGRADE TO GIVE GEELONG NEW BOUNCE
work=Media Release: FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER
date=June 20, 2003
publisher=www.dtf.vic.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-04] The redeveloped ground was opened on May 1, 2005 during the first home game of the 2005 season which includes a new western entry and membership area, as well as a new five level grandstand with a capacity of approximately 6000 spectators on the eastern side of the stadium. A favourite for the honour of the naming of the new stand was Bob Davis, coach of the Cats' last premiership side in 1963.

On June 15, 2005, City of Greater Geelong councillors granted the club its wish to change the name of the new eastern stand to the Reg Hickey Stand, while the southern stand became the Doug Wade Stand. The northern terrace became known as the Gary Ablett Terrace while the western gate was re-named the Bob Davis Gate.

In September 2007, Skilled Stadium has received a further total $26 million towards the rebuilding of the Ross Drew Stand on the south eastern side of the ground, with completion due by April 2010. [cite news |author=Dylan Tickell |title=Spring start to Skilled work |work=Geelong News |page=2 |date=July 2, 2008 |accessdate=2008-07-04 [ $14 million is from the Federal government and $6 million is from the Victorian government. Federal MP for Corangamite Stewart McArthur advocated the project, despite the stadium being outside his electorate. [cite web
url=http://www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2007/097.htm&pageID=003&min=phc&Year=&DocType=0
title=Geelong Scores a Win with Funding for Skilled Stadium
work=Press Release - Peter Costello
date=December 3, 2007
publisher=www.treasurer.gov.au
accessdate=2008-07-04] $50,000 is also being spent on a new 600-seat temporary stand between the Reg Hickey and Doug Wade stands. [cite web
url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/05/22/14219_geelong_sports.html
title=Funding boost for Geelong clubs
work=The Geelong Advertiser
date=May 22, 2008
publisher=www.geelongadvertiser.com.au
accessdate=2008-07-04]

Hosted events

*Australian Football League
*Victorian Football League
*Geelong Football League finals series
*Victorian Premier Cricket for the Geelong Cricket Club

Dimensions

*Length - 170m
*Width - 115m
*Goals run north to south

The field is the narrowest playing field used for AFL games. The Sydney Cricket Ground is shorter, however.

References

*Austadiums|101
*Peter Begg (1990). "Geelong - The First 150 Years". Globe Press. ISBN0-9592863-5-7
* [http://www.aroundthegrounds.bellestorie.com/kardinia/kardinia.html "Around the Grounds" - Web Documentary - Kardinia Park]