Geelong FC unveils bold AFL finals bid
Geelong president Frank Costa has outlined the club's plans to increase its home ground capacity to 35,000 and eventually push for a home final at Skilled Stadium.
The $28 million second stage of the redevelopment will begin after the final home game against West Coast in round 22 and is expected to be completed in time for the 2010 season.
The Federal Government has confirmed $14 million for the second stage, the State Government $6 million and the AFL $3 million, while the City of Greater Geelong is close to confirming its $2 million contribution.
The Geelong Football Club will add $3 million of its own to the project, which will see the Ross Drew and Past Players' stands demolished.
Costa said once that had been completed and paid for, it could move on to the next stage ... the building of a stand on what is now the Gary Ablett Terrace at the city end of the ground.
"With this (second) stand we go to about a 30,000 capacity. With the Ablett Terrace redeveloped, you'd think we'd go to 35,000 and that should make sure we keep nine games in Geelong," Costa said yesterday.
"It should allow us to build our membership to well over 40,000 because you get to a point where it's hard to say to people who want to buy a membership ticket and a seat, 'oh no, we can't sell you a seat, we can give you a membership ticket'.
"A lot of people don't want to stand, so we need to continue to improve the capacity.
"We have to get past 40,000 members over the next few years if we want to be one of the strong clubs in Victoria, not one of those ones that's just hanging on. I think we're heading that way.''
Costa said once capacity hit 35,000, it would be Geelong's right to request a home final against an interstate club.
"They'd never let you play a Melbourne (team) here because you'll always be a 60,000-70,000 crowd against a Melbourne club, but when you're playing Port Adelaide or the Dockers, then I reckon if we have the right facilities and it looks smart, I think we can push hard," he said. "We'd be pushing, we'd be trying. You can't win a raffle if you don't buy the ticket."
Costa said under the third stage of the redevelopment, the seating area in front of the old scoreboard between the Reg Hickey and Doug Wade stands would also be redeveloped.
He said that redevelopment would happen after the second stage had been paid off, by about 2014 or 2015.
"All the debt has got to be cleared up after each move before we make the next move. This board is terribly, terribly concerned about not getting into too much debt that can't be managed," Costa said.
