Western Bulldogs and their partnership with Ballarat a success

[geoffjennings79]

Not sure why Samantha McIntosh is in that photo... other than her relentless self-promotion. She's no longer mayor, and has failed as a state political candidate on repeat attempts.

 

[maddog37]

Not sure why Samantha McIntosh is in that photo... other than her relentless self-promotion. She's no longer mayor, and has failed as a state political candidate on repeat attempts.

She smiles a lot though

 

[mackem]

Pleased with the extension news as I enjoy my trips to Ballarat.

 

[Ratdweller]

Bulldogs commit to Ballarat for three more years as stadium project speeds up​

Bulldogs players Tim English and Marcus Bontempelli watch as Juliana Addison takes the kick at Mars Stadium to celebrate an extension of the Western Bulldogs partnership with the City of Ballarat. Picture by Lachlan Bence

The Western Bulldogs will remain Ballarat's 'home team' for a further three years after the club extended its partnership with the city. They will have front-row seats to the stadium's expansion, with builders Kane Construction and Nicholson Construction named as a joint venture to lead the redevelopment of the Ballarat Major Events Precinct (previously known as the Eureka Sports Precinct).

The redevelopment will add 5000 new permanent seats at Mars Stadium, additional features at Selkirk Stadium and the construction of the new athletics track and pavilion on the neighboring former Ballarat Showgrounds site. The new Western Bulldogs partnership will run from 2025 to 2027, marking 10 years of AFL games in Ballarat, which first started in 2017. Two AFL matches and one AFLW match will be played at Mars Stadium for each of the next three years and are expected to drive more than $7 million in visitor expenditure supporting businesses, local jobs and promoting the region.
In 2025, the Western Bulldogs will take on the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide in matches that will attract hundreds of South Australian fans to Ballarat.

"(The) three year deal provides greater security for businesses like hotels, bars and restaurants to plan around key dates on the footy calendar," said Wendouree MP Juliana Addison who made the announcement at Mars Stadium. "It's also a great way to promote the region via the national broadcast, attracting even more travelers from Melbourne and interstate."

The City of Ballarat will contribute $1.45 million to the three-year partnership. Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli said playing in Ballarat, the club's "second home" gave the side extra confidence and a sense of nostalgia. "It does present a challenge for opposition teams to make the trek to Ballarat and then deal with the elements, which I've always loved about it ... it's a reminder of what football used to be in its purest sense," Bontempelli said.

Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli signs Theodore Rausome, 6, during a footy clinic at City Oval, part of the Bulldogs Community Camp in Ballarat. Picture by Lachlan Bence

"You might have to deal with rain, hail, wind at times ... and it feels like it's almost going back to when you're a junior as a kid and it brings out those sort of feelings and emotions in you." Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains said the support the club received from its Ballarat home crowd was evident every time they played. "Ballarat remains entrenched as our home away from home and we couldn't be happier to confirm an extension of this partnership with the City of Ballarat and Visit Victoria," he said.

The partnership is about more than the games, with the extension ensuring popular community programs including Bulldogs Read, Sons of the West, Daughters of the West, the Youth Leadership Program and Next Generation Academy, will also continue.

Central ward councillor Samantha McIntosh said it was an "exciting chapter for the city's history to be able to move forward with a bigger and greater stadium". Works to expand the stadium and other projects in the Ballarat Major Events Precinct will begin in early 2025 and are expected to be completed in 2026. The stadium will remain operational while grandstands containing 5000 new seats are built. "This is great news for supporters of Western Bulldogs AFL and AFLW games as well as A-League football, cricket, NRL trial matches and, of course, the Ballarat North Football Club," Ms Addison said.

"The former Ballarat Showgrounds will also be rejuvenated and become home to a new athletics track complete with new pavilion, lighting and storage facilities along with public open space with seating and landscaping as part of the Ballarat Major Events Precinct. "The track and these great facilities form part of what really will be an outstanding sporting precinct, encouraging community participation, sporting clubs and putting local talent on the path to becoming world champions and future Olympians."

The announcement of the extended partnership and Ballarat Major Events Precinct head contractor comes as Bulldogs players spend two days in Ballarat as part of their community camp. Bontempelli said the love for the Bulldogs was "quite exceptional" as they visited schools, hospitals and community groups during their stay. "It makes you feel really part of a community," he said. "From a player perspective, a lot of that work has been done by others in terms of building the connection, the partnership and relationship and ... we really are the lucky ones that get to benefit from the love and support we get from our supporters down this way and those that want to travel and come down."

The deal continues the impact of elite sport in Ballarat. On December 6, it was announced that the 'Ballarat Blitz,' an elite netball pre-season event that formed in Ballarat earlier this year, would expand throughout regional Victoria, with the state government committing to hosting the event for the next three years. The Melbourne Vixens will return to Ballarat in 2025 as part of a regional tour that will expand to include Bendigo and Traralgon.

 

[Dale4captain]

If our marketing team was smart, every primary school aged child we visit in Ballarat would be receiving a bulldogs jumper and footy. It’s a sure fire way to get these kids supporting long term.

Getting our Ballarat membership contingent up to 10-15k across the next few years should be a genuine focus.

 

[LondonBulldog]

So what is the capacity going to be. If they are building new stands, they should be aiming for 20k.

 

[Ratdweller]

So what is the capacity going to be. If they are building new stands, they should be aiming for 20k.

Considering that the hill that they will replace had a legal capacity for 4000, there will be an overall increase to that footprint of about 1000. Also the designs seem to show that a new smaller raised standing area will be created to the front of the video scoreboard (which is going to be moved slightly toward the West. That would increase standing room marginally and link the new stands to the old scoreboard hill. Those changes would increase capacity slightly from 11,000 to 13,000. I went to the public information session earlier this year and asked why they didn't simply extend the existing Eastern Stand near Gate 1? The Ballarat Council representative said the current position of the Eastern light tower restricts extension, so the Council have applied to the State Government for granting of an outward extension of the stadium's land and fence line by several metres toward Creswick Road. This in turn will allow for future upgrades to include re-positioning/replacement of the light tower and the extension of the Eastern Stand would allow for a further increase of at least 1500-2000 seats. Short of bulldozing the North Ballarat Sports Club (Which a lot of people in the Ballarat Football League community would love to see ) and the construction of a much bigger stand in its place, there probably isn't much scope on the site to expand seating capacity beyond 16,000, and that's only if they eventually build a Southern Stand which might add a further 3-3500 seats. A future stand at the Southern end of the oval and a future 3-3500 seat stand at the Sports Club end would result in a 20,000(+) all seater. What would drive that is if membership in Ballarat continues to grow and attendances at games regularly sell-out before matches. While attendances have never exceeded 10,400, at least six of the 12 Bulldogs games at the ground have sold-out before the matches. The other factor which currently limits the size of the grounds capacity is that there are only two senior AFL games played there per year. Why on Earth would they consider building a 20,000 seat stadium for just two games?

I think that ATM the stadium is doing its job, which is to promote tourism, stimulate growth of the Western Bulldogs membership in Western Victoria, provide a focal hub for the club in promoting itself outside Melbourne, provide an AFL standard playing facility for regional Victoria, and increase economic activity in Ballarat. It is already ticking each of those boxes.

 

[_Cerberus_]

I hate how out of whack the stands are. You'd think the small stand would extend into the existing hill slightly so it lines up with the other side. The stands don't line up, and are all different designs. Which is different I guess.

 

[Ratdweller]

I hate how out of whack the stands are. You'd think the small stand would extend into the existing hill slightly so it lines up with the other side. The stands don't line up, and are all different designs. Which is different I guess.

They are interesting points to note. The Development Victoria reps explained that the Ballarat Council were adamant that they did not want to have a cookie cutter soulless stadium bowl. I suppose that they figured that we can go to the MCG or to Marvel to experience that. They wanted the stadium to have distinctly different stands with gaps between them to maintain sight lines to various geographical and historical landmarks. They wanted the stadium to have its own unique character. A regional feel. Development Victoria indicated that a third stand will be built eventually to the rear of the Eastern stand to create another stand that replicates one of the two new stands that is being built so that eventually there will be three stands down the eastern side of the Oval that each look the same but have distinct gaps between them with views to the brickwork stacks and the hills beyond. I have read on another discussion thread that they seem to want the ground to eventually be a smaller version of the Adelaide Oval (which has character) rather than a smaller version of Kardinia Park which has been developed over the years as an enclosed bowl.

 

[St 07]

They are interesting points to note. The Development Victoria reps explained that the Ballarat Council were adamant that they did not want to have a cookie cutter soulless stadium bowl. I suppose that they figured that we can go to the MCG or to Marvel to experience that. They wanted the stadium to have distinctly different stands with gaps between them to maintain sight lines to various geographical and historical landmarks. They wanted the stadium to have its own unique character. A regional feel. Development Victoria indicated that a third stand will be built eventually to the rear of the Eastern stand to create another stand that replicates one of the two new stands that is being built so that eventually there will be three stands down the eastern side of the Oval that each look the same but have distinct gaps between them with views to the brickwork stacks and the hills beyond. I have read on another discussion thread that they seem to want the ground to eventually be a smaller version of the Adelaide Oval (which has character) rather than a smaller version of Kardinia Park which has been developed over the years as an enclosed bowl.

I don't know, Kardina Park is going pretty well. Maybe they should just emulate it?

 

[BulldogMuscle]

I don't know, Kardina Park is going pretty well. Maybe they should just emulate it?

Not sure if you've done AO before but Id argue it's better than the MCG, everytime I've attended games at AO I've fallen more in love with the look, layout and atmosphere of that ground (not to mention, food options are the best I've had).

I'd much rather Mar's replicate AO than KP.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Disappointed the AFLW team only get the one game, increasing their exposure in Ballarat would be a smart move.

 

[Ratdweller]

I don't know, Kardina Park is going pretty well. Maybe they should just emulate it?

It comes down to personal choice whether one likes one or the other. The Ballarat Council are the owner operators, so they get to call the shots on how the stadium develops over time. Mars Stadium still comes under a fair bit of criticism locally in Ballarat as being soulless compared with the city's old ovals (City Oval and Eastern Oval). Many locals in Ballarat still prefer to watch their footy from vantage points on grass banks under trees and to have to walk from one side of the oval to the other in order to get a beer and to go to the toilet. It just shows that you can't please everyone.

 

[LondonBulldog]

The mucked up with the first stand they built the stand behind the goals, way too small, what is it 10 rows. There was still plenty of room there before the service rd starts. They should take the roof off and extend the stand first and leave the grassy hill. The best part for me when going to Ballarat is standing in the outer like the old days on a grassy hill.

 

[Randomthoughts]

I have been every year since we started playing there and nearly all the games were standing on the hill . Very entertaining to say the least .I have however generally driven back to Melb with Frostbite and/Or Sun Burn (still scared with UV damaged arms) and some years both on the same day so the more stadium seating for me the better .

 

[Pugz89]

Not sure if you've done AO before but Id argue it's better than the MCG, everytime I've attended games at AO I've fallen more in love with the look, layout and atmosphere of that ground (not to mention, food options are the best I've had).

I'd much rather Mar's replicate AO than KP.

Best ground in Aus tbh. Apart from the past two years and a year during covid, the past 10yrs i've been there every yr for a Dogs game or the Test. Amazing set up there.

 

[dogwatch]

It comes down to personal choice whether one likes one or the other. The Ballarat Council are the owner operators, so they get to call the shots on how the stadium develops over time. Mars Stadium still comes under a fair bit of criticism locally in Ballarat as being soulless compared with the city's old ovals (City Oval and Eastern Oval). Many locals in Ballarat still prefer to watch their footy from vantage points on grass banks under trees and to have to walk from one side of the oval to the other in order to get a beer and to go to the toilet. It just shows that you can't please everyone.

If the primary objective is to bring tourism (outsiders) to Ballarat then it probably doesn’t matter what the preferences of the locals are. It would be about making it attractive for as many visitors as practicable.

However we are only talking about footy usage for maybe 3-4 games a year (AFL, AFLW, preseason). What is the ground used for the rest of the year? Do these other uses attract decent sized crowds?

 

[Ratdweller]

They should take the roof off and extend the stand first and leave the grassy hill. The best part for me when going to Ballarat is standing in the outer like the old days on a grassy hill.

From what I understood from the public information session earlier this year, that is exactly what they are planning toward doing at a future point in time when the stadium requires further expansion. The stand was initially designed for future expansion when needed. But they can't practically do it ATM because there is only enough room to the existing fence line and existing light tower placement to extend the stand back by another 10-12 rows. To build another stand there that is the same size as one of the new stands (that are about to be built) would see the existing ten rows extended back another 25 rows, including a walkway that links to the existing concourse in front of the sports club and the new walkway that will be constructed behind the first nine rows of the new stands. This is why the Council want to extend the fence line out several metres and move the light tower first. Before that can happen, the Council need to secure a 250 metres long strip of land immediately outside the current fence line. Currently, what is East of the existing fence line is Crown Land and technically part of the State owned Midland Highway.

You will have to forgive my rough image below, I'm no artist. Nothing is to perfect scale, but it will give you an idea of what the reps from Dev Victoria and the Council were talking about.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Disappointed the AFLW team only get the one game, increasing their exposure in Ballarat would be a smart move.

If teams played every team once in AFLW, Dogs would have two for sure. Fixture is too small.

 

[Ratdweller]

Not sure why Samantha McIntosh is in that photo... other than her relentless self-promotion. She's no longer mayor, and has failed as a state political candidate on repeat attempts.

Yep, I went to the Australia's Biggest Morning Tea in Ballarat back when she was Mayor. When she spoke, she definitely did bang on with a long speech and she indeed made it all about her.

 

[Ratdweller]

Still reckon this season's Ballarat games ought to be either sold to Adelaide or played at Whitten Oval at least in front of 10,000. Just my opinion, so don't bite my head off. Took these photos yesterday at the North Ballarat Sports Club. They've taken out the trees from the hill and removed half of the hill and taken out the steps from Gate 2 and started taking soil off the top. So at least they aren't mucking about and we have our view of Mount Buninyong back (if only temporarily). The construction work huts have been positioned behind the Southern toilet block at the scoreboard end. The oval is finally starting to come back to pristine condition again after having had some extensive turf work done over the summer.

 

[Bulldogs85]

Fantastic news

 

[VogonProsthetnic]

Still reckon this season's Ballarat games ought to be either sold to Adelaide or played at Whitten Oval at least in front of 10,000. Just my opinion, so don't bite my head off. Took these photos yesterday at the North Ballarat Sports Club. They've taken out the trees from the hill and removed half of the hill and taken out the steps from Gate 2 and started taking soil off the top. So at least they aren't mucking about and we have our view of Mount Buninyong back (if only temporarily). The construction work huts have been positioned behind the Southern toilet block at the scoreboard end. The oval is finally starting to come back to pristine condition again after having had some extensive turf work done over the summer.

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Whitten oval can fit 10,000?

 

[Ratdweller]

Whitten oval can fit 10,000?

Wouldn't fit many more than 10 grand. Austadiums says that it can only hold 7000. Looks a bit bigger than that to me, but who knows? The club cut themselves well short by leaving all of that spare space on the northern part of the oval between the goals and the boundary fence as dead space rather than push the boundary in to accommodate more spectator space in the form of a berm, terraced seating or even removeable seating.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Wouldn't fit many more than 10 grand. Austadiums says that it can only hold 7000. Looks a bit bigger than that to me, but who knows? The club cut themselves well short by leaving all of that spare space on the northern part of the oval between the goals and the boundary fence as dead space rather than push the boundary in to accommodate more spectator space in the form of a berm, terraced seating or even removeable seating.

There's really no need though, given very few games are getting more than 7k