Geelong Cats Want MORE Money from Taxpayers for Stadium Renovation

[@BryanLikesCandy]

Hang on a minute, the Sydney Swans just completed and opened a new HQ and training base at the Royal Hall of Industries in Centennial Park. That's State land, with facilities (gym, pool, etc) open to the community. And the Swans self-funded the entire thing. This project is not improving the ground, it is improving the Cats football operations. That is entirely an affair for the Club and government funding shouldn't enter into it.

[@andrew_l1900]

The swans did not self fund it 🤦🏽‍♂️ It got 15mil in federal funding, 26mil in state funding and 6mil from the AFL…….

[@alexbishop2535]

Nah, they should pay their own. What are they going to do, leave?

[@stormblessed2673]

Bruh, Geelong Football club must have had the most tax money funnelled into what is ultimately a single team suburban stadium out of any AFL club. I swear every 4 years (election time) theres some pork barelling going into Kardinia Park since at least the 90s.

[@travmiles]

So good, Greatest Team Of Them All

[@B-tr9kz]

I wish Newcastle could get this kind of funding for McDonald Jones Stadium.

[@jordanklingsporn763]

That stadium is in a safe Labor seat though ;)

[@WarwickGank]

What improvements does MDJ stadium even need?

[@B-tr9kz]

@@WarwickGank I mean I could say that same thing about this Geelong Stadium, especially since they don't play as many home games there as the Knights do in Newcastle due to playing at the MCG. However the major improvements would include: - Better roof coverage for wet weather games. - Upgraded capacity to 40k. Would include turning the two ends into grandstands. - Better all round facilities. Newcastle is twice as big as Geelong, so it definitely deserves a superior stadium.

[@WarwickGank]

@@B-tr9kz Are there any other NRL stadiums with roof coverage? The amenities are fine. I can see why you would want to add two grandstands behind each posts but don’t people enjoy sitting on the hill(s)?

[@B-tr9kz]

@@TheHsan22 6000 average? wtf are you on about?

[@HendrikEbber]

Shouldn't the club and the AFL pay for that?

[@mikespearwood3914]

They should...but in Australia the AFL, NRL, are very wealthy private entities but want taxpayers to fund everything under the weak guise of "community facilities".

[@JoshyMcSquashy_Reviews]

I go for Geelong, I dont live in Geelong but they should invest in free wifi at the stadium cuz god the data is terrible there.

[@benjaminnoakes4]

Keep making these videos mate you do some amazing work I love every video so insightful and well thought out! I'm definitely here for it!

[@r3nw]

Completely different tone in this video compared to the recent ones for Penrith’s and Tasmania’s tax payer funded stadium announcements. Bluebet Stadium’s $309m renovation is “exciting” but GMHBA having $340m government funding over last 20 years has its fairness questioned

[@willnewton3002]

Politics aside, I can’t believe they’ve poured 340million into a ground that looks like a cigar. The spectacle of the game is awful when games are played in geelong

[@r3nw]

@@willnewton3002 agree the ground dimension isn’t ideal but would argue the games often aren’t great spectacles more to the fact Geelong have dominated down there for best part 20 years and barely play big Melbourne clubs at KP.

[@Cipscool]

Id rather my tax money go towards this than fueling foreign wars

[@ACDZ123]

I'd rather my tax money help house Australian people first rather than all the new arrivals labor seem to be letting in by the plane load every hour

[@portadelaidepower1293]

This venue only gets a handful of events a year. 9 AFL then 2 or 3 BBL. The Taxpayers money that has been wasted on this Stadium is an absolute disgrace. The Geelong Football Club turned over $70 millions dollars last year they are Tax Exempt and are classified as a non for profit. Let Geelong pay for it they have enough money.

[@leighreganarblaster9852]

Geelong Cats need found by themselves because the taxpayers oh Victoria and 🇦🇺 already help Geelong Cats with around $150 million around at least years for renovations, it at time Geelong needs to stand on own four praws

[@petersanders2815]

Being one of the most marginal seats, both state and federal, in the country has certain benefits. Pretty smart people down in Geelong!

[@threestumps7560]

Who receives the funds for selling stadium naming rights if the stadium is publicly owned? I think Geelong is asking too much. Geelong FC need to give the public back more than just allowing use of community facilities if it wishes for more taxpayer funds. If Geelong can make such a case, you could include it in the Geelong City Deal. Victoria is up shit creek financially and shouldn't be spending money on new stadiums or stadium upgrades given the way they treated the Comm Games.

[@milchouse]

The Geelong Football Club is the City of Greater Geelong - A competitive Geelong Football Club provides a strong community pillar in a struggling Regional City. It unites the 300,000 people during the on going transition from its industrial/manufacturing roots to its developing professional future. $340M+ over a quarter of a Century is a small price to pay to keep Victoria’s second largest city engaged instead of becoming the next Detroit.

[@ACDZ123]

If they promise to stop welcome to country and associated indigenous knee bending, then mayb I'd consider supporting 😊

[@tspoon772]

Victoria, you make yourself so hard to love

[@rhysh2639]

I personally think that Geelong should play ALL of their home games there....but that won't happen because the AFL only cares about money.

[@58batesy]

Labor has held the federal seat of Corio since 1967, I’d say it’s a fairly safe labor seat

[@58batesy]

Love your videos though, keep em coming

[@threestumps7560]

On the other side of Geelong is Corangamite which is a marginal seat; possibly has taken over Eden-Monaro as the bellwether seat.

[@ETsAFL]

Didn’t they just get an upgrade 😂

[@Adrian-x4g5q]

Why don’t you all complain and whinge about other Government funded projects. Geelong get stuff all infrastructure funds on a per capita basis compared to billion dollar Melbourne funded projects. Let’s not focus on the Billions of dollars of cancelled projects nor the waste spent on funding to appease marginal seats in other areas. What’s the fascination with the premier regional stadium in Australia being an example for other regional centres to follow. Sour grapes, very small minded from capital city elites, opposition football supporters and political agitators.

[@ACDZ123]

Will the AFL stop welcome to country and other associated indigenous arse licking? If not then I'm not interested 😁

[@johndoherty34]

Do you think that all the people outside of Melbourne agree with the amount spent on the underground ,all while the country roads are falling apart.

[@OfficialAshArcher]

Pay for it yourself, Geelong. You don’t deserve another cent of my taxes

[@houls44]

They could have some ODI/T20 games at the stadium to try an justify the expense.

[@AJK-zi5fo]

They already do play ODI and Big Bash cricket there, regularly. Plus, big name concerts (Foo Fighters one example) and swim meets at the adjoining public pool. Kardinia Park is already more than just the Geelong Cats.

[@BDub2024]

I'm having a Harry Secombe (Mr Bumble) moment.... MORE. MORE...

[@michaelfink64]

Tell 'em they're dreamin'.

[@Hectorheroic]

The club should pay for the whole lot.

[@garybrodziak2196]

Pour the money in there - Go Cats....

[@TheLIMREPORT]

Australia is so lucky where state and federal governments would be more than happy to write blank cheques to a certain extent to build grand new stadia. More so than the US at times. Btw we should do that collab soon - maybe on the eve of the AFL/NRL playoffs.

[@andrewkerr5296]

Yea ALL Australians should be happy with THEFT LOL

[@TheLIMREPORT]

@@andrewkerr5296 LOL.. hey at least in NZ.. oh wait.

[@badgerello]

Questionable tone on this one considering the numbers being cited for far more expensive single projects in other states. Imagine getting a new stadium for $340m? 😂 #Vicbias

[@adelaidecrowshighlights4413]

The Taxpayer is being shafted.

[@jordanklingsporn763]

I live in a marginal electorate but we still get sweet FA every election

[@andrewdenny87]

Should have built a new stadium from the ground up with a better sized oval and further from the road on the east side

[@lawlordummett2851]

Tbh though, Collingwood used taxpayer money and federal grants to build netball facilities, they then cut the program, at least Geelong are being straight up

[@BDub2024]

They play cricket there Big Bash. Can they play baseball there too? Can it be more multiple use. If they want an indoor facility how can that be used by other sports during the week, especially in summer.

[@pillwolak]

What a joke this stadium has become. Still can't host finals games thanks to the AFL

[@mikespearwood3914]

Can't believe Geelong still hosts "home" games in Melbourne! What's the point of expanding Kardinia Park just to still sell off games??!!

[@waziammm]

Have a subsidized oval and put their hand out for federal money for facilities majority of teams don't have. I would be be embarrassed to be associated with a club like that.

[@petersanders2815]

Nah, lm loving it.

[@Adrian-x4g5q]

Greatest team of all time

[@markmcinnes1899]

Why should we be embarrassed? It's the best club and great ground to watch footy.

[@kennethjones6650]

My dad welded half of the new grand stands they might last 20- 30 years quality of steel is cheap and crap and it’s dodgey as

[@thebristolbruiser]

Didn’t they just get all that money to host the Commonwealth Games?

[@maxshiraz3447]

The labor party in Victoria spent like drunken sailors and we got nothing for it except for fascism during covid and a fat pension for dan andrews. So it's hard to complain about this.

[@tspoon772]

yeah, at least we will (potentially) get something back from this one. Unlike the Comm Games. Man this state could be so good but chooses to waste money and be run by unions.

[@mathewferstl7042]

You must live in the middle of nowhere if you think our money hasn't been spent on anything. LXRP, WGT, NEL, MTP, RRR, SRL, New Footscray hospital, VHH, New Melton Hospital, about a dozen hospital expansions, 10 community hospitals, over 100 new schools and the list goes on. However most debt was due to covid and NOT infrastructure, heaven forbid we spend money to ensure people stay employed or can afford to buy when they don't have a job. And it's not like we were unique in our covid lockdowns, our longest lockdown was only 5 days longer than NSW longest. Just more murdoch crap.

[@moregoldmoregold]

35% of all Australian Tax goes to welfare. So what dole you on ?

[@sirtng]

Fat chance they get the cash Victoria is broke

[@agoago8011]

They can GF

[@danieljdtaylor]

The disrespect from Geelong to the public taxpayer and the other teams by asking for this after we watched them take their sweet time building the last major publicly funded upgrade that JUST finished. What a joke.

[@Magpie_Mark92]

What makes Geelong so special that they get their own stadium

[@rhysh2639]

Because Geelong isn't in Melbourne. I'm not a Geelong supporter but having a team called "Geelong" and making them play all their games in Melbourne is stupid, hence why they have their own stadium

[@Magpie_Mark92]

@rhysh2639 Fremantle have to come to Perth to play

[@rhysh2639]

@@Magpie_Mark92 Fremantle is a suburb of Perth and is only 18km away from the Perth CBD. Geelong is a city and is 74km away from Melbourne, if you lived in Melbourne or Geelong you would know this.

[@anidiotabroad5318]

It’s not called pork barrel park for nothing, see what you get when you are not a safe labour or liberal seat. No use complaining about it organise and join them. Good luck to them, oh yeh dont forget how they the cats got off hook after the Essendon drug scandal, the guys who were responsible for the Essendon saga came from the cats who had just won a couple of premierships what did we hear from the afl and the government you guessed it crickets….