The remodeled stadium now has a capacity of 11,000 spectators including 5,000 undercover seats.
The stadium is expected to boost visitor numbers to Ballarat by 21,000 people each year and increase annual tourism spending in the city by up to $3.6 million.
Key improvements to Mars Stadium included:
- realigning the oval orientation to meet AFL standards
- replacing and improving the playing surface
- installing watering and drainage systems
- reducing the oval size to match that of Etihad Stadium
- upgrading change rooms and match-day facilities to meet AFL standards
- upgrading stadium seating, providing public shelters, toilets for all-abilities access, food and beverage facilities and ticketing infrastructure
- improving lighting around the main oval and providing a video and electronic scoreboard.
Around 3,000 jobs were created and $11 million injected into the regional economy.
The redevelopment was backed by the Victorian Government’s Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund which is supporting major projects and industries and has helped generate more than 4,600 regional jobs.
The Victorian Government provided $31.5 million towards the Mars Stadium precinct redevelopment, which included the Mars Stadium upgrade, the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre, the C.E. Brown Reserve redevelopment and the Ballarat Showgrounds.