Cats secure cash for stand upgrade

Demolition works will start early next year on Simonds Stadium's Doug Wade Stand after the Geelong Football Club received the green light to build its $49 million stand.
 
The State Government yesterday granted the Cats an early Christmas present an additional $1.5 million to pave the way for the construction of the new stand.

Geelong came within just days of being forced to postpone or even abandon the upgrade after discovering a $12 million shortfall in the tender process.

The club was forced to scale back plans for stage three of the redevelopment cutting capacity by 1000 seats, removing a supporters' lounge and downgrading from concrete to steel to press ahead.

Cats chief executive officer Brian Cook revealed in November the club fell $4 million short and faced the real prospect of deferring works for a year.

The State Government yesterday confirmed it had approved in principle a request from the Geelong Football Club for additional funding, taking its total contribution to $26.5 million.

It clears the way for the current Doug Wade Stand to be demolished in the second week of January.