Eureka Stadium – design description

What does Eureka Stadium look like today?

Eureka Stadium (known as Mars Stadium for sponsorship reasons) in Ballarat was built in 1990 to replace a former horse racing track. The facility was given its current form following the construction of new stands in 2016-2017, with further upgrades taking place between 2020 and 2022.

The stadium has an oval playing field and is primarily used for Australian football, but also hosts football, cricket or rugby matches. The facility has a capacity of 11,000 spectators (including 6,000 seats).

Why is there a plan to expand Eureka Stadium?

On April 12, 2022, it was announced that the Australian state of Victoria had been awarded the hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The press conference announcing the news took place at Eureka Stadium, where athletics competitions are to be held during the Games.

An expansion of Eureka Stadium is planned in conjunction with the Games. In October 2022, the Victorian state government announced that it intends to spend A$ 150 million on the investment.

What are the plans for Eureka Stadium expansion?

The stadium will receive a temporary athletics track for the Games, which will be held in March 2026. Additional stands with five thousand new permanent seats will be built adjacent to the oval, as well as temporary structures to accommodate 18,000 fans, increasing the arena's capacity for the Games to nearly 30,000 spectators. To the south of the oval, at the Ballarat Showgrounds, an athletics training track will be built.

After the Games, the temporary stands and the running track will be removed. The new permanent stands on the east side will receive a canopy and additional standing areas will be created on the south side. The athletics training track is also to be retained permanently.

When will Eureka Stadium be extended?

The redevelopment project is to be prepared by Cox Architecture in collaboration with local Morton+Co Architects. The selection of a main contractor and the start of construction work is expected to take place later in 2023.