Eureka Stadium – design description

What does Eureka Stadium look like?

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

The stadium has an oval playing field and is primarily used for Australian football, but it also hosts football, cricket and rugby matches. The facility can accommodate 11,000 spectators (including 5,000 seats).

How did plans to expand Eureka Stadium come about?

On April 12, 2022, the awarding of the 2026 Commonwealth Games to the Australian state of Victoria was announced. The press conference at which the news was made public took place at Eureka Stadium, which was to host athletics competitions during the Games.

In conjunction with the Games, an expansion of Eureka Stadium was planned. In October 2022, the Victorian state government announced that it intended to allocate 150 million Australian dollars for the investment.

What were the plans to expand Eureka Stadium for the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

Ahead of the Games, which were to be held in March 2026, the venue was to receive additional stands with five thousand new, permanent seats. An athletics training track was also to be built south of the oval, at the Ballarat Showgrounds.

In addition, temporary stands were to be added for the duration of the Games, which would increase capacity by 18,000 seats, to 30,000 spectators. A temporary running track was also to be built in the stadium, as the facility was to be the main venue for athletics competitions.

Why have plans to expand Eureka Stadium changed?

In July 2023, the authorities of the state of Victoria withdrew from hosting the Games due to rising costs. However, the expansion of Eureka Stadium was still intended, albeit in a slightly altered form – new renderings were presented in April 2024.

What does the new plan for the Eureka Stadium expansion entail?

The project calls for the expansion of the stands on the southeast side, which will receive an upper tier in the form of two separate, covered segments, accommodating 2,500 spectators each (the stadium's seating capacity will thus increase to 10,000, and the facility's total capacity to about 16,000 spectators).

The construction of an athletics track with floodlights and necessary support facilities in the vicinity of the stadium is still being planned as well.

When will Eureka Stadium be expanded?

In December 2024, it was announced that Kane Construction and Nicholson Construction would be responsible for the construction work. Work officially began on March 7, 2025, and is expected to be completed in late 2026.