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Mars Stadium will benefit from a major redevelopment project ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in the Australian state of Victoria.
The 11,000-seat stadium, which serves as the home of the Western Bulldogs AFL Aussie rules football team, is owned and operated by the City of Ballarat.
Mars Stadium is set to stage athletics and para athletics events during the Commonwealth Games, and the Victorian state government has announced that the venue will receive upgrades of up to A$150m (£83m/€96m/$93m) in the lead-up to the event.
A new athletics track will be built, while the stadium’s permanent seated capacity will also rise by 5,000. For the Games, an additional 18,000 temporary seats will be installed.
Victoria was awarded hosting rights to the 2026 Commonwealth Games back in April, and the event is set to be staged at numerous venues across the state. The 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground will stage the opening ceremony, with Ballarat included on a host-city list that also features Geelong, Bendigo and Gippsland.
Ballarat is also set to host marathon and boxing events, while mountain bike racing will be staged in nearby Creswick. The Ballarat Saleyards will house the Games Village, which will be designed in consultation with the local community and celebrate the culture of the Wadawurrung people.
Additionally, the state government is investing A$50m to upgrade Ballarat’s train station in a “historically sensitive” way ahead of the Games. Passenger lifts will be added on both platforms, while a connecting pedestrian overpass will also be fitted.
Mars Stadium is also known as Eureka Stadium. Confectionery company Mars Wrigley extended its sponsorship of the venue in February.
Jacinta Allan, Victoria’s Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, said: “We’re investing in Eureka Stadium to ensure it’s a world-class venue not just for Victoria 2026 but for decades to come. Millions will tune in to watch athletics and the Ballarat Saleyards will get a new lease of life – this is just part of the legacy of Victoria 2026.”
Ballarat Mayor Daniel Mooney added: “This investment will help ensure our city is ready for the tens of thousands of visitors expected in Ballarat each day during the Games.
“From a council perspective we are particularly pleased that this investment will help fast-track delivery of a number of the council’s long-term strategic infrastructure priorities, including development of a world-class sporting precinct, upgrade of the Ballarat train station and regeneration and revitalisation of the Latrobe Street saleyards site.”
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will mark the first multi-location edition of the event. The English city of Birmingham hosted the 2022 event during the summer.
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