FAQ

ACCESSIBLE PARKING 

On Major Event days, Accessible Parking will be located in the B6 parking area (Enter via Latrobe Terrace) 

Please note: 

• Accessible parking is available on a first in basis. 
• Patrons must display their Accessible Parking sticker to access these areas. 
• The customer service/traffic staff will be able to direct you to the assigned accessible parking area. 

On Non-Major Event days 

Accessible parking is available in the following locations: 

• Limited spaces are located within the A3 car park directly out the front of the Premiership Stand. 
• Along Park Crescent directly in front of Kardinia Aquatic Centre 

Assistance dogs are permitted entry into the venue – please ensure they are wearing their specific uniform so they can be easily identified.

Braille signage is displayed on elevators, function rooms and rest rooms within the Brownlow, Premiership and Joel Selwood Stands. 

ACCESSIBLE SEATING   

Accessible and companion seating is located in the following sections: 

Reg Hickey Stand
Located on Level A accessed via Gate 5 and take south ramp.  Access can also be granted via the Sports House Lift Registry: contact enquiries@kardiniapark.vic.gov.au directly for more information and to register. 

Premiership Stand
Located on Level A. Enter via Gate 5, Gate 8 or Gate 13 and take the lift(s) to level A

Players Stand
Located on Level A. Enter via  Gate 5 or Gate 8 and take the lift(s) to level 1. 

Brownlow Stand
Located on Level A. Enter via Gate 13 and take the lift to Level A. 

Joel Selwood Stand
Located on Level A, and Level C. Enter via Gate 1 or Gate 13 and take the lift(s) to level A. or C 

A First aid station can be found at the back of Players Stand (Ground Level) and Joel Selwood Stand (Ground Level). 

Hearing loops are available in the Presidents Room, Deakin Cats Community Centre (DCCC), Fred Flanagan Room and Geelong Sports Museum. 

Mobility aids and prams are permitted into venue if they are able to be stowed safely under your seat. They cannot be parked in a walkway or block patron access to exits. 

A Parents’ Room is located on Level A Joel Selwood Stand, near Bay A37. 

Disabled toilets are located throughout the entire venue and feature a baby change table. Breast pumps are permitted inside GMHBA Stadium. 

All men’s and women’s toilets in Players, Premiership, Brownlow and Joel Selwood Stands have ambulant cubicles.  

There are also a number of dedicated disabled toilets located throughout the venue. All disabled toilets in the venue are unisex and also feature a baby change table. 

A Changing Places Facility is also available in Brownlow Stand Level A, near Bay A36 and Joel Selwood Stand Ground Level. 

The Geelong Sports Museum toilets are also all-gender toilets. 

A dedicated accessible entry lane is available at all major gates.  For assistance, or to navigate the best path of travel, please don’t hesitate to ask any of our friendly and helpful staff or contact us prior to discuss your access requirements. 

For any additional needs assistance on the day of the event, please seek out the Inclusion Officer (identified in orange vest) or call 0439 305 980 to speak with the officer directly. 

There are multiple water fountains/bottle refill stations located throughout the venue that are also wheelchair accessible. 

Our stadium features two Changing Places facilities.  Changing Places is an accessible toilet for people with a disability requiring a hoist. It is accessed with an MLAK key. Patrons will have their own key, or one is available via the Inclusion Officer. Changing Places facilities are located in Aisle 36 of the Level A Brownlow Stand and Ground Level of the Joel Selwood Stand. 

During the event a dedicated Inclusion Officer is available to help patrons navigate the stadium and provide assistance to any people with additional needs.  Don’t hesitate to contact the Inclusion Officer directly throughout the event on 0439 305 980. 

A Multi-Faith prayer and reflection Room is located on Level A of Joel Selwood Stand (Aisle A45).  The space welcomes all patrons regardless of belief or religion and includes a quiet space, wash facilities, prayer mats, comfortable seating and a shoe rack. 

Companion Card holders and companions must enter the Stadium at the same time.  Companions requesting access on their own with the Companion Card, will be refused entry. 

The Sensory Zone is the name of the holistic project behind our Sensory Inclusive Stadium accreditation.  It includes the provision of a Sensory Room, Sensory Bags, Weighted Lap Mats, Social Stories and Staff Training. The Sensory Zone is more than a sensory room, it is an inclusive, equitable program providing outstanding customer experiences. 

A sensory need/sensory processing challenge is when a guest finds noises, smells, lights and even crowds not only overwhelming from the sensory perspective but also sometimes physically painful. Because of this, these guests often find visiting a stadium event challenging. 

The Sensory Room is located in the Deakin Cats Community Centre on the Ground Level concourse at the back of the Players Stand – inside Gate 8 (Doug Wade Gate). 

If you are unsure how to access the room please see a staff member for assistance. 

No you do not need to be a member.  These resources are available to each person visiting the stadium

All resources are free of any charge.

No reservation is required however, please be mindful that at busy times there may be multiple users of the space. 

Basic information such as name, age, number of people in your group, times entered/exited are gathered at the Sensory Zone to help assess the initiative’s overall use and track trends.  Waivers are also required to be signed when accessing the Sensory Zone, a Sensory Bag or Weighted Lap Mat. 

In the interests of continual improvement, it is also optional to provide an email address and participate in a survey about your experience at the stadium. 

Yes, there are facilities located on the Ground Level of Players Stand. 

Water is most welcome, but it is a food-free zone.

Yes, parental/guardian/carer supervision is required at all times. This is a requirement of utilising the room. 

Sensory bags containing fidget toys, noise cancelling headphones, anti-glare sunglasses and other resources, are available to borrow on Event days. These are available at no cost, however, you will be required to leave a license/ID. 

Sensory bags and lap mats are available to borrow from the Sensory Room, First Aid Rooms or via the Inclusion Officer.  For all other areas, please see your friendly staff member for assistance. 

Sensory bags are to be returned to the same collection point on the same day as the event.  Your license/ID will then be returned to you.

• Glare free sunglasses 
• Fidget tools 
• Noise cancelling headphones 
• Communication card 
• Stadium Map 

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust and the Geelong Cats have developed social stories with support from Deakin University, which aim to show guests what they may see and experience during an event at GMHBA stadium. The social stories have photographs and simple text to be  read or shared with guests prior to attending. Many people find social stories can help prepare them and feel more comfortable about what they may experience throughout the day. 

These are available below for download in Word for ease of personalisation. 

AFL

Big Bash League

A-League

Download the “Going to GMHBA Stadium for a Geelong Cats game Social Story” here (.doc)
Download the “Going to GMHBA Stadium for a Melbourne Renegades game Social Story” here (.doc)
Download the “Going to GMHBA Stadium Social Story for a Western United game” here (.doc)

The following websites have some great advice/suggestions or talk to your healthcare provider.

• https://www.spdstar.org/
• http://sinetwork.org/home-activities-children/
• https://sensoryprocessingdisorderparentsupport.com/
• https://www.spdstar.org/node/938

KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized worldwide for using their resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs; not just those with Autism.

Since the program’s inception, KultureCity has created over 550sensory inclusive venues in the USA and beyond; this includes special events such as: NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, MLB All Star Weekend. KultureCity has won many awards for its efforts: NASCAR Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award in 2017, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Quiet Space Sensory Room at Quicken Loans Arena was a finalist for the 2018 Stadium Business Award, and the 2018 Clio Sports Silver for social good in partnership with Cleveland Cavaliers/Quicken Loans Arena.KultureCity was also awarded one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019 by FastCompany.

We thank our collaborating partners: Geelong Cats, Leisure Networks, Deakin University, BCYF, Barwon Paediatric Services, Kane Constructions, La Trobe Community Health Service, NDIS, G21, Gateways Support Services, Armstrong Creek School, Diversitat, Early Childhood Early Intervention Working Group, Untapped, Kane Constructions and City of Greater Geelong and the Percy Baxter Charitable Trust managed by Perpetual.

HOW DO I PURCHASE TICKETS TO AN EVENT AT GMHBA STADIUM? 

Events at GMHBA Stadium utilise a ticketing provider. When it comes to purchasing tickets, please ensure you have read which authorised ticketing agency has been engaged, whether it be Ticketmaster or Ticketek. 

All tickets should be purchased from a legitimate retailer, and should you purchase a ticket via another service i.e., Viagogo, eBay, Gumtree, scalpers, or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void and/or have been/will be cancelled. 

Ticketing Agencies: 

Ticketmaster on 13 61 00 

https://www.tickemaster.com.au  

Ticketek on 13 28 49 

https://www.ticketek.com.au  

Event day tickets can be purchased at Gate 1 – Polly Farmer, Gate 5 – Bernie Smith and Gate 13 – Bob Davis. Ticket sales from the gates will be updated within the event page. 

Keep a record of your transaction and account number to assist the staff to quickly and efficiently handle your query. 

Contact the ticketing agency you have purchased from prior to the event: 

Ticketmaster: 13 61 00
Ticketek: 13 28 49 

If you lose your tickets on the way to the event, please see one of the friendly staff members at any of the ticket boxes located at the venue. 

Tickets may or may not be eligible for a refund, depending on the event. All ticket refunds will need to go through the ticketing agency. 

Please visit the: 

Ticketmaster refund page 

Ticketek refund page 

These pages will provide you with the adequate information on how to apply for a refund. 

Please contact the ticketing agency for the specific event if you would like to change your original seating location due to medical reasons. 

Ticketmaster: 13 61 00 

Ticketek: 13 28 49 

Concession availability and entitlements vary from event to event, depending on the club or promoter. Information about concession tickets will be provided at point of sale on the ticketing agency website. 

There is limited public car parking available within the Kardinia Park Precinct.  

For most major events, a parking fee will be applied. 

On major event days, accessible parking will be located in the B6 Car Park, and can be accessed via Entrance B, Latrobe Terrace. Please note, accessible parking is strictly limited, and patrons must display their accessible parking permit to access these areas.

*PLEASE NOTE**

• To avoid delays when entering the stadium, please download your ticket to your phone before arriving at the ground.
• Please enter via the gate stated on your ticket.
• Drop off locations on Major Event days have been revised in and around the Kardinia Park precinct.
  
  Main Drop Off
  Is located in Verner Street, on the eastern side of GMHBA Stadium. This area is also the designated drop off and pick up area for Uber and Taxi’s.Accessible Drop Off
  Is available for patrons with accessible needs via Gate A, off Kilgour Street. Upon arrival at the gate the Traffic controller will direct vehicles to proceed via the internal roadway to the drop off area outside the entrance to the Geelong Netball Courts.

  Check event specific information for all other details

Free parking is available throughout the Kardinia Park Precinct.

Public bus stops are located along Moorabool Street, directly opposite Gate 5 – Bernie Smith (river end) and Gate 1 – Polly Farmer (city end). 

The bus routes are subject to change based on road closures along Moorabool Street, these will be implemented for specific major events and you should continue to monitor the Kardinia Park website for updates. 

View the following webpages for more information and to find the most appropriate stop for you: 

• Public Transport Victoria 
• CDC Victoria 
• McHarry’s Buslines Geelong 

Supporter buses enter off Latrobe Terrace into Park Crescent and park in front of the marked bus bay directly outside the Kardinia Park Aquatic Centre. This is where passengers depart the bus and head to their respective entry (refer to your ticket). These buses will remain here for the duration of the match. 

Geelong is approximately one hour from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station, with South Geelong Station located 450 metres to the east.

Additional services may be provided by V/Line on Major Event days. Patrons are encouraged to visit the V/Line and/or Public Transport Victoria websites, for more information.

On major event days, a Taxi Rank is located on Verner Street. This rank is located outside of the road closures on Moorabool Street.  

Taxis can be booked at any time by phoning 131 008. 

Certain items are not permitted inside the venue. Please refer to the GMHBA Stadium Conditions of Entry for a list of prohibited items.

Patrons are permitted to bring bottles of water, soft drink or sports drink into the Stadium. 

Consider the environment and bring a re-usable water bottle to refill at one of our bottle refill stations available around the stadium. 

Any open bottles may be checked by security due to liquor licensing requirements. 

Prams are permitted into the venue however must fit and be placed safely under your seat, this is to not block access/exits for other patrons. 

Soft eskies are permitted so long as they fit under your seat. Hard eskies are not permitted into GMHBA Stadium. 

Thermoses containing tea, coffee and soup are allowed. These may be checked by security due to liquor licensing requirements. 

Aerosol cans, including any aerosol spray on sunscreens, are not permitted inside the venue. However, sunscreen in non-aerosol pump containers and tubes are permitted. 

Pass-outs are issued at the discretion of the Stadium. Should a pass-out be applicable, patrons will need to have their ticket scanned out and re-scanned on their way in to regain entry into the venue. 

To report any anti-social behaviour during events, you can text our text line on 0488 252 000 and Stadium Management will deal with the issue as promptly as possible.

If you would like to raise any concerns outside of event days, please send an email to enquiries@kardiniapark.vic.gov.au

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust are committed to ensuring GMHBA Stadium is a comfortable and supported environment for all, including those with access needs. Please view the accessibility  section of our website to view full details of the services available for visitors with access needs. 

GMHBA Stadium is an outdoor, open-air facility. An event may be delayed if adverse weather is experienced, however, this decision is determined by the Trust and event promoter. 

Patrons should check Kardinia Park Stadium Trust Facebook for updated details and prepare for wet weather by bringing jackets or ponchos. Umbrellas are not permitted to be used inside the venue as they block the view of other patrons. 

A change to traffic conditions will be in place around GMHBA Stadium during and after major events. Please visit the event page for specific details. 

Post-match Kick2Kick is subject to venue management decision on the event day. 

No, GMHBA Stadium is a cashless venue.

Please visit the Contact us section of our website.

March 16: Rd1 AFL Season – Geelong vs St Kilda.

Gate 1 – Polly Farmer. 

Yes, the Joel Selwood Stand contains two public lifts.

Yes, GHMBA Stadium’s concourse is now fully connected. However, for speed of entry, it is recommended you enter the stadium via the gate stated on your ticket.

Yes, standing room at GMHBA Stadium is fully ticketed.

Yes, externally located next to Gate 1 – Polly Farmer.

Early April 2024.