The Melbourne Renegades are heading back to Geelong this summer and, for the first time, the team will open its KFC BBL|15 campaign with back-to-back home games at GMHBA Stadium.
The Renegades will host two prime-time matches at Kardinia Park, locked in for Monday, 15 December, and Sunday, 21 December. Both games are scheduled for 7:15 PM AEDT, with opponents confirmed when the full BBL15 fixture drops later this week.
With one game landing right in the final week of the Victorian school term and one in school holidays in the build-up to Christmas, the two-night Geelong blockbuster schedule promises non-stop Big Bash action to help kick-start summer in the region.
The fixture will mark the eighth season the Renegades have brought Big Bash cricket to Geelong and means the club will play their remaining three home games of BBL15 at Marvel Stadium in what will be an action-packed January schedule.
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin said the return of the Renegades was a welcome boost for the region.
“We’re delighted to welcome the Renegades back for another summer of Big Bash at GMHBA Stadium,” Griffin said. “The atmosphere these games bring is fantastic – they’re a real highlight on the Geelong event calendar and we’re looking forward to two more big nights under lights.”
Renegades General Manager James Rosengarten has worked closely with both Marvel Stadium and Kardinia Park Stadium Trust to finalise what all three parties believe is a balanced split of home games.
“Geelong has always been a special part of our summer schedule,” Rosengarten said. “The support from our fans in the region has grown every season, and we’re excited to deliver two huge nights of entertainment and cricket for them this year.”
“These won’t just be games of cricket – they’ll be major events. We know how much cricket fans in the Geelong region love getting behind the Gades, and these matches will play a crucial role in setting up our season.”
Geelong has produced no shortage of Renegades highlights over the years.
Dwayne Bravo’s three-wicket haul and trademark dance moves set the tone in the first ever Big Bash game before Aaron Finch and Cameron White combined for a 91-run partnership to seal the deal against Sydney Sixers.
More recently, Will Sutherland launched a colossal six on the roof of the Reg Hickey Stand in BBL12 while it was Tom Rogers and Fergus O’Neill who steamrolled the Hurricanes in last year’s home opener.
Renegades Memberships – including dedicated Geelong packages and 2-or-3-Game options – will go on sale at 12pm, Tuesday 1 July.
The full BBL|15 fixture is scheduled to be released on Thursday, 3 July.
