Response attributed to City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves
"The City of Ballarat supports the decision to relocate the Round 18 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows from Mars Stadium to Marvel Stadium.
While we acknowledge the impact for local fans hoping to see this marquee match in Ballarat, we understand the importance of providing access to the largest possible audience for such a high-demand event - particularly with both clubs likely to be in finals contention and a significant interstate supporter presence expected.
We are pleased that Western Bulldogs members with Ballarat access will still have guaranteed entry to Marvel Stadium for Round 18. This ensures the Ballarat community remains central to this fixture, despite the change in location.
The City of Ballarat continues to be a proud partner of the Western Bulldogs and is strongly committed to the ongoing development of Mars Stadium. We appreciate being involved in conversations with the Club and State Government leading up to this decision. We will continue to explore alternative options together for our future matches under the partnership while construction continues.
We know that just as importantly beyond match days, the Bulldogs will continue to deliver exceptional programs that mean the world to the people of Ballarat such as Bulldogs Read, the Youth Leadership program, the Next Generation Academy and the Sons and Daughters of the West health programs. And we look forward to welcoming the Western Bulldogs AFLW team to Mars Stadium for the upcoming AFLW season."
Read the statement from the AFL and Western Bulldogs here.
