The family of the late Frank Costa donates $10m to Geelong for its new indoor training facility
Geelong’s male and female footy programs will come together as part of new upgrades as the Cats receive a massive cash injection for an indoor training hub from a familiar source.
Geelong’s plans for a new multipurpose indoor training facility at Kardinia Park has received a major boost with the family of the late Frank Costa donating $10m to the project.
The commitment was announced at a club foundation meeting last Thursday at GMHBA Stadium.
Frank Costa, a former president, benefactor and patron who died in 2021 at the age of 83, is one of the most influential figures in the club’s history.
After joining the board in 1996 with Geelong amid financial strife, Costa helped turn the Cats into a powerhouse of the competition as Kardinia Park was rebuilt.
This publication understands the club is still deciding on a final location for the hub, which would serve its AFL, VFL, AFLW and VFLW teams and be used for other community and commercial events.
Its final location is subject to discussions with the local council and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust.
The proposal, in the early concept planning stages, will form part of the club’s new capital campaign, with a series of large financial contributions behind it, including the Costa family.
Meanwhile the Cats’ $6.5m refurbishment of its high performance football department, compete with AFLW locker rooms, are expected to be completed by August in time for the new season.
At the club’s best and fairest awards night in October, president Craig Drummond said the Cats were on the cusp of large infrastructure changes.
“We are now well advanced with plans for a redevelopment of our football club and football department facilities,” Drummond said.
“That will see a true integration in our men’s and women’s programs in state-of-the-art facilities at GMHBA Stadium.
“Fundraising has started very strongly due to the generosity of some very large donors.
More Coverage
“These facility upgrades will ensure that the club remains a workplace of choice.
“Which in the environment we’re going into, of even greater player movement, will be a critical differentiator.
“You only need to look at where we were two or three seasons ago (in the AFLW and VFLW programs), it is absolute chalk and cheese from where we are today.”
Originally published as The family of the late Frank Costa donates $10m to Geelong for its new indoor training facility
Why Brown blames Dangerfield for Mad Monday controversy
SSP watch: VFL star, ex-Docker battle for Hawks spot
Bruhn returns to Cats training as Bucks begins coaching comeback
‘We’ve picked Hunter the footballer’: Holmes brothers unite at Geelong
Holmes backs Bruhn, young guns to help Cats ‘go again’ in flag hunt
