Simonds Stadium’s Stage 4 redevelopment is officially underway, with demolition of the Brownlow and Jennings Stands beginning this week.

Geelong Cats chief executive Brian Cook and Minister for Sport John Eren this morning marked the start of construction works that will increase the stadium’s capacity to 36,000.

The state government contributed $75 million to the project while the City of Greater Geelong made a $6 million contribution and the AFL and Geelong Cats, $4 million each.

The new stand, which is due for completion by May 2017, will house new facilities including a large 600 seat function room, media and broadcasting areas, football department facilities and a social club for patrons on match days.

The Stage 4 redevelopment will also include the ‘Sunrise Centre’, a facility aiming at getting people with a disability back to work.

Simonds Stadium already hosts Melbourne Victory A-league outings and will soon welcome the West Indies and Melbourne’s Big Bash teams for a festival of cricket. The City of Greater Geelong will also bid for more events once the redevelopment is complete.

During the peak of construction, approximately 90 extra jobs are expected to be created within the stadium.