Victorian Regional Development Jaala Pulford and Western Bulldogs chief executive officer Gary Kent, with Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh, officially called for the new 50-square-metre video scoreboard to power up early Monday morning, beaming the countdown to the the first AFL game for premiership points in Ballarat.

Final fit-outs, including asphalting and coaches boxes, are in focus now the 5000 new undercover seats are in place. The official inspection comes 75 days from the Bulldogs’ round 22 clash against Port Adelaide.

Standing out on the playing arena, Mr Kent could almost imagine the roaring crowds come game day.

“It’ll be great for spectators. I think Ballarat Bulldogs’ fans and generally anyone who sits in that stand is going to love it,” Mr Kent said.

“...Hopefully we can build that (home ground) advantage and the boys will love playing here.”

Mr Kent said excitement for the game was building, particularly among the Bulldogs’ Ballarat links Chris Maple (football general manager), Brett Goodes (engagement officer) and footballer Jordan Roughead.

Also close to home, Ms Pulford said it had been extraordinary to watch the stadium build unfold as she drove to work each morning.

“The challenge for this project is to convince the AFL this stadium would be 100 per cent ready on time back in September last year,” Ms Pulford said. “When they confirmed the fixture, that’s the point we knew we would deliver this very ambitious election commitment.”

Ms Pulford likened the standing room hill, along the showground side of the ground, to “old-style footy experience”. But, Ms Pulford said project really pushes Ballarat forward socially and economically in the first major outdoor stadium of its kind in western Victoria.

Western Bulldogs have committed to play two to three AFL home games in Ballarat from next season. 

The stadium is part of a $38.5 million redevelopment of the Eureka precinct. Stadium works featured ground reorientation and resized playing field, new lighting, grand stands and the video scoreboard, which is equivalent to screens at Etihad Stadium and the MCG.

COMMUNITY health and wellbeing remains a strong focus for Ballarat City Council in the Eureka Stadium project.

Sporting groups across Ballarat outside the city’s football ranks have already started to test the stadium feel out on the surface, amid the new grandstands and seating infrastructure.

Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh said it was important to deliver an amazing AFL match on August 19 and equally as crucial to deliver other sporting pathways from the stadium.

“You can’t have a beautiful lush oval like this without the whole community to embrace it and the minute you see people doing that you know you’re actually delivering back,” Cr McIntosh said.

“We just know there’s been a lot of work done previously in many years looking at the health and wellness  of communities, looking at obesity and nutrition concerns, and the level of activity and engagement of our community.

“...We know that it’s very important as we’re growing as a city that our sporting facilities keep up with the population growth. It’s a strong population growth and with that we absolutely need to respond, with events with great opportunities for business. Most importantly, we want our community to be happy and healthy and to do that with opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs chief executive officer Gary Kent said playing football here would help kick up the club’s community programs up a notch. 

Mr Kent said the club was committed to long-term work off the field in Ballarat and western Victoria and on-field success, particularly with an AFL premiership, helped create more opportunities via increased sponsorship interest. 

The Bulldogs have expanded club literacy, men’s health and youth leadership programs deep into the state’s south-west.