Key facts
| Address | WIN Sports & Entertainment Centres, Cnr Crown and Harbour Streets, Wollongong |
| Capacity | 23,000 seats |
| Build Date | 1911 |
| Record Attendance | 19,608 (St. George Illawarra vs Cronulla-Sutherland, 2005) |
Description
Wollongong Showground (also referred to as WIN Stadium) is a stadium located in Wollongong, Australia. This multi-purpose stadium was built in 1911. It was the permanent home of the Illawarra Steelers NRL team during 1982-1998. Currently, it is the home of the St George Illawarra Dragons R.L.C. that shares the stadium along with Wollongong Wolves. Its total capacity is 23,000 people.
In 1982, when the Illawarra Steelers became one of the teams participating in the NSWRFL premiership, all of their games were held at Wollongong Showground. The southern stand was constructed in 1992. In 1997, the naming rights were purchased by WIN TV.
The renovation of the stadium that cost $8 million was completed in the spring of 2002. Half of all the expenses were covered by WIN Corporation. A new Northern Grandstand was constructed as well. It had 6000 seats, which allowed increasing the total capacity of the stadium.
In 2006, it was planned to build the new Western stand with 2,500 seats, media facilities, corporate boxes, and food/beverage outlets. There was planned to be a 4-star hotel, allowing fans to watch various sports events indoor. However, NSW State Government did not accept the redevelopment. In 2009, it was announced that a new Western stand would be built with a simpler design than the original plan.
FAQ
WIN Stadium is a multi-purpose sports venue located in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It primarily serves as a rugby league and soccer stadium, hosting various sporting events and occasional concerts.
WIN Stadium was officially opened in 1911, originally known as Wollongong Showground. However, it has undergone several renovations and upgrades over the years, with major redevelopments occurring in the 1980s and 2000s.
The stadium is named after its sponsor, WIN Corporation, a regional television network based in Wollongong. WIN acquired the naming rights to the stadium in 2002, and it has been known as WIN Stadium ever since.
WIN Stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 23,000 spectators. This includes both permanent seating and hill areas where fans can sit on the grass.
The stadium serves as the home ground for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. It also hosts matches for the Wollongong Wolves FC, who compete in the National Premier Leagues NSW.
Besides rugby league and soccer matches, WIN Stadium has hosted various other sporting events, including rugby union games and cricket matches. The venue has also been used for music concerts and community events.
Yes, WIN Stadium is part of the larger Wollongong Entertainment Centre precinct. This complex includes WIN Entertainment Centre, an indoor arena used for various sports and entertainment events, located adjacent to the stadium.
