The Bulldogs are Ballarat bound to take on the Adelaide Crows on Saturday, April 23 at MARS Stadium in Ballarat.
With the first bounce at 1:45pm, here's everything you need to know to ensure that you're game day ready.
An upgraded match day experience at Mars Stadium awaits
Thanks to a $6.35 million State Government investment in spectator facilities at Mars Stadium, the game-day experience at the venue has been improved since our last AFL home match there in 2021. New facilities and amenities include:
- Additional accessible seating in the Western and Eastern stands.
- Upgraded entrances with new ticket boxes.
- Covered areas to make it easier and more comfortable for fans to enter the ground.
- Permanent bathrooms to replace temporary toilets on match days.
- Improved standing areas.
- Permanent food and beverage areas.
ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony
As part of the AFL’s ANZAC Appeal Round, the Western Bulldogs will pay their respects to all Australian service men and women who gave their lives for the nation.
An ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony will take place prior to the first bounce, from 1:28pm, featuring representatives from Ballarat’s Royal Victoria Regiment.
The Club encourages all patrons to arrive early, and be in their seats, to participate in this ceremony.
Member services and fan activities at Mars Stadium
FanZone: Inside Gate 3 on the netball courts (directly behind the interchange benches), patrons will find a range of kids activities including inflatable, handball target and kids activities games to keep young Bulldogs fans entertained before the first bounce.
Macca’s Kick-2-Kick: Bring your footy with you to the game on Saturday, and stick around after the final siren to have a kick with your family and friends on Mars Stadium once the players have left the field.
Bulldogs Shop: To ensure you’re decked out in the latest red, white and blue kit, visit the Bulldogs Shop team at their outlet inside Gate 1 and Gate 2 at Mars Stadium.
Membership Enquiries: Got questions about your membership? The Western Bulldogs Membership Services team will be on site at MARS Stadium on Saturday to provide any support or assistance needed. You will find the membership team located in the ticket booths at Gate 1 and Gate 2, as well as staff outside Gate 3.
Getting there, and getting in
Arrive Early: Gates will open at 12:00pm with the first bounce at 1:45pm. An ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony will take place from 1:28pm shortly after team entry. The club anticipate there will be large crowds and some queuing, so please give yourself ample time to get to Mars Stadium and making your way to your seat. There is a basketball tournament at nearby Selkirk Stadium which may also impact traffic around the venue.
Vaccination Certificate & Checking In: Patrons must present a valid form of proof of double vaccination status or an approved medical exemption prior to entry at MARS Stadium. For a seamless arrival and entry into Mars Stadium, please have open the Service Victoria App on your smart phone for QR Code check in, and have your COVID 19 Vaccination Certificate ready to present on your smart phone as you enter the stadium.
Ballarat Bus Shuttle | Ballarat Station to Mars Stadium
From 11:30am, a shuttle bus service will be ready to depart Ballarat Station Bus Terminal and travel to Mars Stadium for patrons.
From 3:00pm, the return shuttle bus service will be ready to depart Mars Stadium and drop passengers off in Lydiard St North outside the train station, a second drop off will be made in Sturt Street outside the Ballarat Town Hall. Services are expected to operate until all patrons have left (5:30pm approx)
Please note, the Park & Ride Shuttle service that has operated on previous AFL match days will not be in operation.
VLine Train Services
Regular trains will be operating with one additional service operating after the match. These will be running at full capacity (six car trains) for patrons travelling to and from Melbourne.
Car Parking
Hundreds of parking spaces will be available at C.E Brown Reserve and surrounding ovals. These parking spaces can be accessed from Dowling Street, giving patrons access to the Mars Stadium gates via a short walk.
Additional on-street parking will be available for drivers in Howitt and Norman Streets, as well as Creswick Road (north of Norman Street).
Drivers are reminded there is accessible parking at the North Ballarat Sports Club, however all other traffic will be directed to park at one of the other designated parking areas.
A drop-off and pick-up zone will also be set up directly outside Gate 2 on Creswick Road.
Patrons are advised that parking in the area will be in high demand due to a basketball tournament at nearby Selkirk Stadium, so arrive early and allow plenty of time to find a car park and arrive at your seat if you plan to drive.
Facemasks: In the instance that social distancing isn’t possible we encourage patrons to use a facemask.
Plan your visit to Ballarat early, local eateries, attractions and accommodation in high demand
Play on after the footy and make sure to bring your appetite to discover all the new eateries and bars in town, or make it family affair and go for gold at the iconic Sovereign Hill.
Stay close. Go further. Visit Victoria. Head to visitvictoria.com to start planning your trip to Ballarat to watch the Bulldogs now.
Our friends at Visit Ballarat have also together the top four things to do whilst you’re in Ballarat for the footy, from e-scooters to craft brews. Click here to check out your footy itinerary.
With school holidays, a public holiday long weekend, and other public events on in town, accommodation across the Ballarat region is in high demand. If you plan to make a weekend of it in Ballarat, make sure you book early to avoid disappointment as accommodation is selling out fast. Click here for more details on places to stay in Ballarat.
Member Access - Digital Membership Cards
Ballarat General Admission & Reserved Seat Members can access MARS Stadium by simply scanning in via the Western Bulldogs digital membership card at the gate. Information on accessing your digital membership card can be found here
All other access members can purchase a $10 general admission ticket through Ticketmaster using their home barcode or purchase reserved seat through the public on-sale.
Please note general admission members will see seats in their digital card – this is NOT your actual seat and refers only to general admission bays.
We understand and acknowledge that not all members own a smart phone device and will be concerned about how to access MARS Stadium.
If you are a member who requires additional support, or if you are experiencing difficulties accessing your digital membership, please don’t hesitate to contact our membership team at membership@westernbulldogs.com.au or on 1300 46 36 47 between 10AM - 4PM
Please note members will not be able to scan into MARS Stadium using the traditional plastic card. These cards have been issued as keepsakes, with all stadiums moving to digital ticketing and scan-in for the upcoming season.
