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Cats and Demons clash to stay at Skilled Stadium

Geelong chief executive Brian Cook is hopeful Geelong's next game at Skilled Stadium, against Melbourne in a fortnight, will be a sell-out, the Geelong Advertiser reports today.

The capacity will be increased to more than 23,000 for the clash with 800 seats to be removed from the northern terrace to allow for extra standing room.

The game could take on blockbuster status if the two win this weekend. Melbourne is on fire in second spot on the ladder while Geelong is favourite to beat Hawthorn.

But Cook rejected suggestions that the game would be switched to another venue, indicating recent fixtures between the two teams have barely drawn 23,000, while less than half the Telstra Dome crowd equates to double the profits at Skilled Stadium.

``No chance, the issue for is that we need those eight games in Geelong, one to satisfy our local supporters, two, from a commercial point of view, we make $450,000 per game out of a 20-odd thousand crowd at Skilled Stadium and if we go to Telstra with a 48,000 crowd, we're lucky to make $275,000,'' Cook said.

``So you're really talking about a $200,000 difference by transferring games and people have bought signs, boxes, seats, it would be a massive project to move the game to another venue and it's one that we wouldn't even think of considering.

``I hope it is (an all-ticketed affair). I'd like it to be sold out before the game starts and that will depend upon the rate of people buying tickets of course, so it's up to the supporters as to whether that happens or not, but certainly you can buy a ticket for that game.''