It is already booked out by the general public and corporate event organisers on game days through August. Bookings are available on a three-month rolling basis.
Event sales manager at GMHBA Stadium and Higher Mark, Kylie Nicol, told micenet the move to open a restaurant was a joint decision by the club and Lucas, a Geelong resident.
Lucas has provided a pop-up version of his restaurant on AFL game days over the previous three football seasons, but with the opening of the new Joel Selwood grandstand this year there was a restaurant and kitchen space available. Woks have been added to the kitchen for Chin Chin.
GMHBA Stadium at Kardinia Park is one of Geelong’s largest event venues with 32 permanent event spaces catering for up to 2,450 guests and is well used for corporate events during the week. The award-winning Higher Mark onsite caters for a total of 85,000 guests a year.
Nicol said the restaurant, which is described as “a riotous collision of casual southeast Asian cuisine, contemporary art and local culture” had already seen five business event bookings since it opened in May. It can seat 260 at banquet tables of eight to ten or host up to 350 for a cocktail style event.
The restaurant is open to the general public on game days and comes with a seat in the grandstand for each attendee. Nicol said corporate bookings were available on non-game days, otherwise Monday through Wednesday.
The space includes audio visual equipment and a DJ booth. It also features the pink theming for which Chin Chin is known in addition to its popular FeedMe menu.
