Sporting facilities at Deakin University's Waurn Ponds campus were previously limited to a large natural turf playing surface and two dilapidated baseball diamonds.

[3] The creation of the precinct was first announced by the university in a media release in September 2015 at a cost of $8.1 million, with construction expected to be completed by April 2016.

[6] The Australian rules football oval was specifically constructed to the exact dimensions of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, allowing the Geelong Football Club to gain vital experience practising on a finals-like venue, as opposed to the narrow playing surface of Kardinia Park.

The first competitive sporting game took part at the precinct in July 2017, when Geelong hosted St Kilda Sharks in round 7 of the 2017 VFL Women's season.

[8] The Cats' VFL Women's team played an elimination final at the venue in June 2022.