The campaign will be spearheaded by a petition, launched last week by the Friends of WIN Stadium, with expectations that between 40,000 and 60,000 people in the region will sign.

Businesses and unions are hoping the success of a united regional voice, which was so successful in helping to attract the car export industry to Port Kembla, also can be used to pressure Illawarra Labor MPs and the Iemma government into some meaningful funding.

"The old excuses about the need to fund hospitals and schools were put to rest by last month's state budget, when $20 million was allocated to Newcastle on top of the $50 million already approved for an upgrade of its stadium," said South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris.

"We will be asking questions about the processes involved and how stadiums in Newcastle, St George, Penrith and Manly attracted millions in funding, as against just $80,000 for a feasibility study of this stadium.

"This is not just about sport but real jobs and growth for Wollongong," Mr Rorris said.

He said he had the support of all unions affiliated to the labour council, which would help disseminate the petition.

Illawarra Business Chamber CEO Mark Grimson said the campaign was about ensuring WIN Stadium was a fixture good enough to attract new sporting teams and events in the future.

"Quite clearly, the Government has made available funding specifically for the upgrade of quite a few sporting stadiums and we want to know what the criteria is for tapping into that funding stream," Mr Grimson said.

The chamber's president, Les Dion, was blunt in his assessment of stadium facilities: "Even a cursory inspection of the western grandstand reveals that the facilities are old and outdated and certainly not the image of a growing, vibrant city that we want to portray," he said.

"There are sporting organisations now thinking twice about coming to the Illawarra for games.

"If we don't step up now we have a lot more to lose than just a grandstand."