MCG roof idea floated

Outgoing MCC boss Stephen Gough has raised the idea of building a roof over the MCG and the radical plan has sparked debate far and wide.

The proposal was featured as part of Herald Sun’s ‘Future Melbourne’ series and is nothing more than that – something that may happen in the future.

The MCG currently has no plans to construct a roof over the stadium, but mentioned in a tweet it is just one of many ideas that might be explored over future decades.

Despite that, it served its purpose – it got people talking about the future of Melbourne.

Austadiums gives the Photoshop job a 3/10 and we’re unsure which stadium the futuristic roof was cut from.

Australia has a number of stadiums featuring a retractable roof, four of which are located in Melbourne: Etihad Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena, Margaret Court Arena, while elsewhere there is Perth Arena. Sydney’s ANZ Stadium is expected to get one when that is redeveloped in future years and there has also been talk of Allianz Arena.

Mr Gough said the MCG needed to keep pace not only as a leading stadium in terms of capacity, events, environmental impact and turf quality but as “the benchmark” globally.

“You could have a lightweight, retractable roof if it was felt that was what we wanted to have,” he said. “I think the opportunities are quite enormous.”

If the MCG was to get a roof in the future, it would be the largest in the world, with the stadium 173.6m long and 148.3m wide from fence to fence.

A roof is just one of many ideas that might be explored over future decades. There are no current plans for a roof at the stadium. https://t.co/F21Hc4OIsN

— Melb Cricket Ground (@MCG) November 6, 2016