 The Melbourne Cricket Ground is arguable Australia’s greatest sports stadium with a rich history and a total capacity of 100,000. A major redevelopment of the stadium’s Northern stands completed in 2006 further enhanced the status of this great venue.
The MCG is situated in the world-famous Melbourne Sports Precinct, just a short walk from Melbourne’s CBD, which also includes Melbourne Park (Rod Laver Arena & Hisense Arena), Olympic Park and the soon to be completed Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. The ground mainly plays host to Australian Rules Football and Cricket however other events including Soccer, Rugby Union, Rugby League and concerts are also staged at the famous venue.
The ground was built way back in 1853 when the then 15-year-old Melbourne Cricket Club was forced by the government to move from its former site because the route of Australia’s first steam train was to pass through the oval. Since that time, the MCG has seen many redevelopments with the latest completed in February 2006. The new Northern Grandstand is the 14th stand to be erected at the ground and replaced the existing Ponsford, Members and Olympic Grandstands. With a total capacity of approximately 55,000, it offers some of the finest facilities and viewing of any stadium in the country.
Occupying the southern side of the ground is the famous Great Southern Stand which opened in 1992. With a capacity of approximately 45,000, this structure set many benchmarks for the construction of sporting stadiums in Australia.
Many famous events have been held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Most famous of all is the 1956 Olympic Games in which the MCG was the main stadium attracting huge crowds for all events. Athletics has returned to the venue on one occasion since – the 2006 Commonwealth Games. AFL Grand Finals, the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and Rugby Union Bledisloe Cup, Rugby League State of Origin and Football during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games are among other major sporting events held at the ground.
The record attendance at the MCG is 121,696 for the 1970 VFL Grand Final between Carlton and Collingwood. Since the Northern Stand redevelopment, the record is 100,012 for the 2008 AFL Grand Final between Geelong and Hawthorn. At various stages, the MCG has held world record crowds for AFL, Cricket, Rugby League, Rugby Union and even Baseball.
The total capacity of the MCG is approximately 100,000, comprising of 95,000 seats and 5,000 standing room spaces. The playing arena is 174 x 149 metres from fence to fence. The ground is lit by six massive light towers, while lights are also situated under the stadium roof. Standing 75 metres high, the towers were built in 1984 and were first used for an event in February 1985. Two large video screens are located at either end of the new northern stand high up on level 4, while there are also two LED scoreboards situated in roughly the same position but lower down above level 1.
Rumoured future capital works have included redevelopment or even the possible replacement of the Great Southern Stand to bring the southern side of the ground up to the level of the northern side.
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Location: |
Melbourne, Victoria |
Address: |
Brunton Avenue, Richmond 3002
Phone: (03) 9657 8867 |
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Capacity: |
100,000 |
Seats: |
100,000 (100% of capacity) |
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Record Crowd: |
121,696 - 1970
VFL GF: Carlton v Collingwood |
Highest Crowd since 1/1/2003: |
100,012 - 27/09/08: AFL Grand Final: Geelong v Hawthorn
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Lights: |
Yes |
Arena Roof: |
No |
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Video Screen: |
Yes (2) |
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Built: |
1853 |
Redeveloped: |
2005 |
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Former/Other Names: |
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Ticketing: |
Ticketek |
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Sports Played: |
Australian Football
Cricket
Rugby League
Rugby Union
Football |
Home Teams: |
Hawthorn FC
Richmond FC
Collingwood FC
Melbourne FC
Victorian Bushrangers |
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Annual Events: |
AFL Grand Final
Boxing Day Test |
Historic Events: |
Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games
Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games
1992 Cricket World Cup Final
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games |
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Last Event: |
07/02/10: CB Series: AUS v WI
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Next Event: |
10/02/10: FRC: VIC v NSW |
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Directions: |
Transport: |
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The MCG is located about 1km from the CBD. A 5 minute walk connects the city to the ground via the new footbridge, or to drive, from Flinders St in the City, turn right at Brunton Ave or Punt Rd. |
There are two train stations close to the MCG. Jolimont (otherwise known as MCG Station) is north of the ground and offers a five-minute stroll through Yarra Park to the ground. From any railway station in the central business district, take the Hurstbridge or Epping lines. The other station is Richmond on the south eastern side of the MCG. It’s a slightly longer walk to the ground but you can walk past the Punt Road Oval to the Southern Stand side. To get to Richmond station from the city, take any train on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Dandenong, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston or Sandringham lines. Other transport to the ground includes Tram, Bus & Water Taxi. |
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Parking: |
Accommodation: |
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Parking is available in Yarra Park which surrounds the ground. |
There are enough options with several hotels within walking distance of the ground and an abundance of choices in the CBD. The famous Hilton Hotel in Wellington Parade regularly hosts sporting teams when they in town. Metro Inns and Flag Choice are both located in Jolimont Road. At the other end of the scale, the Royal Hotel in Punt Road offers accommodation and there’s a multitude of backpacker places and more budget-minded hotels in the city. |
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