http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/366826815_3e6c065f00_b.jpg

bigger one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottdavis/366826815/sizes/o/


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/130/336709068_658bcd3798_o.jpg


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1135/937404298_838a32df4e_b.jpg

bigger one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacarandaxhello/937404298/sizes/o/

The MCG is huge! Are there any other large cricket grounds or is this ground just the exception.

Fab!

large cricket grounds in Aus, or u mean in general?

In Aus, i was just wandering as the MCG is massive compared with the major British cricket grounds.

the MCG is by far the largest cricket ground in Australia, and the largest arena in Australia aswell.

English test cricket grounds hold around 20-30,000, there are some massive grounds in the sub continant though such as the Punjab Stadium in Pakistan and the Ranji Stadium in India both of which hold 90,000.

In Australia i believe the colonial stadium or the telstra dome whatever its called, also plays host to cricket (only ODIs so far) ... that has a capacity of about 60,000 i think. Brisbanes Gabba stadium is at 40,000 aswell i think.

In Pakistan the largest cricket stadiums are the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore and Karachis national stadium, both of which seat around 45000-60,000 spectators.

Yeah, the MCG is by far the largest Cricket stadium in Australia. I think the next largest Cricket ground in Aus would be the SCG @ 44'000. Although, cricket has been played at Telstra Stadium (83'500) and Telstra Dome (56'000) on occasion, but those are primarily football code stadia.

Stu

more photos to come on the weekend, going to the footy tomorrow night.

Dont remember any cricket being held at the Olympic Stadium in sydney, which game was that? maybe just state cricket?

I remember they were considering moving test cricket from the SCG to the Olympic stadium ... they decided against it in the end though. I dont think any international cricket has ever been played there though.

more photos to come on the weekend, going to the footy tomorrow night.

Dont remember any cricket being held at the Olympic Stadium in sydney, which game was that? maybe just state cricket?

Yeah, there were several state level matches that have been played there, no internationals as of yet though.

Stu

AUboy captured these from the local news:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/auboy/MCG1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/auboy/MCG2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/auboy/MCG3.jpg

A night shot from the Rialto by SteveMelb

http://www.urbanmelbourne.com/night/Dsc02175.jpg

Looks really plain, what is going in the endzone??

Looks really plain, what is going in the endzone??

.... It is an oval stadium, for AFL and Cricket, there is no 'endzone'. If you mean the section under construction, that is continuation of the Northern stand, so that the whole stadium will be enclosed. This has been an ongoing project for several years taking the MCG from about 97'000 capcity with average facilities ( for the half that was demolished anyway), to 100'000 capacity and world-class facilites in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Stu

It reminds me a bit of the Maracana Stadium, certainly not pretty but massive.

well that statement is open for debate, i think its in a league of its own compared to the Maracana, some delepadated old brazilian stadium that has never had a dollar spent on it.

It reminds me a bit of the Maracana Stadium, certainly not pretty but massive.

you've obviously never been there..that night shot is unbelievable.......

Looks really plain, what is going in the endzone??
I seem to notice a disturbing pattern in your posts.........

what the f**k is the endzone? we arent all american remember that

...we arent all american remember that


Thank heavens for that! :)

Are they going to put a new roof on the Great Southern Stand to match the rest of the new development? It will look a bit odd if they don't.

you've obviously never been there..that night shot is unbelievable.......

I agree with him.The MCG is a huge Stadium with a great history,but certainly its a long way from being "pretty".

well what stadium is pretty ??

well what stadium is pretty ??

Newlands cricket stadium in Cape Town springs to mind.

^
Yeah, there are dozens of beautiful cricket grounds.

But, the MCG is still one of the 5 greatest in the world.

well what stadium is pretty ??


The Reebok Stadium, Bolton...

That may not be the biggest, but for spectator viewing and comfort its hard to beat, and it looks fabulous.

NEWLANDS CRICKET GROUND

http://www.capeweddings.co.za/contracts/newlands_cricket_caterers/sunset_newlands.jpg

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/51915121.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=E2399169AC85D6DE9A21091711E5AD1ECB5460663EDDFB6C7757C85AE85A779B

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/51912196.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=E2399169AC85D6DE9A21091711E5AD1EF6F5DF144BB6264D7757C85AE85A779B

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/51910247.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=E2399169AC85D6DE9A21091711E5AD1E8037CEDD34A8C0707757C85AE85A779B

Are they going to put a new roof on the Great Southern Stand to match the rest of the new development? It will look a bit odd if they don't.

No, I don't think the MCG has ever had a matching roof for its stands in the 150 years it's been around. We'll just have to get used to it until the GSS eventually gets knocked down and replaced with something bigger.

The scoreboards do offset the difference a bit though. The other one will be placed directly opposite the one that's already there.

@earlier post: Cricket matches aren't being moved to Telstra Stadium because otherwise the SCG wouldn't get many big events (major AFL matches in Sydney are played in Telstra Stadium too)

Hmm...the Newlands stadium has nice surroundings, yes, however, in terms of the stadium itself, the MCG wins hands down. IMO, I believe there's nothing better than seeing a huge stadium that's full to capacity like this..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/auboy/MCG1.jpg

instead of something like this..

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/51910247.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=E2399169AC85D6DE9A21091711E5AD1E8037CEDD34A8C0707757C85AE85A779B

http://img14.exs.cx/img14/9265/mcg011p9at.jpg
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4612/images/000-170-628_0060HS748%20over%20MCG.jpg
webcam
http://www.mcg.org.au/webcam/cam1_webcam.jpg

Also back in Feb. during a freak storm, one of the cranes fell over.

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/mns%20200501.jpg
http://img14.exs.cx/img14/5026/cranecollapse33hl.jpg


Offical site www.mcg.org.au

unlike athens this stadium will be done well before the time!! i luv MCG!!

I have to agree with ciaobellaxo on this one, Newlands has superb surroundings, but the stadium is nothing special at all. MCG has got it covered easily.

Looks really plain, what is going in the endzone??

For once a positive statement from you would be.... kind of nice.

I don't think there is anything comparable to the MCG in Canada as far as size goes. It is an amazing stadium.

NEWLANDS CRICKET GROUND

http://www.capeweddings.co.za/contracts/newlands_cricket_caterers/sunset_newlands.jpg

Are they ever going to build a stand on the empty side, just tall enough to block the view of the brewery? :)

It's huge, but I don't see a parking lot. btw, I don't like the outside of the stadium.

It's huge, but I don't see a parking lot. btw, I don't like the outside of the stadium.

Remember, the facade isn't even finished yet. It looks utterly AMAZING from Federation Square at night, from across the river. It was lit up in its new lighting for the first time the other week and I was blown away by the completed sections.

Also, there is no parking lot. The stadium is almost right in the heart of Melbourne's downtown, so the stadium is straddled by public transport around the Richmond/Olympic Park precinct. Light rail, buses and 2 train lines.

If people drive, they park in a parking lot nearby, and then walk/tram the rest of the short distance to the stadium. Geographically, the stadium rises from a green, leafy park. It's quite imposing, and very beautiful, in that regard.

Remember, the facade isn't even finished yet. It looks utterly AMAZING from Federation Square at night, from across the river. It was lit up in its new lighting for the first time the other week and I was blown away by the completed sections.

Also, there is no parking lot. The stadium is almost right in the heart of Melbourne's downtown, so the stadium is straddled by public transport around the Richmond/Olympic Park precinct. Light rail, buses and 2 train lines.

If people drive, they park in a parking lot nearby, and then walk/tram the rest of the short distance to the stadium. Geographically, the stadium rises from a green, leafy park. It's quite imposing, and very beautiful, in that regard.

Close, but not quite. The green, leafy park (Yarra Park) is, in fact, a large parking lot of approximately 5,700 places. I've parked there on many occassions.

the aerial views are going to be magnificent during the opening ceremony, the stadium will be packed with 100,000, the stadium will also be completed as well as the landscaping initially planned our around the stadium....
i just hope the opening ceremony is more unique to melbourne and not similar to the sydney style although the sydney ceremonies e.g. olympic games was awesome, rugby world cup opening not thaat good.

will the roof perhaps light up and fireworks similar to athens go off along the outisde of the roof??

Light rail, buses and 2 train lines.
2 Train lines?

Trains from the Sandringham, Frankston, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Glen Waverley, Alamein, Belgrave, Lilydale suburban lines and the Bairnsdale regional line all travel through Richmond station and trains from the Epping and Hurstbridge line pass through Jolimont station which serve the MCG. So that's 11 train lines, and you can see that by the size of the rail line (12 heavy rail tracks and two for trams I think). :D

The rest of the stadium precinct:
http://www.mopt.com.au/pages/images/aerial-large.jpg

Close, but not quite. The green, leafy park (Yarra Park) is, in fact, a large parking lot of approximately 5,700 places. I've parked there on many occassions.

Not for long, Melbourne City Council is looking stopping this, and encouraging more PT, and perhaps the construction of an MCG carpark over the rail line.

And it IS primarily two trunk rail lines, one line consists of the Hurstbridge and Epping Lines (at Jolimont), and the other consists of the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham. (at Richmond).

the aerial views are going to be magnificent during the opening ceremony, the stadium will be packed with 100,000, the stadium will also be completed as well as the landscaping initially planned our around the stadium....
i just hope the opening ceremony is more unique to melbourne and not similar to the sydney style although the sydney ceremonies e.g. olympic games was awesome, rugby world cup opening not thaat good.

will the roof perhaps light up and fireworks similar to athens go off along the outisde of the roof??

Hi mate, I live right opposite the stadium and I think we're in for a huge party when the Commonwealth Games arrive next year.
The Opening Ceremony will be produced by the same guy who did the Athen's Olympics!
At night they secretly try out different kinds of lighting. This I know because it shines straight into my home!!! I have faith that it will be beautiful.

In terms of the stadium's good looks, it's really hard to describe unless you've been in it. I find it cold when viewing photo's of it empty. However, when you're sitting amongst a screaming crowd of almost 100,000...it's unlike a feeling anywhere. The place just shines!
I guess we'll wait and see :)

Hi mate, I live right opposite the stadium and I think we're in for a huge party when the Commonwealth Games arrive next year.
The Opening Ceremony will be produced by the same guy who did the Athen's Olympics!
At night they secretly try out different kinds of lighting. This I know because it shines straight into my home!!! I have faith that it will be beautiful.

In terms of the stadium's good looks, it's really hard to describe unless you've been in it. I find it cold when viewing photo's of it empty. However, when you're sitting amongst a screaming crowd of almost 100,000...it's unlike a feeling anywhere. The place just shines!
I guess we'll wait and see :)

perhaps ill see you in 2006 depending on if i can get away...the last time i was in melbourne was when i was very young and i loved it then suppose it was just because it was a new place...i hope the opening ceremony producer or director plan something that suits melbourne and really engages people more in a sense of celebration, i know its off the topic but the DNA lazer scene was imo prob one of the most beautiful ever but that momentum was not matched by much else in the opening ceremony, i hope melbourne can achieve an outstanding ceremony, to be honest Im not so sure about INDIA hey for 2010 they seem a bit behind...but im sure melbourne will be supporting cape town 2014 as new zealand already said they have,,

MCG is breathtaking to say the least. The new "G" will only look better for commonwealth 2006 after full renovation. I remember reading in one of the Indian news paper with India visited Australia for full tour. It was stated, MCG looks literally like gladiators arena with sold out. True home of the cricket. If there is any cricket arena that comes close to mighty MCG is Eden Gardens at Calcutta when jammed packed. But still MCG is MCG, in the league of its own.

The Old Northern stands:
http://www.battersea.net/images/australia/MCG.jpg

The New Northern Stand (pics by Smileyface):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/MCG4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/MCG11.jpg

The Great Southern Stand (1991):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/MCG1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Melbourne/MCG2.jpg

Awesome stadium!

its awesome i love it and just one large awesome stadium

So, will the new northern stand be named "The Great Northern Stand"? :)

WOW, BEAUTIFUL, AWESOME, GREAT !!!!

i have always loved this place it really goes for the theatre set up well!...ie...stalls, dress circle, upper cirlce and balcony...if one was to slice a double block section out of the ring you would have a theatre there ready and waiting...truly brilliant desighn that works for not only the stadium aesthetics but also the person who is either on the front row or the back row. wonderful place...also should be v interesting to see what they do for tyhe opening ceremony of the commonwealths...not often you get a big old circle to play with as a director!

this is one hell of a stadium............

just a few images from when they were ripping down the old stand a few years ago

http://www.mcg.org.au/content/photogalleryitem/00000425-image.jpg

http://www.mcg.org.au/content/photogalleryitem/00000424-image.jpg

http://www.mcg.org.au/content/photogalleryitem/00000429-image.jpg

and what it will look like completed

http://www.astaonline.com.au/images/MCG%20CAD%20image%5B1%5D.jpg

this is definetly my favourite, and just to give internationals an idea of how close the stadium is to the CBD....

http://www.studor.net/images/reference/MCG%20aerial.jpg

http://www.astaonline.com.au/images/MCG%20CAD%20image%5B1%5D.jpg

Does anybody else think the aesthetics of the new stand are ruined by the centre (members) section which breaks up the continuous tiers? Or is it just me?

Does anybody know which teams will play the first cricket match after renovation.

:) India Vs Australia :)

The MCG is just one amazing stadium, i believe anyone who thinks it looks crap has no idea what so ever i also believe you need to have been there when theres a packed house to feel the amazing experience the "G" leaves you with.http://www.jasonharley.com/images/Aus/mcg.JPG

I want to know who playes the first AFL match there, but the 2006 season does not come out untill later on in the yer.

I'll be there Boxing day.

EDIT: only thing i dont like about the new stand, is the rof shoadows the ground alot, and that will mateer in all AFL games, seeming they start at 2:15pm by the 3rd and 4th quater there will be a significant shadow.

Also i read about this late last year, but there will be a red seat in the MCC Member stsand, the read seat is where the furthest Six was ever hit in cricket (sadly not by the don =\) but when a new six is hit further, they will move the red seat to where the ball hit. just a little fact.

Does anybody know which teams will play the first cricket match after renovation.
:) India Vs Australia :)
If only... It's likely that all major work on the stadium will be done by Boxing Day, so the first cricket match in the completed MCG will be the Australia vs South Africa Boxing Day Test.

lol @ that cricket pic.

You could never see the ball.

Its impressive definitly but Ive heard it doesnt offer the best views (and the pics support that)

I want to know who playes the first AFL match there, but the 2006 season does not come out untill later on in the yer.

I'll be there Boxing day.

EDIT: only thing i dont like about the new stand, is the rof shoadows the ground alot, and that will mateer in all AFL games, seeming they start at 2:15pm by the 3rd and 4th quater there will be a significant shadow.

Also i read about this late last year, but there will be a red seat in the MCC Member stsand, the read seat is where the furthest Six was ever hit in cricket (sadly not by the don =\) but when a new six is hit further, they will move the red seat to where the ball hit. just a little fact.

"The Don', I think only hit 3 sixer's in his whole test career. He played percentages.

lol @ that cricket pic.

You could never see the ball.

Its impressive definitly but Ive heard it doesnt offer the best views (and the pics support that)

Speaking from experience, suprisingly it's not that bad. Even on the top tier of the GSS or NS you can see the pitch and the ball quite alright. You do have a bit of difficulty when it goes all the way to the over side of the oval though. The pics kind of can't do justice to the viewing spectacle...

Don't mistake me for being parochial though... there are many smaller stadiums with much better views (take Telstra Dome on the other side of the CBD for one!), but for a 100'000+ capacity stadium it does well.

Stu

The MCG is just one amazing stadium, i believe anyone who thinks it looks crap has no idea what so ever i also believe you need to have been there when theres a packed house to feel the amazing experience the "G" leaves you with.

I have been there, in an almost-packed house (second Preliminary Final 1997) and think it's a great stadium - I'm not saying it looks crap, only that it would IMHO look better if the new stand had three continuous tiers rather than the bodge in the middle...

If you filled this with people STANDING. How many people could it hold?

Probably 200'000+ once it's done. Would never happen though, people expect to sit and watch these days.... back in the heyday where there was a heap of standing room (but smaller stands) at the 'G, they could pack in 120'000 people. The crowd record was 121,696 for the 1970 VFL Grand Final (Carlton v Collingwood, both scum).

Stu

You're the scumb Sakor1! We won that year, carn the blue boys!

The MCG is Melbourne and Melbourne is the MCG, very large, perhaps too big and functional without being particularly attractive.

"The Don', I think only hit 3 sixer's in his whole test career. He played percentages.

Sounds correct. I think The Don only hit 7 sixes in his entire first class career. He apparently regarded a six as the shot of an inferior player.

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/7178/401627178ml1119247702.jpg

Hitting a six at the old grounds would have been a good deal harder also. They didn't drag the boundary ropes in 50 metres on each side of the MCG in the 1930's. No covered pitches, and no mediocre touring teams.

Don Bradman apparently used to pick the gaps like a surgeon, he didn't need to resort to 'going the tonk'.

Have to say it is a while since I have bothered looking at the exterior of the MCG, looks pretty impressive. Melbourn's own 'Coliseum'. Just hopefully they put in a widescreen video screens you see in the USA rather than the tiny ones they have currently so they can fit more adverts around it.

Give me Estadio Azteca, Nou Camp, and new Wembley Stadium any day of the week.

lol no way, the MCG has balls compared to these closed roof poofy stadiums.

What's wrong with that?

I have finaly found an 'accomodation area' figure for the MCG.

According to bluescope steel, who are suppling the steel for the new stand, the new northern stand will have a built area of 135,000 square metres.

http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/au/index.cfm/objectID.B732D53A-27C6-4961-A21792E0602FF536

According to the MCG Trust the area of the existing Great Stand is 81,000 square metres.

http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=historydisplay&articleid=47

The the combined total for both stands is an amazing 216,000 square metres.

So the northern stand alone will be larger than Telstra Stadium in Sydney and combined with the Great Southern Stand the total area of the stadium will be significantly larger than he new Wembley Stadium which has an accomodation area of 173,000 square metres.

So based on these figures the MCG with a floor area of 216,00 square metres and a seating capacity of 100,000+ will make it possibly the largest stadium in the world.

lol no way, the MCG has balls compared to these closed roof poofy stadiums.

http://galeb.etf.bg.ac.yu/~mirad/Stadioni/barca.jpg

Poofy roof indeed..

what stadium is that? how big?

Thats the Nou Camp, what that guy said. You dont even know the stadium but you felt prepared to comment on its "Poofy roof". Its capacity is 100,000. Barca have 92,000 members, so its pretty hard to get one of the extra 8,000 seats.

i didnt even notice the nou camp or whateva it is called stadium in his post, i was just saying, its roof does look a bit poofy you must admit, plus its a soccer ground, which says even more about the softness of this stadium.

Soccer stadiums are 'poofy' aye?.. Hmm I know which one of these is more intimidating to me.

http://www.ubersite.co.uk/images/devil%20san%20siro.jpg

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/img/user/16/06/2341606/62.jpg

no the game soccer is poofy and seriously you can not say it isnt, the players are such girls.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6924/stfu3xk.jpg

I have finaly found an 'accomodation area' figure for the MCG.

According to bluescope steel, who are suppling the steel for the new stand, the new northern stand will have a built area of 135,000 square metres.

http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/au/index.cfm/objectID.B732D53A-27C6-4961-A21792E0602FF536

According to the MCG Trust the area of the existing Great Stand is 81,000 square metres.

http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=historydisplay&articleid=47

The the combined total for both stands is an amazing 216,000 square metres.

So the northern stand alone will be larger than Telstra Stadium in Sydney and combined with the Great Southern Stand the total area of the stadium will be significantly larger than he new Wembley Stadium which has an accomodation area of 173,000 square metres.

So based on these figures the MCG with a floor area of 216,00 square metres and a seating capacity of 100,000+ will make it possibly the largest stadium in the world.

Didn't you mean to post this in the Wembley thread?

Nope, the post is about the MCG, no need to gloat :-)

Er, wasn't gloating, it's just that in the Wembley thread eddyk mused about which was bigger in terms of ground area between Wembley and the G, then I replied that I could only find the size of the playing area but guesstimated the total area, after which eddyk replied that Wembley had an "accommodation area" of 173,000 sq m, to which you said responded that the term accommodation area could mean anything.

You then came back saying "I have finaly found an 'accomodation area' figure for the MCG. " etc., but you stuck it in this thread, which I found a bit odd. Can I have your permission to quote it in the Wembley thread to keep the discussion going?

No problem, I didn't want to post in in the Wembley thread becasue it's actually about the MCG and I didn't want to cause an argument like the one about which code of football was invented first. I think the Wembley thread has gone of the rails a bit lately and I didn't want to make it any worse :-)

Also it's nice to keep the MCG thread ticking over.

i didnt even notice the nou camp or whateva it is called stadium in his post, i was just saying, its roof does look a bit poofy you must admit, plus its a soccer ground, which says even more about the softness of this stadium.

I don't think you'd be saying that in the middle of a soccer riot.

The Mecca!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/barsby/DSCN2373.jpg

The MCG is great, at least in terms of size. It's nothing special, however. Just another patchwork stadium. The interior looks quite impressive, but the exterior is ugly.
And those floodlight masts... just crappy

crappy my ass, they are at all aussy stadiums that dont have roofs, extremely good lights two, gives the stadium a unique touch.

yeah look like big ugly streetlights in my opinion. Fit floodlights under the roof like other stadiums. This stadium is huge!

If you have them under, you cannot see the stadium form ages away at night. its a great veiw on a friday night going into the city with these 6 massive poles lit up. plus if its inside it would be less effective, harder to change globes too.

Those 6 light towers, each one 73.5 metres high and weighing in at 130 tonnes, mean the MCG holds the world record for highest light towers I believe. They are augmented by some floodlighting under the roof... but understand that for many years there was no roof over much of the ground, hence the towers. To demolish them now would cause outrage, they are an integral part of the MCG and a unique and defining feature! Plus, as mentioned, they have the added effect of highlighting the MCG as a glowing beacon at night when a match is being played, it looks quite spectacular.

Stu

^^Post some pics!!

Pic by falchoon:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~anfield/West3.jpg

lol no way, the MCG has balls compared to these closed roof poofy stadiums.

Big trouble in Little China said it best...

"Strong mans not afraid to feel nature on his face"

"Yeah but the smart man's got the sense to come in out of the rain"

Post some better pics!
Quite poor that the only argument to defend stadia without roof against stadia with roof (objectively much better!!) is to call the latter "poofy".
Try to make up something serious or be quiet!

Excuse him, hes form Perth :P

Old, but you kinda get an idea, i just found it on google, so i was not expecting too good quality.

http://media.rmit.edu.au/emmedia/s3091014/n1/images/city/big/IMAG0299.jpg

yer excuse me, im from perth, loL!

being Australian, and growing up thinking that these lights are normal, make them seem normal, so they are normal. Compared with many european ideas of stadiums, the look odd and strange. Personally I love them, and it's my instinct to think that every stadium should have them:)

yer when i see a closed roof stadium or a stadium without those massive floodlights i think of it more of a arena or somewhere they hold like motocross or like a womans expo haha.

:stupid:
I don't get it Perth4life14. Why are you so keen on those MASSIVE FLOODLIGHT MASTS!? Hm, maybe your own pole is a bit small...
Hey, don't worry, gathering from the nonsense you're writing here it has got plenty of time to grow a bit...

From the MCG website:

Light Towers

The construction of the light towers was completed in December 1984 in a joint initiative between the MCC and the VCA (now Cricket Victoria) at a cost of approximately $4.9 million.

The MCG was first lit up at 9:30pm on the night of December 3, 1984 by the then State Premier and MCG Trustee the Honourable John Cain. The MCG light towers were first used for an event on the 17 February 1985, for a World Series Cup one-day international between Australia and England.

The light tower system comprises of 6 light towers which stand approximately 75 metres high (equivalent to a 24 story building) with the head frame a further 10 metres higher (85 metres overall).

The foundations for the towers consist of 4 reinforced concrete piers which are set down in depth from 7 to 12 metres depending on the sub surface structure. Each of the hollow tubular steel towers contains about 130 tonnes of steel. The diameter reduces from 4.2 metres at the base to 2 metres at the top. There are between 12 and 14 landings connecting ladders inside each tower. The head frames of the towers are angled in at 15 Degrees in order to provide optimum levels of light.

I have been to a few stadiums around the world and the MCG is unique with is floodlight towers. Granted most stadiums around the world (especially in Europe) do not have the towers, that I have been to - Athens Olympic Stadium, Stadio da Luz, Dragao Stadium, Stadio Bernabeau, Stadio Jose Avaladze all have their floodlights in the roof. This doesnt make the MCG a better or worse stadium because of that. The G is a huge stadium that does hold its own, especially on the inside, where it counts. Granted the atmosphere at an AFL match does not compare to that of a football match but that does not mean that the MCG is not one of the great stadiums of the world.

Most of the big Australian cricket grounds have floodlights - they add a unique character.

SCG(Sydney):
http://www.blscc.ndo.co.uk/images/The%20SCG%20from%20the%20Walters%20Stand.JPG

WACA(Perth)- during redevelopment:
http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/redevelopment/photos/waca_dev.gif

Gabba(Brisbane):
http://bama.ua.edu/~cricket/Gabba.jpg

Adelaide Oval:
http://rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/rwc2003/graphics/adelaideoval.jpg

#Noticed that the "gap" at the Gabba is now closed in. The stands ring the entire field.

#Stadiums in WA certainly do let down Australia's rep. Both Subiaco and WACA are basically eyesores.

Adelaide is lovely as is Sydney.

:stupid:
I don't get it Perth4life14. Why are you so keen on those MASSIVE FLOODLIGHT MASTS!? Hm, maybe your own pole is a bit small...
Hey, don't worry, gathering from the nonsense you're writing here it has got plenty of time to grow a bit...
lol haha that was funny, although why are you bringing up my pole? are you gay?

the waca and subiaco are not eyesores, that was a shit pic posted of the waca from about 2 years ago.

http://www.corpassist.com.au/upload/newsImages/waca.gif

before the redevlopement, hard to find ones after ^

subi isnt that bad, at least it has more capacity than the gabba which looks massive but doesnt hold as many as it looks.

subi back in 73'

http://www.australianrules.com.au/image/1973GF2.jpg

If the lights were attached to the grandstand roofs, the cricket players would be blinded by them when attempting to catch a ball. You can bet your bottom dollar on that one.

P4L:
Subiaco: 42,992 at capacity
Gabba: 42,000 we will find out the final number when they're finished and get a big crowd in there.

If the lights were attached to the grandstand roofs, the cricket players would be blinded by them when attempting to catch a ball. You can bet your bottom dollar on that one.

P4L:
Subiaco: 42,992 at capacity
Gabba: 42,000 we will find out the final number when they're finished and get a big crowd in there.

I don't think that's the reason. American Football players aren't blinded too although in most stadiums the floodlights are attached to the roof.

^ A football and is a bit easier to see than a small white cricket ball!!

but the mcg and such are prodminately used for AFL, so i dont see why cricket has that much to do with it when they dont play lots of night games of ricket at the G.

Subiaco is like the 'old' Kardinia Park in Geelong.

They have done some improvements since the 1970's in Geelong.

Personally I cannot believe a state as 'wealthy' as WA is can have such lousy stadia.

Also more surprising that they suck so much of the GST from NSW and VIC that they can afford it.

subi recently had a revelopement, in like 98? or 99? they got rid of standing and put the new section on the eastern end, plus i think changed all the seats etc.
how is it lousy wtf? explain...

In my travels I came across a system call 'SunWire' or 'Skyport' from this company in Sweden called Parans which allows you to transport natural light through fibre optic cabling to some kind of lighting system. It dawned on me that this would be the perfect solution to the problems at Telstra Dome and the MCG with the stands and roof that block out the sun.

The main problems with this I can see is that it would need to modified to suit an application as large as a playing field. I am sure there is a way to do it. Might take a little R and D, which unfortunately is not what Australian businesses like to get involved in. Maybe the AFL and MCC can lead the way.

Tesltradome is a poorly designed stadium, because it 'faces' east west (the goals) when the roof is open, one team gets blinded by the light, if it was turned 90 degrees, or the roof opned the other way, it would be better, allowing more sun in, and not affecting the play.

I visited the ground in 2001, even though it was only 1/4 full it was awesome. One of the things that make a great ground (in my opinion) are the surroundings. The MCG is just pefect-surrounded by parkland, but also close to the centre of Melbourne and excellent transport links.

subi recently had a revelopement, in like 98? or 99? they got rid of standing and put the new section on the eastern end, plus i think changed all the seats etc.
how is it lousy wtf? explain...

i think he means the stadia are small.
i mean, capacity is preety poor at subi no doubts about it

Wow, it looks really nice at night and with people in it. When I went, in the daytime, I was a bit disappointed. Was it not totally covered before? I do like shape of it though. Looking forward to the C'wealth games!

Was it not totally covered before? I do like shape of it though. Looking forward to the C'wealth games!

Correct. The only one of the old stands with a roof before construction of the new Northern stand was the Members pavilion. Below is an old picture of the gound... which also goes to show its great position in relation to the CBD :)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Mcg_internal_odi_medium.jpg

Stu

BUMP :cheers:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/cam1_webcam.jpg

Almost finished :)

Damn....now England have won the Ashes back..:) it sure would be nice to be sitting in that awsome stadium christmas 2006 as England go 4-0 up in the series....:)

BUMP :cheers:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/cam1_webcam.jpg

Almost finished :)

jolly good, i like it when stadiums are completed on time.......

i think he means the stadia are small.
i mean, capacity is preety poor at subi no doubts about it

ure saying that because adelaide is 10,000 more? subi gets big crouds of 35,000+ most freo and west coast games, which is a big average.

herer is high quality evidence to put the arguement of the MCG at night...
http://www.urbanmelbourne.com/night/Dsc02175.jpg

quite impressive you'll agree....

anyway the MCG is like a massive beacon when driving in and around the inner city, it looks amazing, my fave. view is from the Bolte Bridge, which is on the opposite side of the CBD, and from the right angle you can see the lights blaring through the top end of the city...haven't got a picture of it tho

It's almost completed now.

Nice set of pics taken by Aussie Bhoy.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/AussieBhoy/Melbourne/MCG2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/AussieBhoy/Melbourne/MCG1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/AussieBhoy/Melbourne/MCG3.jpg

Go the Hawks.

haha they got smashed that day

haha they got smashed that day

Yes, our 3rd smashing for the year and second against Sydney :(

Wow what a stadium, is the MCG now the worlds biggest Cricket stadium?

The MCG would be right up there but you'd also have to check the stadiums in India.

That's for capacity, in terms of actual size (floorspace), the MCG is one of the largest in the world for any sort of use. If you look at sakor1's old photo, you can see the old stands - they were demolished and the the Northern stand that is being built in their place is much larger but there is very little increase in capacity.

Ok I know i am gonna get a thrashing for this, but i like the MCG it is impressive, huge and there is not another stadium like it in the world, BUT, the design is pretty uninspiring and i don't think the spec of the stadium is anywhere near that of the new wembley, telstra, the millenium stadium, stade de france etc!

...prepare for the aussie onslaught gorgu! lol! ;) (i bet at least one will mention pom and remark about whining :))

Meh, all those fancy ones arn't that good anyway, well they are, but not on a large scale, we dont want a roof over the MCG, and with that said, theres not much design you can do, seats and a awening for cover. Though the insides are quite nice.

Though i hate the new scoreboards, its 90% advertising, damn vodafone.

Yeah but I am not a pom, I am british but not a pom, isn't that jibe reserved for our English cousins?

As i said the MCG is a great stadium, imposing and the atmosphere will be fantastice i jusr don't think it has got the bells and whistles of the worlds trully great modern stadia!

Cricket in Aus and India just seems like a desperate last attempt to say fuck u to the colonial MOMMY. I mean, it's a bit of a TEST of patience from an audience POV isn't it. I mean from a sports/excitemtn POV... geeez... pass me another cucumber sandwich (no crusts).

Non-stop in-action? Played it years ago and did very well until I got one in the face... bowler? Since when does bowling happen at 2 metres? That f!@#@& ball hurts. Take note all you younguns' practising with a tennis ball.

Cricket in Aus and India just seems like a desperate last attempt to say fuck u to the colonial MOMMY.

India's rivalry with Pakistan and vise versa is alot more intense than either teams is with England.

Today (24/09/2005) the Sydney Swans won the AFL Premiership at the MCG defeating the West Coast Eagles (Perth) in front of 91,820 at the yet to be completed ground.

As i said the MCG is a great stadium, imposing and the atmosphere will be fantastice i jusr don't think it has got the bells and whistles of the worlds trully great modern stadia!
In your opinion, what "bells and whistles" does the MCG lack???

Two words Brilliant and massive.

how an eagle from (the losing team)

described the mcg yesterday

"It's like (the) Coliseum, there's just no words to describe it. The amount of people … watching you - it's an amazing feeling and it's one that I hope I can get again."

some pictures i found :D pics are couple of weeks old.

http://www.afana.com/album/stk_syd_pf05/DSCF2501.sized.jpg
http://www.afana.com/album/stk_syd_pf05/DSCF2500.sized.jpg
http://www.afana.com/album/stk_syd_pf05/DSCF2502.sized.jpg

http://www.afana.com/album/stk_syd_pf05/DSCF2855.sized.jpg
new members area.

http://www.afana.com/album/stk_syd_pf05/DSCF2642.sized.jpg

Correction to the AFL Grand Final crowd figure for 2005. The official attendance was 91,898. There are still approximately 8 to 10,000 seats still to be installed.

Is this the place we are going to beat Australia in 18 months time? ;)

^^ Your blokes wouldn't be used to having 100,000 people attend a test match over the 5 days, let alone in a single day. They will crumble at the MCG. This place sorts out the men from the boys.

yer, they talk about being sold out at 21,000 , pfft 21,000 woopdee doo.

The next Ashes series is more like 14 months away now.

Bells and whistles, architecturally, the ground is not pleasing to the eye it just looks like a big shed, the roof isn’t retractable, there has been no care taken towards sight optimization, I could go on, but quite frankly I am doing the ground an injustice, it is a wonderful arena with a massive attendance will be great for cricket the CWG and rugby!

And I am sorry to highlight this boys but I wouldn’t bet against England having a pretty large contingent for the MCG, and lets face it Aussie crowds don’t know how to cheer, your lack of a football (soccer) culture has left your crowds lacking in atmosphere generation!

(remember I am Scottish , I am coming from a pretty neutral viewpoint here)

^^
Yep the AFL grand final is silence........thats where I go to meditate

Bells and whistles, architecturally, the ground is not pleasing to the eye it just looks like a big shed, the roof isn’t retractable, there has been no care taken towards sight optimization, I could go on, but quite frankly I am doing the ground an injustice, it is a wonderful arena with a massive attendance will be great for cricket the CWG and rugby!

And I am sorry to highlight this boys but I wouldn’t bet against England having a pretty large contingent for the MCG, and lets face it Aussie crowds don’t know how to cheer, your lack of a football (soccer) culture has left your crowds lacking in atmosphere generation!

(remember I am Scottish , I am coming from a pretty neutral viewpoint here)

This is 100% correct. As someone who has experienceed both, the atmosphere generated by 25,000 English cricket fans is better than what you get at the G (at least for cricket). Firstly, there are a lot more women at Australian cricket matches, so the roar of an English crowd is deeper and stronger. Secondly, we don't sing or chant throughout the match. There's no 'God Save the Queen' or 'Land of Hope and Glory' and so forth (although the upside is we also tend not to get the low-key nationalism). 'Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi' just doesn't cut in my book. Nor does 'Australia!' clap clap clap. And 'Tufnel's a wanker!' or variations thereof are just pathetic.

We need 4 or 5 top-shelf songs/chants that everyone knows and can sing.

^I recommend 'For he's a jolly good fellow' or 'England's wickets are falling down, falling down' etc. ;)

Bells and whistles, architecturally, the ground is not pleasing to the eye it just looks like a big shed, the roof isn’t retractable, there has been no care taken towards sight optimization, I could go on, but quite frankly I am doing the ground an injustice, it is a wonderful arena with a massive attendance will be great for cricket the CWG and rugby!

And I am sorry to highlight this boys but I wouldn’t bet against England having a pretty large contingent for the MCG, and lets face it Aussie crowds don’t know how to cheer, your lack of a football (soccer) culture has left your crowds lacking in atmosphere generation!

(remember I am Scottish , I am coming from a pretty neutral viewpoint here)

There is a bit actually, I reccomend you watch the home leg of Qualfier against South america in fromt of 85,000 in sydney, it should be on live in some of the pubs in the UK. In the domestic league theres a few singing Kop's. For instance my team has the Shed end, who generate alot of noise.

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4421/gloryterrace7lx.jpg

Sydney has "The cove"

http://www.sydneyfc-unofficial.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/v-mvfc1/normal_IMG_5128.jpg

Melbourne has "The union"

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/2954/544647812zj.jpg

The Football singing community will probably get together for the Ashes, and stand in a couple of bays to hopefully rival the Barmy Army. They already basically get together for the Australian National Football team under the guise of the Green and Gold Army. www.ggarmy.com

retractable roofs are for girls, the mcg is mainly used for AFL, AFL is a winter sport, if it rains, bad luck.

we dont need them either because we have good weather unlike the U.K.

MCG is better than Wembley IMO because wembley just looks like all other retractable roof stadiums accept with an arch on the roof.

I don't have to watch it in a pub gents, I can go if I want, I live in Sydney, I keep my location as Glasgow, as that is where my heart will always be!

Went to the first A-league games it wasn't bad, still there is no comparison with the british atmosphere in the stadia!

LOL @ ANZ League atmopshere.

Lol at State league in general!

Cro-at-zia, Cro-at-zia!

Note: Love Croatians in general, not the Chest beating Knights supporters though.

Myth that Subi is a second rate stadia. The three tier stant is 3rd rate and the bench seat west section second rate but the east end was built in 1999-2000.

We need the 69 three tier and 81 two tier stand renovated into a wider three tier stand and that would increase capacity to 56,000+ seats.

yer the west end has no food facilites, you have to walk down about 100 stairs lol to get to the ground level where they are outside, unlike the east end (newer end) which has the food and beer facilities lol

^I recommend 'For he's a jolly good fellow' or 'England's wickets are falling down, falling down' etc. ;)

That one's pretty poor. Maybe 3 years ago, but not anymore I'm afraid! Personally I prefer 'he's blonde, he's bent, his arse is up for rent, Shane Warne, Shane Warne!' About the stadiums in Australia, I like how the field area is big enough to play cricket at any of the stadiums. I suppose it's because they all have to accommodate the Aussie rules pitches, which are quite big and round by the looks of it. In England, most of the stadiums are intended for football (soccer) and the stands are built around the pitch. This means that the pitch is not big enough to accommodate cricket. Still, you can't beat the atmosphere of some of the cricket grounds in England which are intended solely for cricket. What the grounds in England lack in size, they make up for in atmosphere. It's a shame though that more people couldn't get into the grounds to watch the Ashes tests. Does the MCG ever sell out for the Boxing Day Tests?

yer i think it always sells out, or not im not sure lol.

aussie rules has a oval pitch, mcg is a bit more round.

Generally speaking the MCG will 'sell out' pretty much about 10 times a calendar year on average.

Really depends on a number of factors. If Richmond, Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood are doing well, the weather(because a lot of people chose to go on the day), and also who is touring in the cricket season. Also if the Aussie 'Socceroos' have any decent opponents to play against or if the Wallabies play the Blacks.

I'd say next year, with the Commie Games, Ashes and a resurgent Carlton and Collingwood and maybe Richmond then you will get past 20 odd sell outs for the general public easy.

MCC members don't always rock up but their spaces are booked for them anyhow which affects the attendances, but the public cannot use their section so you can get a 'sell out' when only 70,000 get there.

u think they will get 100,000 to a richmond , carlton or collingwood game in the home and away season? i doubt it.

Yup, easy. All tickets available to the general public get sold. Been a load of times to see Carlton play the Tiges and at least 85,000 turned up.

You cannot sit in the members, so it is sold out when all general public seats are gone.

u think they will get 100,000 to a richmond , carlton or collingwood game in the home and away season? i doubt it.
^^As BTB said, a sellout occurs when all the general addmission tickets are sold. So in the MCG's case due to MCC members (scum of the Earth) who's seats are protected, there can and has been 80k sellouts. The last time Carlton and Richmond were both performing they sold out 88k back in '95. The biggest H/A crowd besides the annual Anzac day game was Carlton v Essendon in 2000 that drew a 93k sellout. When the big 4 Melbourne clubs are fireing the 'G' is the place to be.

I know it sucks but the MCC have over 100k non/restricted members who pay big $$$ which goes to funding the stadium and they reward themselves with their own section that Joe average cant touch. So to answer your question - You will never see a H/A crowd of over 100,000...only special events.

You get a Carlton v Collingwood game in mid-season with both teams fighting for top spot or a place in the top 4 and they could easily draw 100,000 people. If not they would get damn close.

Remember the Essendon v Collingwood game on ANZAC Day draws over 90,000 every year regardless of how bad either teams form is going into the match. The 1st of these annual games back in 1995 drew 94,825. Not bad considering the GF that year between Carlton & Geelong only attracted 93,670.

Carlton v. Geelong always draw good attendances. The ground record at Geelong is for a Cats/Blues game in the 1950's when 50k turned up, for a stadium that only has a capacity of 35k. There is a long rivalry there, as far as Geelong goes Carlton/Collingwood are their two most hated foes.

That 1995 GF was one of the toughest GF's in the last decade to actually score a ticket to. There was massive build up for the game. Carlton's streak and 40 odd years since the Cats actually won something.

Nowadays they always play at the Dome or MCG and the minimum attendance is at least 48k. Liverpool or Chelsea don't even get that.

http://www.afana.com/album/stk_syd_pf05/DSCF2502.sized.jpg

My favourite. Shows just how the MCG is the modern Colleseum.

Lol at State league in general!

Cro-at-zia, Cro-at-zia!

Note: Love Croatians in general, not the Chest beating Knights supporters though.

Good for you! If I meet any Croatians Ill pass this on to them.

Danke, Im presuming you support Preston. ANZ-league huh? Thats a good one I guess.

Where else are you supposed to put the lights then u idiot ? For goodness sakes :nuts: :hahaha: :crazy2: :clown: :hilarious :hammer: :tongue:

The mind Boggles i tell ya !!! :wtf:

If any of u people would actually have any clue at all about stadiums, you would just know that the M.C.G. absolutely "SHITS" on most stadiums around the world ! It is state of the art in both design for comfort and optimal viewing and its just farken' huuuge ! The only reason it holds only 100,000 people is that we actually take "comfort" into account when we make our stadiums in Australia ! If the same sized stadium was in south america or india, and you didnt take safety regulations or people's comfort into account, it would hold over 180,000 people i reckon ! Yes, i agree, maybe the atmosphere at the soccer grounds in England are better, but that because its full there all the time, and the grounds are much smaller. Shit, if the MCG only held 30,000 people, the atmosphere there would be just as good. But the fact is , it the M.C.G. holds 100,000 people, so its not going to be filled every single game of the year ! But when there is about 60,000 plus people in there, the atmosphere is electric ! The shit stadiums that you people have in the U.K. don't even come close!

Not many stadiums compare to the M.C.G., and thats the honest truth !

Lozza

The MCG is great, at least in terms of size. It's nothing special, however. Just another patchwork stadium. The interior looks quite impressive, but the exterior is ugly.
And those floodlight masts... just crappy

Where else are you supposed to put the lights then u idiot ? For goodness sakes :nuts: :hahaha: :crazy2: :clown: :hilarious :hammer: :tongue:

The mind Boggles i tell ya !!! :wtf:

If any of u people would actually have any clue at all about stadiums, you would just know that the M.C.G. absolutely "SHITS" on most stadiums around the world ! It is state of the art in both design for comfort and optimal viewing and its just farken' huuuge ! The only reason it holds only 100,000 people is that we actually take "comfort" into account when we make our stadiums in Australia ! If the same sized stadium was in south america or india, and you didnt take safety regulations or people's comfort into account, it would hold over 180,000 people i reckon ! Yes, i agree, maybe the atmosphere at the soccer grounds in England are better, but that because its full there all the time, and the grounds are much smaller. Shit, if the MCG only held 30,000 people, the atmosphere there would be just as good. But the fact is , it the M.C.G. holds 100,000 people, so its not going to be filled every single game of the year ! But when there is about 60,000 plus people in there, the atmosphere is electric ! The shit stadiums that you people have in the U.K. don't even come close!

Not many stadiums compare to the M.C.G., and thats the honest truth !

Lozza


what about installing the flood light under the roof, smart alec?? That's all been discussed however...

For Cricket and Aussie Rules, you need the lights up high, and not under the roof. Otherwise, as someone else said earlier, you couldn't catch the ball as the lights would be too low and they would get in yr eyes and distract you from seeing the cricket ball !! believe me mate, if you were at the MCG at a night game with the lights on, you would be totally blown away at how awesome the ground and light towers are !

Lozza

what about installing the flood light under the roof, smart alec?? That's all been discussed however...

For Cricket and Aussie Rules, you need the lights up high, and not under the roof. Otherwise, as someone else said earlier, you couldn't catch the ball as the lights would be too low and they would get in yr eyes and distract you from seeing the cricket ball !! believe me mate, if you were at the MCG at a night game with the lights on, you would be totally blown away at how awesome the ground and light towers are !

Lozza

I don't have a clue of cricket, honestly. But your explanation sounds plausible.

You wouldn't have a clue about AFL either, you probably think it's rugby.

And as for the atmosphere being electric in the premier league soccer, I guess the crowd chants because they're bored and have nothing else better to do. Kinda like the MCG during a one dayer, everyone gets drunk because there isn't really that much going on, but it's still better than soccer - it's an experience no one can tell you about.

yer coz soccers such a crap low scoring game.

Guys I am an AFL member but I have also been to MANY European football matches. The atmosphere at an AFL match does not compare to the atmosphere at a football match in Europe. It is like night and day. Im not saying that the atmosphere at an AFL match is bad, it just is a couple of levels below European football.

As for the MCG? It is a truly great stadium.... its size, its comfort and the fact that it is in the centre of Melbourne make it one of the best in the world. There are better IMHO but the "G" is right up there.

think of it this way, if they only scored 1 or 2 max then people at AFL matches wouldnt show up.

Crowds don't carry on like they do at the soccer because there is far too much going on and you need to pay attention or you miss all the thrills and spills.

Soccer is quite slow, like you get with cricket so the crowds can carry on and not miss anything.

This is not to put soccer down, I quite like it especially the internationals where national pride is on the line and the players actually play for love not money.

Football is a game of the mind... its a game of tactics AND athletisism.

AFL is all about the athlete. Not saying that I dont like AFL, obviously I do, otherwise I wouldnt be paying my money to be an AFL member.

Theres no use arguing football to some AFL fans who just dont get it. Football matches make you become enthralled in them, every move has significance. Some 0-0's are the most entertaining games. AFL fans should stop knocking "Soccer" just because they do not understand it. As for low scoring leading to crowd atmosphere, that absoloute BS. When crowds are bored, they do that stupid mexican waves, which are looked down on in most football arena's. Singing etc are used to generate atmosphere and to support your team. Aussie fans generally cant establish a great atmosphere at sporting events. This is sad, but "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi OI" just doesnt take the cakes, quiet similiar to "U-S-A! U-S-A!".

Atmosphere generated by fans is not football specific. Take 6 Nations rugby, the fans actually sing, it all comes down to the phyche of the supporters.

do they play soccer much at the MCG , NO so dont bring it up and go winge in the wembley thread or some other pathetic stadium thread, dont ruin the MCG which has a rich history in AFL and Cricket.

do they play soccer much at the MCG , NO so dont bring it up and go winge in the wembley thread or some other pathetic stadium thread, dont ruin the MCG which has a rich history in AFL and Cricket.
Shut up.


I think Aussie fans have a long way to go when it comes to creating any sort of atmosphere. In AFL matches, it would be a lot better if people actually sang their club's theme song. It's something to sing, but not nearly enough people do it. AFL seems to be a lot more of a family thing too, from the children to the grannies.

Go to Victoy's game on monday night, see what you think of the atmosphere it generates.

lol invicible you loser, you cant tell me to shutup because i was clearly stating facts, you just babled on about crap.

Everyone of your posts make me cringe.

then dont read them.

Atmosphere at Victory? It's like listening to the Melbourne fans in the AFL. Hardly worth mentioning.

How many games have you been too?

stop talking about soccer in the MCG thread.

Atmosphere at Victory, please my grandmothers house has more atmosphere...I was in the crowd 13,000 souls and was bored shitless...

stop talking about soccer in the MCG thread.

Stop talking.

@mic, atleast with a 'firm' like the union, there is an oppurtunity and basis to build on. They make a bit of noise, the problem is Olympic park. Its hard to make atmosphere in such and open end (plus the fact they are 30 metres from the pitch). The move to the new stadium should help the atmosphere.

STOP TALKING ABOUT SOCCER IN THE MCG THREAD!!!

ill report you to a mod! :tongue:

Go on Matey. We are not talking soccer by the way. I know its hard to read, but good try little guy, one day. Im trying to slow things down for you.

We are talking about atmosphere at Australian sports grounds, and using some examples. Examples for instance, might be atmosphere generated at Soccer stadiums. Us big boys are discussing said atmosphere, OK. Understand? I can put it in text message speak if you want. Have you got anything to add? I mean, you have wasted about 4 or 5 posts saying the same thing, you could be the one worth banning.

Also, They do (in the future) and have (in the past) played 'soccer' at the MCG. They couldnt play this years Qualifiers at the MCG due to the commenwealth games, they have been moved to Sydney's Telstra Stadium.

Originally Posted by Perth4life3
stop talking about soccer in the MCG thread

have you ever travelled outside of Perth?You sound very insular.I know some Aussies have a chip on their shoulders,but you seem to have one on both.There is a big wide world out there,beyond the boundaries of WA.

^ He's just a kid, ignore him, hopefully he'll eventually go away! lol

You've got to have time on your hands to think up creative chants at the footy, soccer, cricket etc, hence why there are not many in Australia. I agree with some of what you're saying though. I myself cringe when the cheersquads start up "<insert club here> (clap clap clap), <insert club here> (clap clap clap) etc" and even some of the other ones, they're quite embarrassing. I guess the thing with AFL is that if oyu're not focussed on the game 100% you may miss the greatest mark or goal of all time, a king hit etc.

You've got to have time on your hands to think up creative chants at the footy, soccer, cricket etc, hence why there are not many in Australia. I agree with some of what you're saying though. I myself cringe when the cheersquads start up "<insert club here> (clap clap clap), <insert club here> (clap clap clap) etc" and even some of the other ones, they're quite embarrassing. I guess the thing with AFL is that if oyu're not focussed on the game 100% you may miss the greatest mark or goal of all time, a king hit etc.


to be honest,in english football,a lot of the chants are well known,and its just a case of using them at the right time.
All teams have songs that are unique to them.before every game at Anfield,Liverpool sing "you'll never walk alone"
this has now spread to the cricket.You may have heard Jason Gillespie teased with the classic,"where's your caravan"(sung to the tune of,"where;s your mother gone".This one is has been sung for years,aimed at players who look like gypsies
Football has long been a rich source of "terrace" humour,and the songs/chants come from that

Live Webcam
http://www.mcg.org.au/webcam/cam1_webcam.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/cam1_webcam2.jpg
As the MCG gets ready to add the '06 Commonwealth games to it's impressive history with the laying of the athletics track, here's a short history lesson. :cheers:

1853 • Permissive occupancy of the present site of the MCG in the ‘Police Paddock’ was granted to the Melbourne Cricket Club by Lt-Governor CJ LaTrobe on 23rd September.
1877 • The first ever ‘Test’ match between Australia and England was played at the MCG.
1937 • The third test draws a world record crowd of 350,534.
1956 • The MCG was the main arena for the Olympic Games.
• Opening ceremony 107,700
• Athletics over 8 days 799,624
• Baseball 104,400
• Soccer final & closing ceremony 104,700
1959 • The religious leader, Billy Graham, held a crusade setting an all-time record for attendance at the MCG of at least 130,000.
1960 • A world record 90,800 people attended the second day of the 5th Test of the Australia v. West Indies series.
1970 • The record VFL Grand Final crowd of 121,696 watched Carlton defeat Collingwood.
1984 • A One-day International cricket match crowd record of 86,133, Australia v West Indies.
1992 • Cricket World Cup Final, March 25th 87,182 people watched Pakistan defeat England.
1994 • Rugby League State of Origin match, Queensland v NSW, played at MCG, June 8th, before a crowd of 87,161.
1997 • Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Union Test Match, Australia v New Zealand set a new record Australian Rugby crowd of 90,119.
• World Cup Soccer qualifying match between Australia and Iran before a crowd of 85,022.
1999 • Manchester United exhibition match against Socceroos in front of 71,215.
• Australian played Ireland in International rules football Test before a crowd of 64404.
• On November 17 Australia played a soccer friendly against Brazil in front of 79,795.
2000 • Sydney Olympics - Return of the Olympic Flame to the MCG July 30.
• Olympic Football (Soccer) at the MCG. 327,010 attend men's and women's matches.
2001 • Australia played France in a soccer friendly before 53,178 followed by a World Cup soccer qualifying match between Australia and Uruguay before a crowd of 84,656
2002 • Opening Ceremony of the 2002 World Masters Games.
2003 • The ground’s 150th birthday.
2006 • The Commonwealth Games.

stop talking about soccer in the MCG thread.

I saw Australia's qualification game against Iran in the MCG in 1997 and I can tell you it was the most phenomenal atmosphere i have EVER seen at the MCG, it didn't even compare to AFL and cricket. Unbelievable.

Great post NavyBlue. Got goosebumps just reading it.

is there a boxing day test at the mcg still this year?? it wont be possible will it?

Yep it's the only event on at the 'G before the Commonwealth Games.

but how do they do with the athletics track? i know it was underneath the surface for the afl season wasnt it? are they just relaying the grass?

^Pretty much, I'm not 100% sure but something else will most likely cover the track to seperate it from the grass. I'm sure there's someone here who knows the details.

i can;t wait for the melbourne opening ceremony..i hope its not cheesy and uses that amazingly large open bullring to produce awesome effects and breath taking scenes...!!!

but how do they do with the athletics track? i know it was underneath the surface for the afl season wasnt it? are they just relaying the grass?

Not quite - the foundations for the track were put in a year ago when the pitch was laser-levelled, then everything was covered in turf before the cricket. This time round the track itself is being installed, and it will be covered again for the Boxing Day Test, then uncovered and vacuumed ready for the Games...

Mo Rush, the opening ceremony is rumoured to be 50 to 60 syncronised Holden V8 Utes(backies in SA), complete with kelpie in tray(Oz sheepdog) doing circle work on the MCG.

Satisfied? No, there is more....

There will probably be a few 100 girls in those Daisy Duke outfits as well waving Foster's Lager flags.

Topped off with a few circuits of the Mexican wave with a twist. The spectators will be encouraged to toss litter into the air when it is their turn to stand up. :cheers:

MCG is my favourite ground. Perhaps the most historical and beautiful stadium around the world. I will visit MCG soon.

Almost ready for the 2006 Commonwealth games.

Pictures by AUboy...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/AUboy_mcg.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/AUboy_mcg4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/AUboys_mcg5.jpg

Looks Great. :okay: :okay:

that blue zone, between the track and the stands, what is??/ is it going to be a VIP, or press zone?? or is just blue paint??

what are they going to do about the cricket pitch??? because some of the ones in uk have not been replaced for almost 100years, surely after the common wealth games they wont be able to restore the crease to what it was like before

SCG is more beautiful then MCG. But i luv MCG as this is where pakistan won the cricket WC in 92.

what are they going to do about the cricket pitch??? because some of the ones in uk have not been replaced for almost 100years, surely after the common wealth games they wont be able to restore the crease to what it was like before


wow Welshlad, you've never prepared a cricket pitch.

All of the cricket wickets will have been replaced in that time, a good wicket will need replacing every ten years. It's just a case of forward planning and have some wickets in use whilst others are being relaid.

As regards the outfields both the oval and lords have been dug up and relaid inorder to install drainage systems.

The actual wicket area has not even been dug up at the MCG anyway, just the outfield.

The actual wicket area has not even been dug up at the MCG anyway, just the outfield.

The wicket area was completely dug up a year ago when the playing area was laser-levelled (it has to be completely flat for athletics):

http://www.mcg.org.au/content/photogalleryitem/00000391-image.jpghttp://www.mcg.org.au/content/photogalleryitem/00000392-image.jpg

A drop-in wicket prepared off site was used for the cricket once the pitch had been re-turfed.

Panorama taken on AFL grand Final day this year with a crowd of 91,898 in attendance. You can still see the section that wasn't completed when this pic was taken in September, when it is all done there will be another 9000 seats taking the capacity to just over 100,000 :-)

http://web.aanet.com.au/nmharrison/mcg%20panorama.jpg

watching the boxing day test between south africa and australia today...its amazing...this arena must go down as one of the modern day classics...its just amazing...

Melbourne Cricket Ground - Heritage Listed (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17664697%255E661,00.html)

THE Melbourne Cricket Ground has been given Australia's highest heritage honour, with its inclusion on the National Heritage List.

Federal Treasurer Peter Costello made the announcement today during the lunch break at the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa.

Mr Costello said the Australian Heritage Council had assessed the ground as having three key heritage values: strong social links for the sporting community; its key role in the development and history of Australia's two most popular spectator sports cricket and Australian Rules Football; and its special association with sportsmen and women who have excelled there.

"What it means is it is recognised as one of the great sites in Australia," Mr Costello said. "Things that loom into the consciousness of everybody that's grown up and loved sport."

The MCG joins 21 other places on the list including the Sydney Opera House, Port Arthur's convict site in Tasmania and Melbourne's Exhibition Building.

The grandstands and buildings at the MCG have absolutley ZERO heritage value...

VERY weird decision!

^^^^^^^

It all means Yarra Park is reserved 'forever' as a area for sports/cricket/rollerball or whatever they intend to play for ever more. The buildings don't mean anything. In 30 years time they will demolish the current MCG and rebuild it to suit the latest sporting needs. Probably a retractable roof, with movable seating to allow for rectangular seating configuration. My gut feeling is a certain retangular sport is going to become a real cash cow for the MCG.

2005 BOXING DAY TEST - Australia v South Africa

Pictures by stadiumking

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/IMGP1345.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/IMGP1347.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/IMGP1358.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/Hornet/IMGP1348.jpg

i love it !!!

The grandstands and buildings at the MCG have absolutley ZERO heritage value...

VERY weird decision!

Did you ever think that it might not be the stands that are heritage listed, rather the actual playing arena that is?

Personally I found the seating very comfortable. Great that you are out of the sun for most of the day.

Perhaps you are too far from the action, compared to most great cricket grounds but it is for football mainly anyhow. And it will be superb for the great game.

Just cannot wait to get through the Commie Games and see the Bluebaggers wallop the Colly-wobbles YET AGAIN! :cheers:

And the Might of Hawthorn win the Premiership in 2006. There's no doubting our young talent, it's just when we get more experience etc. Look out for the BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK of 2007-2011.

Buddy, Roughy, Taz, Lizzy, B1, B2, Hodgey and Mitch will be a force.

^^^^^^

Hawthorn is like the Soviet Union. Had a great time of it up to the early 90s and now it'll never come back.

Very fitting that a despot is also running the Hawks presently. It will be interesting if like all the other things he has touched will they end up merged, sold off, relocated or just plain bankrupted.

Possibly the best stadium in the world.

^^^^^^

Hawthorn is like the Soviet Union. Had a great time of it up to the early 90s and now it'll never come back.

Very fitting that a despot is also running the Hawks presently. It will be interesting if like all the other things he has touched will they end up merged, sold off, relocated or just plain bankrupted.

Appreciate the analogy about the Soviets. However, our president turned our state around. Those Collingwood fans are shitting themselves, because now we have a president with a bigger head than their own, someone of higher profile and someone with a proven track record. Our club will be a powerhouse in 3 years, and you know. I don't know if you're a Collingwood supporter or not, but I know you're shitting yourself :)

Anybody got any pics of football being played here? It's probably really bad seeing as it's not a football stadium, but I would like to see anyway. Cheers.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1050172639538_2003/04/16/1504event1,0.jpg

http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1050172639538_2003/04/16/1504event1,0.jpg

Thanks, not as bad as I thought. Looks pretty much the same as any stadium with an athletics track.

Thanks, not as bad as I thought. Looks pretty much the same as any stadium with an athletics track.

The MCG does now have an athletics track - it was installed after the 2005 football season, then turfed over just in time for the Boxing Day Test, and will be uncovered again for the Commonwealth Games in March:

http://www.mcg.org.au/content/photogalleryitem/00000557-image.jpg

It will be an amazing stadium when finished. Makes the Maracana look like a toilet bowl.

Thanks, not as bad as I thought. Looks pretty much the same as any stadium with an athletics track.
The width is pretty much the same as any stadium with an athletics track but it's much shorter length wise which means you're closer to the action behind the goals. I believe up to seven rows of seating had to be removed at one end to accommodate the running track.

Jeff Kennett turned Victoria around? Amusing. Arguably he was the worst Premier that the state has ever had.

In Jeff's private business dealings he has been a walking disaster. His advertising company hit the wall, his radio station too. Luckily for him all those dodgy gambling deals and government contracts that he gave out to his chums like Lloyd Williams, Packer, Walker, Matheison etc.. he can call in a few favours now he has fallen on hard times.

He is the perfect example of someone who should write a book titled "How to make a million bucks?". Quite simply in his case, start with a billion dollars of the tax-payers money.

Hawthorn is stuffed with this guy running the show, don't be surprised if he has them moved or mergered like he wanted to do with the Hawks and Melbourne in the late 90s. How quickly you forget.

The "Melbourne Hawks" might well be back on the agenda people!

Im disapointed, I thought the roof was going to be on the same level all the way around. Now its like theres seperate grandstands not just one stadium if you know what i mean.

Im disapointed, I thought the roof was going to be on the same level all the way around. Now its like theres seperate grandstands not just one stadium if you know what i mean.

If they had kept the roof at the same height there would have been a net loss in capacity.

Yeah, agreed about the roof at the MCG.

The reason is simply this. They want to get the capacity up to the "magical" 100,000 people mark.

They could have just copied the Southern Stand(now they can lose "great" from its name) and got pretty close, but they also want the new stand to look different and the New Smoker's Stand to appear different to the rest of the stand.

It will be very good for football and the spectator which is the main concern. The appearance of the MCG was always pretty rank anyhow.

So unlike you get in the UK where they deliberately build "toy stadiums" that are always sold out, here you can pretty much get a seat on the day. We have a society built on egalitarianism principles where the UK itself is the complete opposite. The MCG epitomises Oz. Lord's/Stamford Br. epitomises England.

Yeah, agreed about the roof at the MCG.

The reason is simply this. They want to get the capacity up to the "magical" 100,000 people mark.

They could have just copied the Southern Stand(now they can lose "great" from its name) and got pretty close, but they also want the new stand to look different and the New Smoker's Stand to appear different to the rest of the stand.

It will be very good for football and the spectator which is the main concern. The appearance of the MCG was always pretty rank anyhow.

So unlike you get in the UK where they deliberately build "toy stadiums" that are always sold out, here you can pretty much get a seat on the day. We have a society built on egalitarianism principles where the UK itself is the complete opposite. The MCG epitomises Oz. Lord's/Stamford Br. epitomises England.

Just don't expect to see the ball again if it goes into the crowd. ;)

Yeah, agreed about the roof at the MCG.

The reason is simply this. They want to get the capacity up to the "magical" 100,000 people mark.

They could have just copied the Southern Stand(now they can lose "great" from its name) and got pretty close, but they also want the new stand to look different and the New Smoker's Stand to appear different to the rest of the stand.

It will be very good for football and the spectator which is the main concern. The appearance of the MCG was always pretty rank anyhow.

So unlike you get in the UK where they deliberately build "toy stadiums" that are always sold out, here you can pretty much get a seat on the day. We have a society built on egalitarianism principles where the UK itself is the complete opposite. The MCG epitomises Oz. Lord's/Stamford Br. epitomises England.

ok, so Australia is great egalitarian society because its major sports venue is half-empty most of the time.

Is it just Australia or does it include all nations whose major stadiums are rarely filled even close to capacity?

but you are right about the UK, they dont do well in the great empty-stadium contest.

Smaller stadiums = more sell outs.
Lots of sell outs = pent-up demand.
Pent up demand = higher prices.
Higher prices = better profits.

That's how capitalism works I'm afraid.

It's very similar to the shortage of new XBoxes at christmas. Artifically increases demand and therefore increases the price you can get away with charging. Expect Sony to do the same thing in a few months.

The main differences between the UK and Australia are most likely lack of public funding for stadiums and a stronger desire for individuality between clubs and sports. The combination of mutiple Aussie rules clubs and cricket are what I'd guess has allowed the MCG to get so much bigger than Lords which can only attract a sellout(or i'd guess any crowd larger than a few thousand) a few days per year for the weekend days of tests, one day internationals and domestic finals.

The main differences between the UK and Australia are most likely lack of public funding for stadiums and a stronger desire for individuality between clubs and sports. The combination of mutiple Aussie rules clubs and cricket are what I'd guess has allowed the MCG to get so much bigger than Lords which can only attract a sellout(or i'd guess any crowd larger than a few thousand) a few days per year for the weekend days of tests, one day internationals and domestic finals.

Its not just the weekend days at Lords that sell out and given the cost of tickets ( I believe the cheapest were £ 52 per day of the ashes) combined with corporate income etc they do actually make quite a lot of money from matches and hopefully they will expand. If they do that at the nursery end, adding 10-15,000 seats it will become the greatest cricket venue in the world.

Currently thats probably the scg. The MCG is great in theory but great sporting occassions do not take place in more than half-empty grounds.

December 26 2006 at the MCG will be one of the greatest sporting occasions the world has ever seen because the stadium will be filled with 100,000 people, an atmosphere that a 25,000 or 40,000 seat stadium could not come anywhere near producing.

Its not just the weekend days at Lords that sell out and given the cost of tickets ( I believe the cheapest were £ 52 per day of the ashes) combined with corporate income etc they do actually make quite a lot of money from matches and hopefully they will expand.

I'm sure they do make a far bit of money from it but my point was that compaired to the MCG they don't get nearly enough usage out of it to merit a similar capacity. Ignoring differences in pitch sizes the stadium would obviously be larger if it also hosted 4 football/soccer teams and the FA cup final.

If they do that at the nursery end, adding 10-15,000 seats it will become the greatest cricket venue in the world.


You must be havin a Giraffe!!!

There is no comparison. Lords is rubbish compared to MCG.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/england/london/london_lords.jpg

http://www.studor.net/images/reference/MCG%20aerial.jpg

Smaller stadiums = more sell outs.
Lots of sell outs = pent-up demand.
Pent up demand = higher prices.
Higher prices = better profits.

That's how capitalism works I'm afraid.

It's very similar to the shortage of new XBoxes at christmas. Artifically increases demand and therefore increases the price you can get away with charging. Expect Sony to do the same thing in a few months.

Microsoft makes a large loss with each xbox360 sold. They didn't deliberately limit numbers, they wanted to make and sell as many as possible, they just didn't have the facilities to do so. They missed a good chance to get a decent head start. The only company that makes profits from day one on consoles is Nintendo. Sony and Microsoft sell tham at a loss in the hope of getting a large installed user base. They will then try to make money in the long run with software, and with the console as they can manufacture it and sell it at a profit 2-3 years down the line when the technology is much cheaper to manufacture. For Microsoft to be able to make money from the xbox360, they need as many in home as possible so that games will be sold and then Microsoft will get it's money from royalties from software sales.

Microsoft did NOT limit supplies of consoles. This would be commercial madness. Nintendo on the other hand, had DS facilities up and running at full speed and are now sitting on a mountain of cash, as you can see by Japanese hardware/software sales -

http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten.htm

They sold another 604000 DS consoles the week after Christamas!!


Here is a stadium -

http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~jblair/groundsfornostalgia/boghead.jpg

The MCG is quite often filled to capacity, along with other major Australian Stadiums.

In Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium is filled to at least 25,000 per game. The big matches(Versus Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dragons, ect.) are always sold out. State of Origin is sold out. Even at the A-League soccor games(brand new league), they attracted crowds of at least 20,000 per game.

The MCG fills up for big cricket matches, big AFL games, AFL finals and the Commonwealth Games this year. It's the same with Telstra Stadium, except they have NRL games as well. Our stadium are regularly filled to capacity and it is good Public Relations to have stadiums this big. It makes the games more accessible to more people, thus creating a greater love for the sport.