Everything you need to know about Melbourne Cricket Ground
If you are a gambling enthusiast, you know that stadiums hold a lot of significance in the world of gambling. You have probably made a gambling decision on Ripper Casino based on the stadium where the sports events are held. While stadiums are essential to sports, it also has benefits for a community’s economy.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of Australia’s most celebrated sports stadiums. The stadium is located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria.
- Capacity
The stadium’s dimensions are 172.9m long and 147.8 m wide. The enormous multi-sports events complex has a 100,024 seating capacity. The record crowd the ground has held was more than 130,000. This was a religious event championed by Billy Graham back in 1959.
Melbourne Cricket Ground is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and the 11th largest globally. It is also the 2nd largest cricket ground by capacity.
- The ground holds the record for the highest baseball match
As much as the ground is best known for cricket, it also has a record of having the highest attendees in a baseball game during the 1956 Olympics.
- Sports played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Melbourne Cricket Ground has held a wide range of sports. Worth noting is that the grounds have been hosting Australian football since 1859. Test cricket and one-day international cricket were also birthed in the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877 and 1971, respectively.
Olympics and the Commonwealth Games have also been held on the grounds. Other sports held at the stadium include World Cup soccer, Austral Wheel races, and rugby leagues, to mention a few. In addition, the stadium has served more than being a sports ground.
MCG has housed the US Marines, the RAAF during World War II, the US Army air forces, and Papal and Royal visits. Other events that have been held at the stadium include concerts, dinners, charity events, expos, and open days, to mention a few.
Things you probably didn’t know about Melbourne Cricket Ground
There are several things you might not know about Melbourne Cricket Ground. One of them is that it holds the record of having the highest light towers. Back in World War II, US troops had taken over the grounds and nicknames the stadium “Camp Murphy.”
The ground’s cricket pitches are removable; they are usually removed during the football season to accommodate different sports. MCG is also the largest stadium in Australia and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. Worth noting also is that the club moved to the MCG after the government used the original grounds to plan for a steam railway.
Melbourne Cricket Ground is also considered one of Australia’s biggest attractions.
Things to do at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground is open all year round and serves as a tourist attraction. There is a wide array of activities you can enjoy at MCG.
- A visit to the Australian Sports Museum
The Australian Sports Museum is not your regular museum. However, there is so much to experience, from sporting challenges to exhibits.
There are interactive sports touch screens, climbable objects, and crowd favorites like Game On. You could also get lucky and hear about the experiences of special sports personalities. The sports museum is usually open all days of the week.
To visit the museum, you are required to pre-book so that the facility can manage capacity effectively.
- A visit to Yarra Park
Yarra Park adjoins the stadium and is managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club. The park is known for its sporting heritage, dating back to the 1850s. Its landscape is also breathtaking and an environment you would enjoy spending your day in.
Some of the recreational activities you can enjoy at the park include tailgate parties and barbecues. To host the parties, you are required to obtain a permit that will give you clearance for setting up marquees or sound equipment.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a decreased number of events at the park, pre-covid, regular events were scheduled at the park. Once the restrictions ease, look out for upcoming events at the park, such as local performances and races.
- MCG tour
A tour of the stadium is unmatched. You will get an opportunity to explore the interior of Melbourne Cricket Ground. The tour will take 60 minutes, and within this time, you will get a chance to step where legends have walked and immersed yourself in the world-class facilities of the stadium and its rich history.
Some of the experiences you cannot afford to miss include a tour of the MCG tapestry, the players’ changing rooms, the popular MCC long room, the MCC Library, and the cricketers’ viewing room.
People also love to see the portrait of Sachin Tendulkar and Sir Donald Bradman, visit the Ron Casey Media Centre and Cricket Victoria Bill Lawry Centre. You will also create memories by taking a walk in the arena and enjoying the panoramic vies of Melbourne’s skyline from the Ponsford Stand.
Conclusion
Melbourne Cricket Ground has a rich sporting history and features superb facilities. From the stadium’s capacity and the number of sports played and events hosted at the stadium, MCG holds great significance in Australia and to the world.
MCG serves more than being a magnificent sports stadium. The grounds are beneficial to the economy, corporates, and even tourists.