Cummins recalled the excitement of first sitting in the MCG’s then-new Great Southern Stand more than 30 years ago. “At the time, it was like a spaceship,” he said. “It was amazing that you could have such a big stand with so much seating and great sight lines … compared to somewhere like Victoria Park, where you had to stand on two cans so you could see over the tall person in front of you.” The stand, since renamed the Shane Warne Stand, remains beloved by Melburnians.
But in an age where almost any sport can be watched live from home, Cummins said the MCG was at risk of falling behind. He noted the venue predominantly serves fans who “sit down, sit still, watch the game” and is failing to cater to those who view sport more as a social experience – a segment increasingly important for full-day events such as Test cricket.
Last month, LA Rams president Kevin Demoff compared the MCG with his team’s modern home, SoFi Stadium, saying: “We play in the world’s greatest modern stadium … the MCG can be the greatest old stadium.” The MCG recently hosted the first NFL match in Australia.
The article launches a multi-day series examining Melbourne’s sporting venues and arts scene, one of the key pillars of Melbourne Assembly, a civic forum scheduled for later this month that will bring together industry leaders, decision-makers and the community.