Melbourne is undeniably a sport-loving city, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is one of the most iconic sporting symbols in the state. Located in Yarra Park in inner Melbourne, the MCG – known colloquially as “the ‘G” – is an easy walk from the city centre.
The MCG is the largest sporting venue in Australia and the tenth largest in the world. Around the globe, it is remembered as the home of the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games; today, the MCG plays host to some of the country’s biggest sports events.
In summer, the stadium is the home of international cricket, including the hugely popular Boxing Day Test match. During winter, it is the major playing arena for the AFL – the highest level at which Australian rules football is played and a Melbourne institution.
Each year in September or October, the MCG is taken over by hordes of screaming AFL fans who flock in their thousands to experience the Grand Final – the most highly-anticipated sporting event on the Melbourne calendar.
The history of the stadium dates back to 1854 and the first public seating grandstand was built in 1961 with a capacity of 6000. The record for attendance was set in 1959 at around 130,000; these days, because there is no longer standing room at the venue, it can hold just over 100,000.
In addition to world-class sporting events, the MCG is home to the National Sports Museum, which includes the Olympic Museum, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. MCG tours depart regularly on most non-event days.
Just a short walk – or an even shorter tram ride – away from the MCG, Clarion Suites Gateway is one of the city’s finest hotels, and the perfect place to stay during your Melbourne adventure. Put yourself right in the heart of the action at Clarion Suites Gateway!
