Future and Current CHanges
There have been 14 grandstands erected at the MCG since the first Members Pavilion of 1854.
The most recent of these was the northern stand redevelopment – comprising demolition of the Ponsford and Olympic Stands, along with the Members Pavilion - which was completed in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
In 2011, the Great Southern Stand will undergo a refurbishment. Work on a $55 million upgrade of the MCG’s Great Southern Stand will start shortly after the 2011 AFL Grand Final following the appointment of Construction Engineering as the project builder. The upgrade will improve the patron experience across all four levels of the Great Southern Stand. The project would be completed prior to the start of the 2013 AFL season. Plans for refurbishment of the stand, which was completed in 1992 in time for the World Cup cricket final, involve improved entry points at gates 4, 5, 6 and 7, with an emphasis on open, light spaces similar to the northern side of the stadium.
There will also be kitchen upgrades, improved food and beverage outlets (including food courts), new toilet facilities and upgrades to infrastructure services, audio-visual systems and signage.
The AFL Members Reserve will also be improved, as well as creation of a 500-seat function room on Level 2 which replaces nine corporate suites.
The ultimate capacity of the ground is 100,000, with a capacity of 97,000 for the Commonwealth Games due to the removal of some seating to enable the athletics track to be laid.
About 55 per cent of the ground - embracing the Ponsford and Olympic stands and the MCC Members Pavilion – has been rebuilt. Demolition commenced in October 2002 and the entire project was completed in time for the Commonwealth Games in March 2006, when the MCG acted as the main stadium.
The male/female toilet ratio has been significantly improved and, for comfort and ease of access, individual plastic bucket seats are fixed on broader plats. Sightlines from all seats are uninterrupted and, because the new structure is much closer to the arena than the stands it replaced, spectators are also closer to the action. Seats are approximately 30% bigger than the previous northern stand and about 80% of seats are under roof cover.
Big new change rooms service the needs of both football and cricket and the coaches’ boxes are situated on Level 2 on the wing position, ensuring that facilities for players also meet the demands of modern-day sportsmen .Transparent walls engage approaching patrons as they arrive at three gates – Gates 1, 2 and 3. Each entrance features a grand atrium serviced by escalators taking patrons to the upper levels.
Dining room capacity has almost doubled. Large, deep rooms enable tenant sports and clubs to accommodate up to 500 guests and the MCC Members Dining Room has a similar capacity.
Underground car parking has increased greatly, thus reducing weekday pressure on Yarra Park. Capping the new stand is a hybrid roof, part metal and part glass. This considerably increases the brightness of the seating areas.
The most recent of these was the northern stand redevelopment – comprising demolition of the Ponsford and Olympic Stands, along with the Members Pavilion - which was completed in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
In 2011, the Great Southern Stand will undergo a refurbishment. Work on a $55 million upgrade of the MCG’s Great Southern Stand will start shortly after the 2011 AFL Grand Final following the appointment of Construction Engineering as the project builder. The upgrade will improve the patron experience across all four levels of the Great Southern Stand. The project would be completed prior to the start of the 2013 AFL season. Plans for refurbishment of the stand, which was completed in 1992 in time for the World Cup cricket final, involve improved entry points at gates 4, 5, 6 and 7, with an emphasis on open, light spaces similar to the northern side of the stadium.
There will also be kitchen upgrades, improved food and beverage outlets (including food courts), new toilet facilities and upgrades to infrastructure services, audio-visual systems and signage.
The AFL Members Reserve will also be improved, as well as creation of a 500-seat function room on Level 2 which replaces nine corporate suites.
The ultimate capacity of the ground is 100,000, with a capacity of 97,000 for the Commonwealth Games due to the removal of some seating to enable the athletics track to be laid.
About 55 per cent of the ground - embracing the Ponsford and Olympic stands and the MCC Members Pavilion – has been rebuilt. Demolition commenced in October 2002 and the entire project was completed in time for the Commonwealth Games in March 2006, when the MCG acted as the main stadium.
The male/female toilet ratio has been significantly improved and, for comfort and ease of access, individual plastic bucket seats are fixed on broader plats. Sightlines from all seats are uninterrupted and, because the new structure is much closer to the arena than the stands it replaced, spectators are also closer to the action. Seats are approximately 30% bigger than the previous northern stand and about 80% of seats are under roof cover.
Big new change rooms service the needs of both football and cricket and the coaches’ boxes are situated on Level 2 on the wing position, ensuring that facilities for players also meet the demands of modern-day sportsmen .Transparent walls engage approaching patrons as they arrive at three gates – Gates 1, 2 and 3. Each entrance features a grand atrium serviced by escalators taking patrons to the upper levels.
Dining room capacity has almost doubled. Large, deep rooms enable tenant sports and clubs to accommodate up to 500 guests and the MCC Members Dining Room has a similar capacity.
Underground car parking has increased greatly, thus reducing weekday pressure on Yarra Park. Capping the new stand is a hybrid roof, part metal and part glass. This considerably increases the brightness of the seating areas.
The Great Southern Stand Function Room Refurbishment