Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an enormous sporting ground located in Yarra Park in inner Melbourne, home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It holds the world record for the highest light towers. It is an easy walk from the city centre, and is serviced by Richmond and Jolimont train stations. The open-air stadium is one of the world's most famous cricket venues, with a massively attended Test match held there every year, starting on Boxing Day. Throughout the winter, it serves as the home of Australian Rules Football, with at least one game held there every week (usually more), and in late September the Grand Final fills the stadium to capacity. Up until the 1970s upwards of 120,000 people were occasionally crammed in - the record crowd standing at 121,696 for the 1970 VFL Grand Final - but contemporary regulations limit the current capacity to approximately 99,000.

Related Topics:
Yarra Park - Melbourne - Melbourne Cricket Club - Richmond - Jolimont - Cricket - Test match - Boxing Day - Australian Rules Football

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The "MCG", often referred to as "The G" by Melbourne residents, was also the primary venue for the 1956 Summer Olympics, and has held other events, from international rugby, through soccer World Cup qualifiers, to rock concerts. When Madonna visited with her Girlie Show Tour in 1993 she called it "The G Spot".

Related Topics:
1956 Summer Olympics - World Cup - Madonna

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The first interstate cricket match (then between colonies) took place at the MCG in March 1856. An English XI played a Melbourne team of 18 in 1862, and the world's first international Test match took place at the MCG in March 1877. It was also the site of the first Centenary Test in 1977.

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The 1930s era (but generally regarded as ugly) Members' stand, as well as the 1950s Northern and Olympic stands, were demolished in late 2002. They are being replaced with a massive new structure in time for Melbourne to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The new stand will again push its capacity over the 105,000 mark.

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