Whether it was Shane Warne’s 700th test wicket or 100,000 packing in to watch the 2010 AFL Grand Final end as a 68-68 draw, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has an abiding memory for all who have walked through its gates.
As Australia’s greatest sports venue, ‘The G’ is the crown jewel of the southern hemisphere’s premier sporting powerhouse. A Mecca for cricket, AFL and rugby fans alike, the MCG holds a special place in the hearts of all Aussie sports fans. To find out what makes this arena so iconic, we spoke to our partners at our global hub to learn more.
Need help deciding which global study hub you're most excited about? 🤔 Maybe this will help...@MCG's Commercial Partnerships Manager Lewis O'Flynn would like to welcome you to Melbourne! 🇦🇺 https://t.co/IxSIdtgAns pic.twitter.com/uyod1hVl2O
— UCFB (@ucfb) July 17, 2019
“The MCG has always been able to lift people to a different emotional state,” explains Lewis O’Flynn, Commercial Partnerships Manager at the MCG. “There is a raw energy created from such a mass of people all highly engaged with what’s unfolding in front of them on the field.”
He added: “When people reflect on what the MCG means to them, they refer to the amazing triumphs or defeats and acts of courage and resilience that they have witnessed at the stadium.”
Like Wembley Stadium and the Nou Camp, the MCG is a tourist destination in its own right. Renowned around the world, sports fans flock to city’s sports precinct to catch a glimpse of the arena. Being home to numerous popular sports, as well as mega-concerts and having an Olympic history, the MCG is a go-to attraction.
“We never lose sight of the fact that the MCG is one of the world’s greatest attractions,” comments O’Flynn. “Both domestically and internationally, we want it looking and functioning at its very best. The MCG is regularly in the spotlight – people love coming here and talking about the MCG and we want them only ever to have positive things to say.”
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What makes The G especially unique is its location within the city’s sports precinct. Described as “visionary” by O’Flynn, the area sits in the middle of the city alongside the Yarra River and is home to Melbourne Park, which hosts the Australian Open annually in January; AAMI Park, home to A-League soccer and rugby matches, and plays host to the training facilities for the likes of Collingwood and Richmond AFL sides.
Certainly no stranger to hosting global events, the MCG will next be on the world stage when it hosts the men and women’s T20 Cricket World Cups in 2020. Playing host to the final for both events, O’Flynn is well aware of the role the MCG will play in projecting Australia to the world. He said: “The MCG is one of the major showpieces for tourism in Australia and we’re aware of the role we play as a publically owned asset to always present the MCG in the best possible light.”
As for breaking the world record for attendance at a women’s international fixture in next year’s final – incidentally on International Women’s Day next March – O’Flynn added: “We do love an attendance record and we have plenty to boast about!”
UCFB will be opening global hubs at the MCG, as well as Toronto FC’s BMO Field, New York’s Red Bull Arena and Atlanta’s brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, giving students a true and wide look at global sport. Find out more.