Close to half of MCG turf replaced to deliver pristine round 1 surface after huge Ed Sheeran concerts

A massive 10,000 square metres of new turf has to be replaced at the MCG before round 1 of the new AFL season. Watch the video to see how much work needs to be done.

The MCG will have about half of its turf replaced as part of a massive makeover for next Thursday night’s blockbuster season-opener.

Ground staff have worked almost around-the-clock since Saturday and will begin laying new turf from Wednesday morning to present a pristine surface for the Carlton-Richmond clash.

The MCG have allayed any concerns over the quality of the surface for round 1 after staging two record-breaking Ed Sheeran concerts last weekend.

It attracted about 215,000 concertgoers and required 137 trucks to deliver massive staging equipment on to the ground, killing the grass under special matting in parts of the oval.

Tractors and workmen are busy ripping up and replacing the MCG turf. Picture: David Caird

Parts of the MCG turf will be replaced ahead of round 1. Picture: Tom Browne/Twitter

But as part of a near two-year plan for the Sheeran concerts, the MCC will lay 10,000 square metres of new turf to restore the surface to an elite standard in 13 days.

The seven-figure repair job bill is funded by concert promoters, rather than the MCC.

All replacement turf – covering about half of the ground – will be completely laid and levelled by Saturday evening.

Ground staff will spend the bulk of next week watering and fertilising the grass to ensure an even playing surface for the first football match of the AFL season.

It is the biggest turf repair job in MCG history, while Adelaide Oval will have even less time – 11 days – to fix its surface for Saturday’s Round 1 clash between Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions next Saturday afternoon.

Sheeran played in Adelaide on Tuesday night.

The MCG will host four blockbuster matches across four days in round 1 which could attract as many as 300,000 fans as part of a brilliant start to the new AFL season.

Richmond-Carlton (Thursday night), Geelong-Collingwood (Friday night), Melbourne-Western Bulldogs (Saturday night) and Hawthorn-Essendon could help attract a record round 1 crowd.

Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox said ground staff would make every effort over the next week-and-a-half to prepare a world-class surface for the start of the 2023 season.

Fox said the “incredible work” to prepare the ground had progressed well and was ahead of schedule.

Ed Sheeran performs for 108,000 people at the MCG in Melbourne. Picture: Zak Walters

“We saw an incredible spectacle across two nights,” Fox said.

“And given it was our largest-ever concert, the planning involved was extensive to ensure we would be right to go with four games at the MCG for the opening round of the AFL season.

“It is standard procedure to replace some of the turf when transitioning from when we remove the cricket pitches before the AFL season.

“And we prepared accordingly knowing there would be a high volume of traffic on the arena from the concert – so much so that our team began preparing for the logistics of turf replacement after both concerts two years ago.

“The MCC prides itself on its preparation for these big-scale events and the successful management of the arena all year round.”

Adding to the logistical challenge in recent days, Sheeran dazzled the crowds from the centre of the MCG, rather than playing from one end of the arena.

The MCG is getting a makeover. Picture: David Caird

The ground staff are working round the clock. Picture: David Caird

It meant giant screens were erected around the stage, adding to the heavy vehicle traffic on the ground for the production setup and pack-up.

The family-friend event was the largest Sheeran concert he has played live.

“The in-the-round style concert that we saw with Ed Sheeran meant we were able to get more people into the venue, and as a result we broke records for the biggest ever concert we have held,” Fox said.

“It was also the largest ticketed stadium show in Australia and the biggest crowd Ed has ever played in front of anywhere in the world.”

Originally published as Close to half of MCG turf replaced to deliver pristine round 1 surface after huge Ed Sheeran concerts