Melbourne Cricket Ground $1b redevelopment takes shape, state government provides extra $2m

A 5-star hotel, restaurants, bars and a new-look Shane Warne Stand will be part of the MCG’s $1b redevelopment.

New rooftop lighting and sky-high public barbecue decks are set to be part of a $1 billion redevelopment of the MCG backed by a $2 million State Budget investment.

The Saturday Herald Sun can reveal the first images of the vision for a new ‘G, which includes a rebuild of the Shane Warne Stand, enhanced capacity and height for the stadium, and better links to transport and other sporting facilities.

Plans for a 5-star hotel and new bars and restaurants are part of the package to provide funding options to help fund the mega project.

Options assessed include new lighting for the stadium built into rooftops – similar to other stadiums in Australia such as at Perth – meaning light towers would not be needed to illuminate night games.

Renders for the new-look MCG

The existing light towers will be integrated into the design.

The existing light towers still would be integrated into the design, however, given their heritage value.

Elite player facilities are incorporated, with post-event recovery facilities developed so sports teams do not need to head to off-site to fix battered bodies after games.

Barbecue facilities would be included at park-facing decks, with massive glass panelling to provide “inward and outward” views for fans and lift capacity to 105,000 people.

The first half of a business case for the project was funded by the MCC, but the $2m investment by the Andrews Governments means the state would buy into rebuild plans.

Chief executive Stuart Fox said the club was “very grateful” to the government for funding the business case to help deliver the “long-term project”.

“This funding will allow the MCC and the State Government to develop detailed plans around scope options, funding and timings for the possible future redevelopment of the MCG,” he said.

“We have a shared commitment to ensuring the MCG remains the People’s Ground, a world-class stadium and caters to everyone’s evolving needs into the future.”

It is unlikely the revamp would take place until after the Commonwealth Games and potential Rugby World Cup final, which depend on the entire stadium being available.

That would push out a refurbishment until late 2027.

The MCG’s light towers were built in 1988.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula confirmed that the business case was part of government planning to ensure the ‘G remained the country’s premium international stadium.

“The MCG is our most iconic stadium and we’re working with the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust to plan what’s needed for decades to come,” he said.

As revealed by the Sunday Herald Sun, the rebuild of the stadium would include the option to build a 5-star hotel to provide a revenue source for the project but also encourage sporting leaders to congregate onsite and visit Melbourne’s famous sporting precinct.

Interstate rebuilds have seen accommodation built on to the back of stadiums, to allow for a seamless transition to the grounds and boost entertainment options.

The news that the iconic ground is set for a rebuild some as business groups call for a rethink of our iconic sports precinct to better connect internationally-renowned facilities.

How to make the ‘G even better

The MCG should be linked better to the Melbourne and Olympic Parks area to create a “super precinct” for sport and business, says an industry group leader.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said that Melbourne needed to lift its game to retain its reputation as a global events powerhouse.

“We are the global events leader, and we’ll only keep that mantle if we have global leading facilities to continue to attract global events,” he said.

Mr Guerra said the MCG was no longer the nation’s premier stadium, so it needed a revamp to make it state-of-the-art.

“It not only has to be fit for purpose for sport, we have to think about where events in general are going, in that they’re a blend of sport and business,” he said.

The MCG needs to be brought into this century.

Mr Guerra said that redeveloping the Great Southern Stand, which was recently renamed the Shane Warne Stand, would enable sports patrons to have a better experience.

“Can I be transported into the changerooms, into the coaches’ box, can I get my food delivered differently, can I get the stats and replays I want to see delivered differently,” he said.

“If I compare what the NFL were able to do with their Superbowl, we can’t do that at the MCG, and we need to be able to do that.”

“And the rest of the time it has to be a stadium that can be used for business-type events.”

Mr Guerra said redeveloping the southern side of the MCG would then open up options to integrate the stadium with the facilities at Melbourne Park and Olympic Park to create a super precinct for business and sport.

MCG has potential to be a world-class venue. Picture: David Caird.

“Do we need to look at what can be done over the train lines to bring that together?” he said.

“You have the MCG, tennis centre, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Marvel Stadium, the Showgrounds and Victoria Racing Club (VRC) are all linked by rail.”

Mr Guerra said it provided the opportunity of running an event across Melbourne that no other city could do.

“So all of a sudden we’re able to attract these global events because we have these global leading facilities all linked by a Melbourne experience, which is that train line,” he said.

Originally published as Melbourne Cricket Ground $1b redevelopment takes shape, state government provides extra $2m