Eddie McGuire reveals $1b plan to replace Etihad Stadium with new indoor venue near MCG
UPDATE: AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says Eddie McGuire’s plan for a new football stadium next to the MCG is a good debate for the game, but the league isn’t ready to bulldoze Etihad Stadium just yet.
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AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says Eddie McGuire’s plan for a new football stadium to be built next to the MCG was a good debate for the game, but the league isn’t ready to bulldoze Etihad Stadium just yet.
Under McGuire’s plan, Etihad would be razed and a new $1 billion footy stadium built next door to the MCG under a radical plan pushed by the Collingwood president.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, McLachlan said he had been aware of McGuire’s idea and said the AFL, like the Pies boss, was always looking at ways to improve facilities.
“I saw that was endorsed by the Premier and we’re having a debate about investing in infrastructure and sports infrastructure because major events and sport bring so much to this town and it’s such a big part of the town,” McLachlan said.
The AFL chief said he’d love it if Etihad Stadium “had more of a spruce up” but the league was aware of its investment in Etihad — which he called a “fabulous asset”.
“Ed’s floated an idea today, I’ve had conversations with Ed about that. We’ll own Etihad for $30 in nine years time so at some point you have to consider all types of options,” he said.
“I think Ed’s pitched an idea today but at the heart of that is continuing to work with sport and state government and federal government, all government, to make sure we’ve got the best facilities in this state so that it continues to be the sporting and major event capital of the world.”
Earlier today, Premier Daniel Andrews praised McGuire’s “bold plan” and said he was keen to debate its merits.
He encouraged the AFL to carefully consider the proposal, which McGuire said would also include bulldozing Etihad Stadium.
“I think the AFL should have a close look at it, the MCC, I’m certainly keen to have a very close look at what might be done to make sure we don’t just have a good sporting precinct but the very, very best,” Mr Andrews said.
McGuire’s plan for “Victoria Stadium” would boast a retractable roof and a capacity of up to 60,000.
The preferred site is at Hisense Arena, which would be relocated above the railway lines, but former state premier Jeff Kennett — who was at the helm when the Docklands stadium was built — says the plan could force the Australian Open to move from Melbourne.
And AFL legend Kevin Bartlett says there is already a venue within walking distance of the MCG that could be developed into a boutique stadium.
AGREE WITH EDDIE’S PLAN? SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE AND HAVE YOUR SAY
Key stakeholders including the Premier have been briefed on McGuire’s proposal to revamp the Olympic Park precinct.
“The talks are serious — and it gives us an opportunity to decide what the next plan is for our city,” McGuire said.
Andrews told the Herald Sun: “The MCG, Melbourne and Olympic Park stadiums are the envy of the world, but in a competitive market we can’t sit back and let others pass us by.
“I encourage fresh thinking and innovative ideas to enhance our sporting arenas. Eddie is a passionate Victorian with a love of our great game and a vision for our major sporting precinct.”
McGuire has spent 12 months working on the concept and has held talks with the State Government, Melbourne Cricket Club, city planners, developers and financiers.
It’s an alternative that is bigger than just a footy stadium, it gives us an opportunity to reshape and remodel Melbourne for the next 50 to 100 years
Eddie McGuire 
The new stadium would sit alongside the MCG, AAMI Park and Melbourne Park to form the world’s greatest sporting hub.
But Kennett said the fact that the Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust has Hisense Arena contracted for Australian Open duties until 2036 makes the notion “dead and buried”.
“There is no argument at all to put the Australian Open at risk of moving from Melbourne,” he said on SEN.
“I’m not opposed to a new stadium, a smaller stadium than the MCG at all, but I just question whether Eddie’s suggestion today is in any way feasible. If there is any chance that it either breaks a contract or puts at risk the Australian Open, it must be quashed.
“My advice to Eddie would be to find another site. I’m not opposed to the idea of selling Etihad and rebuilding someehwere else, but please find a site that doesn’t jeopardise existing assets of the state.”
Bartlett says McGuire needs to shift his vision from Collingwood’s Olympic Park precinct.
“Eddie McGuire can’t be serious, can he?,” Bartlett said on SEN.
“Eddie — take your eyes off the Holden Centre and focus on the corner of Punt Rd and Brunton Ave. There lies the famous Punt Rd Oval. It’s already there Eddie, staring at you. And talks of it being redeveloped as a boutique stadium have been around for years. There may even be some plans floating around.
“With this much cash available, it’s a no-brainer. We head to Tigerland.”
McGuire’s vision includes moving the Richmond train station underground and a tunnel to replace Olympic Boulevard.
But the McGuire master plan is dependent on the sale of Etihad Stadium, which the AFL will buy back for just $30 in March, 2025.
Funds would also be raised from the sale of public land such as the train station, infrastructure bonds and government loans.
“The AFL have gone into a fair bit of detail on the rebuild of Etihad Stadium, which is a fair and reasonable position, but we’re looking at an opportunity to bulletproof the AFL, particularly the Victorian-based clubs,” McGuire said.
“It’s an alternative that is bigger than just a footy stadium, it gives us an opportunity to reshape and remodel Melbourne for the next 50 to 100 years.”
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said while he isn’t opposed to the idea, he still likes the idea of sticking with Etihad Stadium in the near future.
“Myself, I still prefer the Docklands as a venue,” he told SEN.
“I think it services the people I the west and north western suburbs of Melbourne. That’s an important thing. It has its critics … but it’s really well connected transport-wise. I actually think that it’s got a lot of potential.
“I’m not one for giving away the current location, albeit that it’s going to need to be renovated fairly substantially. I still think there’s a need for something on the western side of the city.
“You need to remember that the western region of Melbourne is the fastest growing population base in Australia.”
I wish they would stop moving the stadium's around in Melbourne it is most inconvenient to our travel plans.
— Andrew Pridham (@Pridhamhq) March 8, 2016
McGuire said the new stadium would be run by a joint AFL-MCC super trust.
More than 236,000 people on the MCC waiting list would be eligible for membership, he said.
“It’s the chance to once and for all put aside the warring factions in our town,” McGuire said.
“The MCC and the AFL coming together with rugby league, soccer, entertainment and concerts. All those things being housed in the right location.
“This would be a state-of-the-art stadium that could have as big an impact as the original decision to build the MCG over 150 years ago.
“We’ll get one chance of getting this 100 per cent right.”
Former Melbourne forward David Schwarz lashed the idea, labelling it “rubbish”.
“Of course I’m not (a fan),” he said on SEN.
“Etihad Stadium was strategically built to give the people of the north and the west ad opportunity to get to the footy with relative ease. As a spectator, it’s one of the great grounds to go and watch.
“(Eddie suggests) taking (the capacity) from 53,000 or 55,000 up to 60,000 — woop de doo.
“You go the MCG at 2pm on a Saturday and then we’ve got the twilight game next door — can you imagine the train station?
“2020 to 2030 is when you’re going to see the real benefits of Etihad. Absolutely (we need to be patient).”
McGuire said the removal of Etihad Stadium would open up Docklands and better connect the CBD to the troubled precinct.
McGuire first discussed his concept with the Premier late last year.
“If we want to keep Victoria’s reputation for having the best of everything, it’s certainly worth considering how to make the most of Melbourne’s premier sports and major events precinct,” Andrews said.
michael.warner@news.com.au
— with Eliza Sewell
McGUIRE’S MASTER PLAN
* New 60,000-seat stadium near MCG
* Shift Hisense Arena
* Bulldoze Etihad Stadium
* Underground Richmond train station
* Olympic Boulevard road tunnel
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