Docklands Stadium facts for kids
Docklands Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as Etihad Stadium, is a large sport and entertainment complex built in the Docklands area of Melbourne, Victoria. Since March 1, 2009, is has been named after Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, one of two national airlines of the United Arab Emirates. Besides its generic name of Docklands Stadium, it has been known under past naming rights deals as Colonial Stadium and the Telstra Dome. The stadium opened on March 9, 2000 after two years of building and a cost of AU$450 million.
The stadium has a capacity of over 56,000, with over 53,000 seated. It is used mainly for Australian rules football, and houses the headquarters of the sport's main competition, the Australian Football League. It is also used for cricket and major concerts. The stadium also has a large opening roof that allows games to be played in any weather, and also has car parking underneath. It is joined to Southern Cross Railway Station by a footbridge. Its playing surface has an area of 19,000 m2. The roof, the largest opening roof in the Southern Hemisphere, takes about 8 minutes to open or close.
The stadium is home to several Australian Football League clubs, including Carlton, North Melbourne, Essendon, St Kilda, and the Western Bulldogs. It was used for several matches in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
The stadium is also used for music concerts, and performers have included Andre Rieu, Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, Barbara Streisand, Bon Jovi and Ricky Martin.
Images for kids
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Docklands Stadium under construction in December 1998
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Interior of Docklands Stadium with the roof closed in 2005
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Marvel Stadium pictured from above (February 2019)
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Docklands Stadium being renamed from Etihad Stadium to Marvel Stadium
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A 2008 AFL match at Docklands Stadium
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Record setting attendance at the 23 May 2012 State of Origin match between Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues
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Marvel Stadium in oval configuration in 2022
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Docklands Stadium in rectangular configuration in 2015
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A section of the movable seating
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One of the original, smaller LCDs at Docklands Stadium
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Exterior view of the stadium as seen from the harbour side
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Docklands para niños
