Docklands Stadium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Docklands Stadium
Marvel Stadium

Former names	Colonial Stadium (2000–2002) Telstra Dome (2002–2009) Etihad Stadium (2009–2018)
Location	Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Coordinates	37°48′59″S 144°56′51″E / 37.81639°S 144.94750°E / -37.81639; 144.94750
Owner	Australian Football League
Operator	Australian Football League (2020–present) Melbourne Stadiums Limited (2000–2020)
Capacity	56,347 (venue capacity) 53,343 (seating capacity) 47,000 (cricket and rectangular mode)
Record attendance	76,150 (Adele, March 2017)
Field size	160 m × 129 m (525 ft × 423 ft)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	October 1997
Opened	9 March 2000
Construction cost	A$460 million
Architect	Populous in association with Daryl Jackson
General contractor	Baulderstone Hornibrook
Tenants
Australian Football League Essendon Football Club (2000–present) St Kilda Football Club (2000–present) Western Bulldogs (2000–present) North Melbourne Football Club (2000–present) Carlton Football Club (2005–present) Cricket Melbourne Renegades (BBL; 2011–present) Other Melbourne Storm (NRL; 2001, Finals 2006–09, 2010, 2023) Melbourne Victory (A-League Men; 2006–2021) Australia men's national soccer team (selected matches) Australia women's national soccer team (selected matches) Australia national rugby union team (selected matches) Australia national rugby league team (selected matches)
Ground information
End names
Lockett End Coventry End
International information
First ODI	16 August 2000:  Australia v  South Africa
Last ODI	3 February 2006:  Australia v  South Africa
As of 22 August 2015 Source: ESPNcricinfo

Marvel Stadium is a huge sports and entertainment venue in Docklands, Melbourne, Australia. It's known for its cool retractable roof that can open and close. The stadium was built for about A$460 million and opened in 2000.

This stadium is mostly used for Australian rules football games. It's also a popular spot for Twenty20 cricket matches, soccer games, rugby league, rugby union, and big concerts. With space for over 53,000 fans, it's the second-largest stadium in Melbourne. The Australian Football League (AFL) owns the stadium, and their main offices are located there.

Stadium History

Building the Stadium

Docklands Stadium under construction in December 1998

Plans for this stadium were announced in 1996. It was meant to replace Waverley Park as a main home for the Australian Football League. The stadium was built in the Melbourne Docklands area, which was an industrial zone that was being updated.

Construction started in October 1997 and finished just before the 2000 AFL season. It was first called "Victoria Stadium." This was the first Australian rules football stadium with a roof that could open and close. The roof is usually closed for night games or when it's raining.

Cool Features and Challenges

The stadium was also the first in Australia to have movable seating. This means parts of the lower seats can move forward. This changes the field from an oval shape to a rectangle, which is great for different sports. However, this feature is not used very often because it can damage the grass and takes time to set up.

The first game played here was an AFL match on March 9, 2000. Essendon won, and Michael Long scored the first goal. A few days later, Barbra Streisand held the stadium's first concert. The first game played with the roof closed was on March 19, 2000.

One challenge for the stadium has always been keeping the grass playing surface in good condition. Because of how the stadium is built, some parts of the field don't get much sunlight. The grass often needs to be replaced, and special heating and lighting systems are used to help it grow.

In 2015, new LED advertising screens were added around the field. A strip of fake grass was also added around the edge, but it was made smaller after a player got injured on it.

Stadium Ownership Changes

The AFL bought the stadium in October 2016. Before that, it was owned by other companies. This purchase was a big deal for the AFL and the teams that play there. It helped the teams get better deals for their games.

The stadium also helped the AFL during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owning the stadium allowed the league to get a large loan to help with money problems when games were stopped.

Stadium Names Over Time

Docklands Stadium being renamed from Etihad Stadium to Marvel Stadium

The stadium has had several different names because of sponsorship deals:

• Colonial Stadium (2000–2002): This was its first name.
• Telstra Dome (2002–2009): Telstra bought the naming rights. Many people called it "The Dome."
• Etihad Stadium (2009–2018): Etihad Airways became the sponsor.
• Marvel Stadium (2018–present): In 2018, the Walt Disney Company, which owns Marvel Entertainment, made a deal. Now, the stadium is named after Marvel, and there's even a Marvel store inside!

Cool Stadium Features

Marvel Stadium has many amazing features:

• It has an oval-shaped grass field that is about 19,053 square meters.
• The retractable roof is 38 meters high and takes about eight minutes to open or close.
• Some seats on the lower level can move forward 18 meters. This changes the field into a rectangle for different sports.
• There are two large video screens behind each goal, installed in 2022. They show scores, replays, and ads.
• The stadium has 13 function rooms and 66 special corporate boxes.
• There are 1,700 car parking spaces under the field.
• Over 700 powerful lights illuminate the arena.
• The stadium can hold between 12,000 and 74,000 people, depending on the event.
• The ends of the field are named after famous AFL goal-kickers: the Lockett End (north) and the Coventry End (south).

• 

  Marvel Stadium in its oval shape in 2022

• 

  Docklands Stadium in its rectangular shape in 2015

• 

  A section of the movable seating

• 

  One of the original, smaller screens at Docklands Stadium

• 

  The outside of the stadium from the harbor

What Happens at Marvel Stadium?

A panoramic view of Marvel Stadium during an AFL match in May 2025

Australian Rules Football Games

Docklands Stadium before an AFL match in May 2024

Many AFL teams play their home games at Marvel Stadium. Some teams, like St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Essendon, and Carlton, have deals to play many games here each year.

All Victorian AFL teams have played games at the stadium at some point. The AFL even made a video in 2020 to celebrate 20 years of football at the stadium, highlighting the biggest moments. One of the top moments was Jason McCartney's return to AFL after a serious injury in 2003.

Cricket Matches

The stadium is also home to the Melbourne Renegades cricket team, which plays in the Big Bash League. They have played their home games here since 2011. A special "drop-in pitch" is used for cricket games.

In 2016, Chris Gayle hit a super-fast half-century (50 runs) in just 12 balls during a game here! Sometimes, players even hit the roof, which is 38 meters high. If the ball hits the roof, it counts as six runs.

Soccer Games

The first soccer game at the stadium was in 2001. The A-League team Melbourne Victory used to play many of their home matches here. Now, they mostly play their biggest games and finals at Marvel Stadium. The stadium also hosted the 2024 A-Leagues All Stars Game.

Rugby League Matches

The Melbourne Storm rugby league team used Marvel Stadium as their home ground for a year in 2001. They still play some big games and finals here. The stadium has also hosted exciting State of Origin games, which are huge matches between Queensland and New South Wales. In 2012, a record 56,021 fans watched a rugby league game here.

Other Sports and Events

Marvel Stadium has been used for many other sports, including:

• International rugby union games.
• International basketball games.
• Rugby sevens during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
• A WWE wrestling event in 2002.
• UFC 193 in 2015, which set a record for UFC attendance with 56,214 fans.
• A motorcycle speedway event in 2015.

Docklands Stadium being used for a RMIT University graduation ceremony in 2022

Besides sports, the stadium is a popular place for concerts. Adele holds the record for the largest concert attendance at the stadium, and Ed Sheeran holds the record for the largest concert series attendance. In 2023, the stadium hosted Australia's first K-pop concert by a female group, Twice.

RMIT University also uses the stadium every year for its graduation ceremonies.

Stadium Records

Highest Attendance Records

An AFL match at Docklands Stadium in 2008

A record crowd at the 2012 State of Origin match

Here are some of the biggest crowds Marvel Stadium has seen:

AFL Records

Player Achievements

• Most games played: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), 184 games.
• Most goals kicked: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), 452 goals.
• Most goals in one match: Mark LeCras (West Coast), 12 goals in 2010.
• Most disposals in one match: Bailey Dale (Western Bulldogs), 49 in 2025.
• First AFL goal ever: Michael Long (Essendon), on March 9, 2000.

Team Achievements

• Highest winning percentage: Geelong at 66.50%.
• Most wins: St Kilda with 160 wins.
• Highest score: Geelong 35.12 (222 points) in 2007.
• Lowest score: Adelaide 2.9 (21 points) in 2021.
• Biggest winning margin: Geelong won by 157 points in 2007.

International Cricket Centuries

Here are the centuries (100 runs or more) scored in One Day International (ODI) cricket matches at Marvel Stadium:

No.	Score	Player	Team	Balls	Inns.	Opposing team	Date	Result
1	106	Michael Bevan	Australia	125	1	South Africa	16 August 2000	Won
2	114*	Steve Waugh	Australia	103	1	South Africa	16 August 2000	Won
3	103	Adam Gilchrist	Australia	79	1	ICC World XI	7 October 2005	Won

Getting to Marvel Stadium

The stadium is easy to reach by public transport.

• Trains: Southern Cross Station is right next to the stadium. Most major train lines and country coaches stop here.
• Trams: Several tram routes stop near the stadium on Harbour Esplanade (Routes 70, 75, City Circle) and La Trobe Street (Routes 86, 30, City Circle).
• Parking: There's also a car park under the field with space for 500 vehicles, open on event days.

See also

In Spanish: Estadio Docklands para niños