Marrara Oval facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
TIO Stadium

Marrara Stadium Marrara Oval
View of the grandstand at Marrara Oval in March 2016
Former names	Football Park
Location	Marrara, Northern Territory
Coordinates	12°23′57″S 130°53′14″E / 12.39917°S 130.88722°E / -12.39917; 130.88722
Owner	Government of the Northern Territory
Operator	AFL Northern Territory
Capacity	12,215
Field size	175 m × 135 m (574 ft × 443 ft)
Surface	Grass
Opened	1991
Tenants
NT Thunder (QAFL/NEAFL/VFLW) (2009–2019) Wanderers (NTFL) (1991–present) St Marys (NTFL) (1991–present) Darwin Buffaloes (NTFL) (1991–2025) Parramatta Eels (NRL) (2014–2025) Dolphins (NRL) (2026–present) Gold Coast Suns (AFL) (2020–present) Adelaide Football Club (AFLW) (2017–2019) Western Bulldogs (AFL) (2004–2010, 2012–2013) Melbourne Football Club (AFL) (2010–2019) 2017 Rugby League World Cup Richmond Football Club (AFL) (2011) Sydney Roosters (NRL) (2012) Gold Coast Titans (NRL) (2013) NT Thunder Academy (Talent League) (2000-2016 2021-present)
Ground information
End names
McMillans Road End Airport End
International information
First Test	18–20 July 2003:  Australia v  Bangladesh
Last Test	1–3 July 2004:  Australia v  Sri Lanka
First ODI	6 August 2003:  Australia v  Bangladesh
Last ODI	6 September 2008:  Australia v  Bangladesh
First T20I	10 August 2025:  Australia v  South Africa
Last T20I	12 August 2025:  Australia v  South Africa
As of 28 May 2020 Source: Cricinfo

TIO Stadium, also known as Marrara Oval, is a big sports stadium in Darwin, Australia. It's the largest stadium in the Northern Territory and can hold 12,215 people. This stadium is a popular spot for Australian rules football, cricket, and rugby league games.

Marrara Oval first opened in 1991. It holds a record for the biggest crowd, with 17,500 people attending an Australian rules football game in 2003. Since 2004, the stadium has hosted at least one Australian Football League (AFL) game every year. It has also hosted National Rugby League (NRL) games every year since 2012. TIO Stadium has even seen international cricket matches, including Test, One Day International (ODI), and T20I games, with the most recent T20I matches happening in 2025.

Stadium History and Sports

Australian Rules Football at TIO Stadium

Marrara Oval officially opened on June 30, 1991. It became the new home for the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL). The stadium got its lights in 1994, allowing games to be played at night. The first night game was between Nightcliff and Southern Districts.

In 1992, the stadium hosted its first Australian Football League (AFL) preseason game. About 11,000 fans watched Collingwood play West Coast. Over the years, many preseason games were held here, including exciting matches with the Indigenous All-Stars. In 2003, a game between the Indigenous All-Stars and Carlton drew a huge crowd of 17,500 people, which is still a record for the stadium.

The first regular-season AFL game at Marrara Oval was in 2004. The Western Bulldogs played against Port Adelaide. From 2004 to 2008, the Western Bulldogs played one "home" game here each season. Later, the Melbourne Football Club also started playing annual games in Darwin. Since 2020, the Gold Coast Suns have played two home games a year at TIO Stadium.

The Adelaide Crows women's team has also used Marrara Oval as a home ground since 2017. They play some of their AFLW games here. In 2020, TIO Stadium even hosted the famous Dreamtime at the 'G match between Essendon and Richmond. This happened because the game couldn't be played in Melbourne due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AFL Game Records

• Highest Team Score: 26.8 (164) by the Gold Coast Suns against Geelong on May 16, 2024.
• Largest Winning Margin: 93 points by the Western Bulldogs against Port Adelaide on June 13, 2009.
• Most Goals in a Game: 5 goals, achieved by several players on nine different occasions.
• Most Career Goals: Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs) scored 17 goals in 7 games.
• Most Career Games: Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide) and Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide) both played 10 games at the stadium.

International Cricket Matches

TIO Stadium has hosted important international cricket games. Sometimes, it's called Darwin Cricket Ground for these matches. In July 2003, the stadium hosted its first Test match between Australia and Bangladesh. An One Day International (ODI) game between the same teams followed a month later.

In July 2004, Australia played another Test match here, this time against Sri Lanka. After a break, international cricket returned in 2008 with a series of three ODI games between Australia and Bangladesh. In August 2025, the stadium made history by hosting its first ever T20 International (T20I) matches, with Australia playing against South Africa.

Famous players like Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh have scored centuries (100 runs or more) in international matches at this stadium. Bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz have also taken many wickets here.

Rugby League Excitement

TIO Stadium has also become a key venue for National Rugby League (NRL) games. In 2012, the Sydney Roosters played the North Queensland Cowboys in front of over 10,000 fans. This was the first professional Rugby League game in Darwin since 1995.

The Parramatta Eels, an NRL club from Sydney, started playing one home game a year at Marrara in 2014. They had a 12-year partnership with the Northern Territory Government, which ended in 2025. Their last game was in April 2025.

In 2017, TIO Stadium hosted a quarter-final match for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Australia played against Samoa, and Australia won. This game attracted 13,473 fans, which is the biggest rugby league crowd the stadium has ever seen. Starting in 2026, the Dolphins will play one home game a year at the stadium for the next three years.

Other Fun Events

TIO Stadium isn't just for sports! It has also hosted big music concerts. The famous rock band AC/DC performed here in November 1996. Later, in May 2008, Sir Elton John played his first-ever concert in the Northern Territory at TIO Stadium.

Top Attendance Records

TIO Stadium has seen some amazing crowds over the years for different sports events.

See also

• List of Test cricket grounds