Melbourne Cricket Ground facts for kids
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MCG, The 'G
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Panorama of the MCG before
the 2017 AFL Grand Final |
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| Location | East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Owner | Government of Victoria | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Melbourne Cricket Club | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive suites | 109 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 100,024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Record attendance |
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| Field size | 171 metres x 146 metres | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Surface | Grass | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1853 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Renovated | 1992 (Southern Stand redevelopment) 2006 (Northern Stand redevelopment) 2032 (Proposed Shane Warne Stand redevelopment) |
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| Tenants | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Melbourne Football Club (1858–present) |
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The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is a huge sports stadium in Melbourne, Australia. It is famous for hosting cricket and Australian Rules Football games. The stadium can hold over 100,000 people! It was also the main stadium for the 1956 Summer Olympics.
The Melbourne Cricket Club started using this area for cricket in 1853. Their old ground was often flooded. It was also in the way of a new railway line. In 1859, the first game of Australian Rules Football was played at the MCG.
The MCG is managed by a special group called a trust. The first leader of this trust was William Haines, who was the first Premier of Victoria.
Contents
Early History of the MCG
The MCG is built on land that was once a camping ground for the Wurundjeri people. They also held many important ceremonies called corroborees there. The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) chose this spot in 1853. Before this, they played at several other places around Melbourne.
Their first game was against a military team. This was near the Old Mint building. Later, they moved to Burial Hill, which is now Flagstaff Gardens. But this area was planned for Botanical Gardens. So, the club had to move again in 1846. They went to a spot on the south bank of the Yarra River. This area often flooded, forcing them to move to South Melbourne.
Soon, the club had to move again because of a new railway line. The South Melbourne ground was right in the path of Victoria's first steam railway. The Governor, Charles La Trobe, offered the MCC three new places. One was next to their current ground. Another was at the corner of Flinders and Spring Streets. The third was a ten-acre (about 4 hectares) section of the Government Paddock in Richmond. This area is now Yarra Park.
Between 1835 and the early 1860s, this Government Paddock was used for horses. It was a place where police horses could graze. The northern part also had barracks for the Mounted Police. By 1853, it was a popular place for people in Melbourne to walk.
The MCC chose the Richmond Park option. It was flat enough for cricket but also sloped. This slope helped prevent flooding. That first ground was where the outer end of the current MCG is today.
At the same time, the Richmond Cricket Club was given land nearby. They got six acres (2.4 hectares) for another cricket ground.
In 1861, a group of trustees was put in charge of the ground. For the first 40 years, the MCC chose most of these trustees. This gave the cricket club a lot of control. But in 1906, the government appointed five new trustees. This meant the government-appointed trustees were now the majority. Since then, the government has overseen the trust. This gives the state government some control over how the ground is used.
When the land was first given, the government said it could only be used for cricket. This rule stayed until 1933. The Melbourne Cricket Ground Act of 1933 allowed it to be used for more things. Newer laws in 1989 and 2009 have replaced that act.
In 1863, a strip of land was given to the Melbourne & Hobson's Bay Railway Company. This railway line cut across Yarra Park. It separated the park from the river. The Mounted Police barracks were used until the 1880s. Then, the area was turned into houses. The land closest to the river was also developed for sports later on. This included venues for the 1956 Olympics.
Stadium Changes Over Time
The first main stand at the MCG was a wooden one for members. It was built in 1854. The first stand for the public was a temporary one. It was 200 meters long and could seat 6,000 people. This was built in 1861. Another stand was built in 1876. It could seat 2,000 people. This stand faced both the cricket ground and the football park. It was built for the 1877 visit of James Lillywhite's English cricket team. During this tour, the MCG hosted the world's first ever Test match.
In 1881, the original members' stand was sold. A new brick stand was built in its place. People thought it was the best cricket facility in the world at the time. Prince George of Wales and Prince Albert Victor laid the first stone. The stand opened in December that year. Also in 1881, a telephone was put in the ground. The cricket wickets and football goal posts were changed to a north-south direction. In 1882, a scoreboard was built. It showed the batsman's name and how they were out.
The Lillywhite tour stand burned down in 1884. It was replaced by a new stand. This one seated 450 members and 4,500 public. In 1897, extra sections were added to 'The Grandstand'. This increased its capacity to 9,000. In 1900, it was lit with electric lights.
More stands were built in the early 1900s. An open wooden stand was added in 1904. The 2,084-seat Grey Smith Stand was built for members in 1906. The 4,000-seat Harrison Stand was built in 1908. Then came the 8,000-seat Wardill Stand in 1912. In just 15 years, the seating capacity grew to nearly 20,000. The whole ground could hold almost 60,000 people.
In 1927, the second brick members' stand was replaced. This cost £60,000. The Harrison and Wardill Stands were taken down in 1936. This made way for the Southern Stand, finished in 1937. The Southern Stand seated 18,200 people under cover. It had room for 13,000 more in the open. This was the main public area. The ground's total capacity was then 84,000 seated and 94,000 standing.
The Northern Stand, also called the Olympic Stand, was built for the 1956 Summer Olympics. This increased the stadium's capacity to 120,000. However, this number was lowered after the 1956 VFL Grand Final. That game had 115,802 people, which was a bit too crowded. Ten years later, the Grey Smith Stand was replaced by the Western Stand. The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh laid a foundation stone for it in 1967. It was finished in 1968. In 1986, it was renamed the W.H. Ponsford Stand. This was when the stadium could hold the most people. The record crowd of 121,696 was set in the 1970 VFL Grand Final.
The MCG was the first place in Australia to have a full-color video scoreboard. It replaced the old one in 1982. A second video screen was added in 1994. In 1985, tall light towers were put up. This allowed games to be played at night.
In 1988, inspections showed that the old Southern Stand was getting old and needed repairs. This was a chance to replace the 50-year-old building. The new Great Southern Stand was finished in 1992. It was ready for the 1992 Cricket World Cup. This stand was renamed the Shane Warne Stand in 2022.
The 1928 Members' stand, the 1956 Olympic stand, and the 1968 W.H Ponsford stand were taken down. They were replaced with a new structure between 2003 and 2005. This was ready for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Now, it looks like one big stand, but parts still keep their old names. This rebuilding made the ground's capacity just over 100,000. The highest number of people since then was 100,022 at the 2018 AFL Grand Final.
From 2011 to 2013, the Victorian Government and the MCC spent $55 million. They improved the Great Southern Stand. This included new entrance gates and food areas. New scoreboards, twice the size of the old ones, were put in place in late 2013.
From late 2019 to early 2020, all the lights were changed to LED lights. This made the stadium even brighter.
World War II and the MCG
During World War II, the government took over the MCG for military use. From 1942 to 1945, different groups used it. These included the United States Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps. More than 200,000 military people stayed at the MCG during the war.
From April to October 1942, the US Army's Fifth Air Force used the ground. They called it "Camp Murphy." In 1943, the MCG was home to the famous First Regiment of the United States Marine Corps. These Marines were heroes from the Guadalcanal Campaign. They used the "cricket grounds" to rest and get better. On March 14, 1943, the Marines held a huge gathering for American and Australian troops.
In 1977, a special plaque was put up. It honored the time Americans spent at the ground.
You can even see the war-era MCG in episode 3 of the 2010 TV show, The Pacific. It shows US Marines camped there.
Olympic Games History
The MCG's most famous moment was being the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. It also held track and field events. The finals for field hockey and soccer were played there too. The MCG was one of seven possible places for the main Olympic arena. The government wanted the MCG, but the MCC was not sure. This disagreement almost made the Games move from Melbourne.
Prime Minister Robert Menzies stepped in. He knew it would be embarrassing for Australia if the Games moved. He set up a three-day meeting to sort things out. Many important people attended. This included the Victorian Premier John Cain, Sr., and Olympic officials.
As November 22, the opening ceremony date, got closer, Melbourne became very excited. The day before, people started lining up outside the MCG gates. That night, a quarter of a million people celebrated in the city.
The MCG's capacity grew with the new Olympic (or Northern) Stand. On the day of the opening, 103,000 people filled the stadium. A young runner was chosen to carry the Olympic torch into the stadium.
This runner was Ron Clarke. He was not very well known in 1956. But he had set junior world records. Carrying the torch might have inspired him. He went on to have an amazing running career. He held world records for many distances. However, he often struggled in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
On that famous day in 1956, the torch sparked. It showered Clarke with hot magnesium. This burned holes in his shirt. When he put the torch into the cauldron, it burst into flame. This singed him even more. In the middle of the ground, John Landy took the Olympic oath. He was the fastest miler in the world. Sculler Merv Wood carried the Australian flag.
The Melbourne Games also saw Australian women sprinters shine. Betty Cuthbert won three gold medals at the MCG. She won the 100m and 200m races. She also helped the 4 x 100m team win. She was a champion schoolgirl athlete. She had broken the world record for the 200m just before the Games.
Shirley Strickland was 31 and a mother by the 1956 Olympics. But she still won gold in the 80m hurdles. She had won this title four years earlier. She also set a new Olympic record.
The men's team did not win as many medals. The 4 x 400m relay team won silver. Charles Porter also won silver in the high jump. Hec Hogan won bronze in the 100m. John Landy won bronze in the 1500m despite an injury. Allan Lawrence won bronze in the 10,000m event.
Besides athletics, the stadium was used for other events. It hosted the soccer and hockey finals. It also had an exhibition baseball game. The Australian team played a US military team. About 114,000 people watched. This was a Guinness World Record for baseball attendance for many years.
The MCG also held a demonstration game of Australian Rules Football. Only amateur players could play in the Olympics. So, a combined team of amateurs played a state team. The amateur team won easily. One player chosen was Lindsay Gaze. He later became famous in basketball.
The MCG's link to its Olympic past continues today. Inside, you can find the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum.
Forty-four years later, the MCG hosted some soccer games. This was for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. This makes it one of the few venues used for more than one Olympics.
Other Uses of the MCG
- Queen Elizabeth II visited the MCG twice in 1954. She also attended a football match in 1970. In 2006, she was there for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
- A record crowd of 143,000 people attended a religious event. This was led by Billy Graham in 1959.
- The first rock concert at the MCG was by David Cassidy in 1974.
- In 1993, Paul McCartney, U2, and Madonna held three concerts. They sold 147,241 tickets.
- Other famous artists have played there. These include The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, and Elton John.
- Pope John Paul II held a service at the MCG in 1986.
- The MCG hosted The Police concert in 2008.
- Sound Relief, a concert for bushfire relief, was held in 2009. Many famous bands played.
- The MCG was the starting point for The Amazing Race Australia 1 in 2010.
- Guns N' Roses played concerts there in 2017 and 2022.
- The Killers played a free concert after the 2017 AFL Grand Final.
- WWE Super Show-Down was held there in 2018.
- Eminem had a concert in 2019. It had 80,708 tickets sold. This was the highest for a single concert at the MCG.
- The memorial service for Shane Warne was held at the MCG in 2022.
- Ed Sheeran will play two concerts there in March 2023.
MCG Records
Sporting Records
- First ever Test Cricket match (Australia vs England) – 1877
- First ever One Day International Cricket match – 1971
- Highest first-class cricket score – 1107 (Victoria vs NSW, 1926)
- Australia's first international Lacrosse match (Australia vs Canada, 1907, 30,000 people)
- Fastest ball bowled in a Cricket match in Australia – 160.7 km/h (Shaun Tait, 2010)
Attendance Records
| All-time highest attendance records at the MCG | |||
| Number | Attendance | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 143,000 | Billy Graham, Crusade | 15 March 1959 |
| 2 | 121,696 | VFL Grand Final, Carlton vs Collingwood | 26 September 1970 |
| 3 | 120,000 | 40th Eucharistic Congress | 25 February 1973 |
| 4 | 119,195 | VFL Grand Final, Carlton vs Richmond | 27 September 1969 |
| 5 | 118,192 | VFL Grand Final, Hawthorn vs St Kilda | 25 September 1971 |
- Highest Australian religious event attendance – 143,750 (Billy Graham crusade, 1959)
- Highest VFL/AFL attendance at a regular season match – 99,256 (Melbourne vs Collingwood, 1958).
- Highest VFL/AFL Grand Final attendance – 121,696 (Collingwood vs Carlton, 1970)
- Highest soccer crowd at MCG (Club Friendly) – 99,382 (International Champions Cup, Manchester City vs Real Madrid, 2015)
- Highest soccer crowd at MCG (National Teams) – 97,103 (Australia vs Greece, 2006)
- Highest single-day attendance in Test Cricket history – 91,092 (2013 Boxing Day Test, Day 1 – Australia vs England)
- Highest One Day International Cricket crowd – 93,013 (2015 Cricket World Cup Final Australia vs New Zealand)
- Highest Twenty20 International Cricket crowd – 84,041 (Australia vs India, 2008)
- Highest Twenty20 Domestic Cricket crowd – 80,883 (Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, 2015–16 Big Bash League season)
- Highest women's cricket crowd - 86,174 (2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final Australia Women vs India Women)
- Highest State of Origin rugby league crowd – 91,513 (Game II, 2015)
Stadium Records
- World's first all-color cricket scoreboard with instant replays.
- World's first electronic sight screens.
- World's first super sopper (a machine to dry the ground).
- World's first scrolling signs at an oval-shaped ground.
- First time an international Cricket match was played on a one-piece portable pitch (Boxing Day Test, 2000).
- World's tallest floodlights.
Images for kids
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1864 match between Victoria and George Parr's touring All-England Eleven
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The MCG in 1878. The first Test cricket match was played at the MCG in 1877.
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Aerial view of the MCG during the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final, packed with 87,182 people.
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The second day of the 2006 Boxing Day Test match.
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MCG during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Final with 93,013 in attendance.
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1879 Australian rules football match played under electric lights.
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Crowd during a VFL football match, early 1900s.
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A sold-out MCG during the 2007 AFL Grand Final.
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Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
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Australia and Greece playing an International Friendly at the MCG on 25 May 2006.
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Don Bradman still holds the record for most runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Jack Hobbs scored 1,178 runs in 18 innings at the ground; a record for non-Australians.
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Matthew Hayden scored six centuries, second only to Bradman with nine.
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Dennis Lillee has taken the most wickets at the ground, with 82. Statue at the MCG pictured.
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Sydney Barnes took 35 wickets in ten innings; the most of any non-Australian.
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Steve Smith made 165*, as Australia totalled 8/624 declared in 2016.
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Statue of cricketer and Australian rules football pioneer Tom Wills umpiring an 1858 football match.
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The statue of Shane Warne in 2022. The statue became a makeshift memorial to Warne shortly after his death.
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Dick Reynolds
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See also
In Spanish: Melbourne Cricket Ground para niños
