Opinion Have the MCC and the AFL ruined the MCG?

[Occidental]

Does anyone have any old photos of the old southern stand like before the great southern stand was put in.

It had intrigued me the old southern stand with its long fibro black roof and old wooden plank style seats.

Also of the the old MCC members as well.

Amazing back then like in the 1970s and 1980s.

I posted a picture earlier in this thread. It’s post #12.

 

[CrowToon]

Completely overrated ground. Much loved by sycophant fans whose teams play there but as some have already pointed out its due to 'history' and other such things whilst deeply interesting to learn about, does **** all for the average punter wnd their gameday experience.

At the end of the day the MCC and now the AFL having a reserve and the other variety of restricted seating it is simply a temple to the haves and have nots.

A stadium which hogs the GF and delivers that experience to 1/3 of actual fans of the teams? In the bin.

Ill take a stadium that is for the people over that shit anyday.

 

[MagpieJoel]

Agreed. Pales in comparison to Docklands these days.

Hahahahaha

 

[Lockyer24]

?

Like one of the Plasma TVs that hang from the roof on Lvl1?

No it’s not a plasma tv, it’s a wall sized thing that’s the size of about 9 TVs put together

 

[hilly]

doubt it

i have been in plenty of GF line ups and those aren't guests.

MCC is full of low ebbs of society. The idea it's a toffs society is laughable.

I hear ya Hirdy. It isn't exclusive or elitist at all.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Partridge]

What makes a great stadium?

I've had the luxury of visiting some of the big shiny new stadiums in the US that some are raved about while others are shit on as being poor. The interesting thing I found was that for the average attendee the poor one's weren't that bad while the one's raved about as trend setter stadiums weren't real much better than the poor one's.

IMO the Shane Warne stand still stacks up well with most modern stadiums but does have some flaws particularly with the upper levels with concourse space and amenities.

The fact is more people go to the football today partly because of the way the MCG and modern stadiums are built. Yes the old grounds had a certain character that lacks in the concrete monstrosities they build today. But most lacked a comfort people expect when paying for entertainment in this day and age.

Do they? I'd be curious to see more about that. Considering that most games are scheduled to be on their own in one city most of the time, whereas in the past 6 games were on at exactly the same time in exactly the same town, I'm not sure more people go at all.

Additionally, if you wanted to compare the population of Melbourne from say 1985 and see how many went on a Saturday afternoon, versus the population now and how many go to MCG/Docklands/Geelong even on a Saturday, the proportions would be very interesting to look at.

 

[deck]

Do they? I'd be curious to see more about that. Considering that most games are scheduled to be on their own in one city most of the time, whereas in the past 6 games were on at exactly the same time in exactly the same town, I'm not sure more people go at all.

Additionally, if you wanted to compare the population of Melbourne from say 1985 and see how many went on a Saturday afternoon, versus the population now and how many go to MCG/Docklands/Geelong even on a Saturday, the proportions would be very interesting to look at.

Attendances jumped considerably in the 90's when clubs moved away from the suburban grounds and made the MCG home. Also 95% plus who attend over a weekend would be unique viewers not people attending multiple games.

Also on population the majority of growth has been off migration over the last 20 years compared to the the 70's and 80's where it was newborns.

The fact is more Women and Children attend now than they did in the old VFL days.

 

[Underarm]

Do they? I'd be curious to see more about that. Considering that most games are scheduled to be on their own in one city most of the time, whereas in the past 6 games were on at exactly the same time in exactly the same town, I'm not sure more people go at all.

Additionally, if you wanted to compare the population of Melbourne from say 1985 and see how many went on a Saturday afternoon, versus the population now and how many go to MCG/Docklands/Geelong even on a Saturday, the proportions would be very interesting to look at.

Population Melbourne 1985: 3 Million.
VFL attendance in Vic 1985: 2.6 Mil (21k per game)

Population melbourne 2024:5.3 Million
AFL attendance in Vic :4.6 Mil 46k per game

 

[BF Tiger]

The MCG would be a far superior ground if it had an internal concourse that you could walk the entire way around the ground.

 

[Partridge]

Population Melbourne 1985: 3 Million.
VFL attendance in Vic 1985: 2.6 Mil (21k per game)

Population melbourne 2024:5.3 Million
AFL attendance in Vic :4.6 Mil 46k per game

Thanks.

So right now, the proportion of attendees in Victoria is roughly 0.86% of the population. Per game.
In 1985, the proportion of attendees in Victoria was roughly 0.7% of the population. Per game.

Except of course, in 1985 there were 6 games at once. So the percentage was actually 4.2%. You could be generous and multiply the current figures by 2-3 depending on if there are games at MCG/Marvel/Geelong on the same day. You still only end up with 2.58% maximum. Still significantly less than what occurred earlier. A reminder to not believe all the hype and spin that's relentlessly beaten into the brains of modern fans.

 

[Captain_Bender]

Best and most soulful ground in the league, all other grounds feel very fake and plastic

 

[jimbler]

The MCG would be a far superior ground if it had an internal concourse that you could walk the entire way around the ground.

Or a greyhound track.

 

[Partridge]

Does anyone have any old photos of the old southern stand like before the great southern stand was put in.

It had intrigued me the old southern stand with its long fibro black roof and old wooden plank style seats.

Also of the the old MCC members as well.

Amazing back then like in the 1970s and 1980s.

Here's a few that cover the evolution of the ground through the years (not just the Southern Stand):

1870s - at some point, taken from Government House in South Yarra. The very first MCC "Pavilion" is that white building on the left. So the view is pretty much from the outer wing.




1895 - Australia v England. So the left hand building is the long gone "Smoker's stand", and the building to the right of that is the 2nd MCC Pavilion. The next one was called "The Grandstand" and lasted until they Olympic stand was built in the mid 1950s. Apparently the clock on the outside of the MCC Pavilion is still inside the members' to this day.




1905 - great photo this one. So from left to right it's the then new Grey Smith stand, then the 2nd MCC Pavilion, the "Grandstand" with an added second level at either end, then the scoreboard at the Punt Road end. On this side are two new stands - the Harrison Stand (on the right), and the Wardill stand (on the left ). Both made way for the Southern Stand in the late 1930s.



1928 - bit smudged by still great. So now you can clearly see the "new" 3rd MCC Pavilion that everyone can remember (it was only knocked down in 2004, with the Grey Smith stand immediately to the left, and the "Grandstand" to the right. You can see the Wardill and Harrison stands still on the Southern or outer wing, with terracing behind the goals at the Ponsford end. Interesting the only scoreboard is almost behind the goals at the Punt Road end (I think that scoreboard is now in Canberra).




1937 - now we're starting to look a lot more familiar. The old Southern stand has just been built. Getting much closer to how we all remember the ground now.





1960s - I guess you'd call this the final transition before the modern era. The Olympic stand is now where the old "Grandstand" was, and the only older stand left is the Grey Smith stand (with the red roof) next to the MCC Members.

 

[orange9494]

Destroyed all its character, just a boring corporate concrete jungle now.

 

[timokane]

Must say that i much prefer the MCG back in the 1980s.

To me it had charater.

MCC was alot more exclusive and had a real special feel about it if you can be a member there or even as a guest been in the MCC at the footy or cricket.

Had a real mystque like top notch class feel and you know you made it when you were in the MCC.

Southern stand was built by the same builders that built the famous Sherrin and Ryder stands at Victoria Park.

So always felt like a bigger Vic Park.

MCG and Vic Park have alot in common as well kind of goes hand in hand these 2 venues.

Alot more quirky the MCG back then.

Was better in the day where you just rocked up paid a few coins to get in and sit and be anywhere apart from MCC.

No need for any tickets just a few coins to get in.

Nowadays all changed.

Big business now its called progress.

Its 2025 after all.

Kind of good to look back to these times i guess.

But its not now so we move on.

I think there is alot of things that can make the MCG alot better then it is today.

Like more elevators and lifts.

Better signage.

More toilets.

And easy to get around the stadium like an internal concourse lower ground floor.

And more food and beverage outlets.

Making it cheaper for all and alot more affordable to attend sports will help.

And bring back heavy beer in the outer for all footy and cricket fixures.

Carlton draft cans will do.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Don't bring the MCC into this.

The MCC is the only reason Melbourne get more than 10,000 to their home games.

 

[Ivelisse]

Levels 2 and up are a long way from the field but it doesn't get talked about because "IT'S THE G!!!"

 

[Underarm]

Levels 2 and up are a long way from the field but it doesn't get talked about because "IT'S THE G!!!"

They have to put those extra 40,000 seats somewhere...

 

[glengowan]

The MCG is an iconic ground. Huge capacity that caters for the sports mad Melbourne public. I feel like the huge ground size is better for footy than cricket. The smaller square boundaries at Adelaide Oval and the SCG make for better viewing from the sides. Being at the top of the Shane Warne Stand behind the wicket for cricket is very similar to being at the top of the Riverbank Stand in Adelaide.

I might be biased, but Adelaide Oval is the best stadium by a fair distance, followed by the SCG, then MCG and daylight to the Gabba. Have never been to Perth.

The MCG is much easier and quicker to get a beer or food at than Adelaide Oval.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Levels 2 and up are a long way from the field but it doesn't get talked about because "IT'S THE G!!!"

What's wrong with level 2? Prime spot if you ask me.

Never been to level 4.

 

[Ivelisse]

What's wrong with level 2? Prime spot if you ask me.

Never been to level 4.

Level 2 front row is... I don't know how many metres back but a lot

 

[hawkman]

Levels 2 and up are a long way from the field but it doesn't get talked about because "IT'S THE G!!!"

View is fine until about half way up level 4

 

[blue harvest]

The MCG is an iconic ground. Huge capacity that caters for the sports mad Melbourne public. I feel like the huge ground size is better for footy than cricket. The smaller square boundaries at Adelaide Oval and the SCG make for better viewing from the sides. Being at the top of the Shane Warne Stand behind the wicket for cricket is very similar to being at the top of the Riverbank Stand in Adelaide.

I might be biased, but Adelaide Oval is the best stadium by a fair distance, followed by the SCG, then MCG and daylight to the Gabba. Have never been to Perth.

The MCG is much easier and quicker to get a beer or food at than Adelaide Oval.

SCG is a wide ground, only 5m less than the G. The low camera position tricks people into thinking it's a small ground. AO is a great stadium for the first 53k people but awful for the next 47k.

 

[craffles]

The MCG is an iconic ground. Huge capacity that caters for the sports mad Melbourne public. I feel like the huge ground size is better for footy than cricket. The smaller square boundaries at Adelaide Oval and the SCG make for better viewing from the sides. Being at the top of the Shane Warne Stand behind the wicket for cricket is very similar to being at the top of the Riverbank Stand in Adelaide.

I might be biased, but Adelaide Oval is the best stadium by a fair distance, followed by the SCG, then MCG and daylight to the Gabba. Have never been to Perth.

The MCG is much easier and quicker to get a beer or food at than Adelaide Oval.

I’m a born and bred melburnian and absolutely love the G but I agree that Adelaide Oval is the best fan experience for both cricket and football. Nothing compares to it when you factoring in location, crowds, viewing pleasure, the history etc.

I’ll respectfully disagree when it comes to the SCG. Downright awful location and so many horrific angles where you can’t see **** all from. Gabba at the bottom where it belongs is fine.

1. AO
2. MCG
——————-
3. SCG
——————-
4. GABBA

Haven’t watched sport at new Perth stadium or at Bellerive so can’t comment.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

A lot of the things that people are whinging about are simply necessary if you want to have a stadium that can fit 100k people to modern safety standards and in relative comfort.

You can afford to pick and choose features more when you only have to host half as many people.

But Melbourne clearly needs a very large stadium. In 2024 there were 23 events that drew over 75k people. That’s just less than one a fortnight…

16 AFL games
4 days of test cricket
3x Taylor Swift

So the demand is there for a very large stadium. People might like other features and designs but they don’t hold the crowds required so aren’t possible.

And in terms of “character”, a lot of that is based on what happens there and the memories. People are longing for the the good times they had there. In 50 years time, the stadium will be different and today’s kids will be fondly remembering going to the old G in 2025