Studying at the MCG: An Iconic Global Venue

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, commonly known as the MCG, is one of the most prestigious sporting venues on the planet.

With a capacity of over 100,000, the stadium has hosted a multitude of events, including the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Cricket World Cup finals, to name a few.

The birthplace of Test cricket, the MCG is one of GIS’ iconic locations around the world, with students having the opportunity to study at this legendary venue.

History of the MCG

Founded in 1838, the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) played in multiple locations, frequently having to move for various reasons throughout the 1840s. While based in South Melbourne in 1853, the MCC was forced to relocate as the route of Australia’s first steam train was set to pass through the oval.

That same year, the MCG was built and the stadium later became home to cricket’s first ever Test match, held in 1877 during Englishman James Lillywhite’s tour of Australia. Primarily a cricket ground, the stadium also became home to Australian Rules Football, hosting the Victorian Football League Grand Final for the first time in 1902.

Later evolving into the Australian Football League (AFL) as we know it today, the stadium remains the primary location for the annual AFL Grand Final.

Global sporting events have also been hosted by the MCG. In 1956, the Olympic Games, arguably the biggest sporting event of them all, took place in Melbourne as the first Olympics to be hosted in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The main stadium for the event, the MCG hosted the opening and closing ceremonies after undergoing large-scale renovations, including stand developments that brought the capacity to over 100,000.

Over the years, multiple renovations, most recently in 2006, saw the ground become the globally recognised hub for elite sport that it is today, with another redevelopment proposed to expand the Shane Warne Stand in 2032.

Iconic Moments at the MCG

Shane Warne’s 700th wicket

Announcing that this Ashes series would be his final MCG test, the crowd eagerly watched the first day as the legendary King of Spin sat on 699 career wickets.

It wasn’t until the 47th over of the day that the MCG crowd erupted as Warne finally took number 700 – the first of five wickets he took in the innings.

Carlton’s 1970 Grand Final Comeback 

121,696 people attended the 1970 VFL Grand final at the MCG, and it is regarded as one of the greatest of all time. 

Played between Carlton and Collingwood, Collingwood led by 44 points at half-time before Carlton mounted an unforgettable comeback and won the game 111-101. 

Part of this comeback included Alex Jesaulenko’s iconic mark on the shoulders of Graeme Jenkin in the second quarter, labelled by many as the greatest grand Final Mark of all time

The game, thanks to Carlton’s attacking style of play, is now sometimes referred to as the birth of modern football, and the attendance record remains the highest in Australian sport.

Liverpool Visit the MCG

The highest attendance for a Liverpool friendly at the time came in 2013, when 95,446 fans filled the MCG to see Liverpool FC’s win over local side Melbourne Victory.

The 2-0 score line was expected. However the rendition of the club’s traditional You’ll Never Walk Alone is one of the most emotive moments the venue has seen in its rich history. Likely the first time many of the loyal Australian fans had seen their team play, then-manager Brendan Rodgers, labelled it “a real tear-jerker”, with a goal from club legend Steven Gerrard sending the crowd home happy.

An iconic venue that has hosted some historic sporting moments, the MCG is a national symbol of Australian sport.

At GIS, students can study at this sporting mecca, gaining the real-world insight needed to thrive in the dynamic sports industry.

To discover more about how you can study in Melbourne, click here.
Article by Zakaria Anani