Docklands Stadium
Docklands Stadium, known by naming rights sponsorship as Marvel Stadium, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the suburb of Docklands in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Construction started in October 1997 and was completed in 2000 at a cost of A$460 million ($930 million in 2023 terms[5]). The stadium features a retractable roof and the ground level seating can be converted from oval to rectangular configuration.[6]
"Telstra Dome" redirects here. For the stadium in Sydney previously known as Telstra Stadium, see Stadium Australia.Former names
- Colonial Stadium (2000–2002)
- Telstra Dome (2002–2009)
- Etihad Stadium (2009–2018)
Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Australian Football League (2020–present)
Melbourne Stadiums Limited (2000–2020)
63,378 (Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto Tour, 13 November 2012)
160 m × 129 m (525 ft × 423 ft)[4]
Grass
October 1997
9 March 2000
A$460 million
Populous in association with Daryl Jackson
16 August 2000:
Australia v 
South Africa
3 February 2006: Australia v South Africa
The stadium is primarily used for Australian rules football and was originally built as a replacement for Waverley Park.[6] Offices at the precinct serve as the headquarters of the Australian Football League (AFL) which, since October 2016, has had exclusive ownership of the venue.[7] With a capacity for over 53,000 spectators for sports, it is the second-largest stadium in Melbourne after the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It has hosted a number of other sporting events—including domestic Twenty20 cricket matches, Melbourne Victory soccer home matches, rugby league and rugby union matches, as well as special events and concerts. The precinct is headquarters for the Seven Network's digital broadcast centre and an NAB branch.
The ends of the ground, where the AFL goal posts are located, are named after the two leading goalkickers in VFL/AFL history: the northern end is the Lockett End, after Tony Lockett; and the southern end is the Coventry End, after Gordon Coventry. Some clubs informally use alternative names during their home games in place of those to honour their own histories.[40]
Docklands Stadium is serviced primarily by trains at Southern Cross Station, which is located on the City Loop and is serviced by most major metropolitan and country train and coach lines. The stadium is located on a public pedestrian concourse adjoining the northern end of the station.
The stadium is serviced by several tram routes:
The stadium has a 500-vehicle carpark underneath the field, which is accessible by the public for event days.
In popular culture[edit]
The venue appeared in the 2007 film Ghost Rider. Its name, wherever visible, was digitally changed to the SoBe Dome. It can be seen in the video for Jessica Mauboy's single "Running Back", as well as some television shows, such as the Seven Network's City Homicide and Network Ten's Rush.