MCG shines on the world stage

The quality, variety and volume of top-class sport on offer at the ‘G this year would be enough to sate the hungriest of appetites. With five Cricket World Cup matches, State of Origin rugby league, International Champions Cup soccer and a host of memorable AFL action, there has been something for everyone.

The finale to the summer of cricket was Australia and New Zealand’s joint hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup, the first time 50-over cricket’s feature tournament had been held on our shores since 1992.

The MCG staged five matches in February and March, including the final on March 29 between the two host nations that saw Australia comfortable victors by seven wickets in what was captain Michael Clarke’s last ODI in Australia’s colours.

The attendance of 93,013 at the final was the highest crowd recorded at any international cricket match in the history of the game, topping the MCG’s own record of 91,112 at the 2013 Boxing Day Test between Australia and England.

We attracted 345,789 patrons to our five matches, including 84,336 to Australia’s opener against England on February 14 and a remarkable 86,876 to a Pool match between South Africa and India. The noise and enthusiasm shown by the pro-India crowd at this match were at levels rarely seen in Australia and few in attendance will forget it in a hurry.

As the ICC required each venue to provide a clean stadium, we did not have the traditional Reserve for our members. However, the exclusive use of the Long Room and Members Dining Room ensured that many members were able to make good use of the facilities during this World Cup.

The influx of tourists and new visitors to the MCG and National Sports Museum during this period was most welcome, as it was for the State of Origin rugby league encounter between New South Wales and Queensland on June 17.

Thousands of visitors from our northern states descended on Melbourne, as “Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry” returned to the ‘G for the first time since 1997. The event was an outstanding success, as a State of Origin rugby league record crowd of 91,513 saw the Blues score an upset 26-18 win over the Maroons.

Our international reputation as a versatile, world-class stadium was further enhanced in July when the ground hosted three soccer matches in the Australian leg of the International Champions Cup. Some of the world game’s biggest clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester City and AS Roma - each played two matches as part of a club-based tournament now in its third year.

Such was the interest in some of the game’s biggest stars, including Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, that more than 10,000 people paid to watch them hold a training session at the ‘G the day before its first match against AS Roma on July 18. And the rock star welcome that greeted the arrival of the team bus outside Gate 1 before the match was a sight to behold.

Alas, the Spanish giants were unable to break through the defence of AS Roma, arriving at full-time with a nil-all scoreline and eventually losing to the Italian outfit 7-6 on penalties. The crowd of 80,746 was a forerunner to what we expected to see later in the week when Real Madrid returned to play Manchester City on July 24.

The first half of the AFL season was filled with big crowds, marquee events and emotional scenes, not least of which was the outpouring of grief within the football community after the death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh. Long-time MCG visitors likened the post-match scenes at the Collingwood-Hawthorn match, when coaches Alastair Clarkson and Nathan Buckley led the teams in a huddled silence in the middle of the arena, to the memorable EJ Whitten farewell lap in 1995.

Equally moving was the centenary commemoration of the start of World War I, with poignant tributes before the Richmond-Melbourne match on Anzac Eve and the Essendon-Collingwood clash on Anzac Day. The Pies won their fifth Anzac Day contest in six years by 20 points in front of 88,395 people. The Members Reserve was also well attended, with 11,000 members and 8500 visitors paying their respects on a solemn day on our calendar.

Finally, the annual Queen’s Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood held special significance this year, with the day used as a major fundraiser in support of the fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The Big Freeze at the ‘G was the brainchild of Neale Daniher, the former Melbourne coach and Essendon player who is battling MND with the same courage and strength he has showed throughout his football career. Prior to the match several media and football personalities hurled themselves down a water slide in the seating bowl into a giant pool of ice water. Not for the faint hearted, especially in Melbourne in June, and all are congratulated for taking part.

At last count, more than $2.4 million had been raised to fight this deadly, crippling disease. The support of our members and staff, including those who purchased a badge from 50-Year member and MND sufferer, Peter Ruddock, is certainly appreciated.