This iconic venue is one of my favourite places to visit. If you hadn't already gathered, I'm a sports nut who makes no apology for it. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG, could easily be referred to as my home away from home. I've watched Aussie Rules Football, Cricket and Soccer played on this ground.
Established in 1853, just 20 years after Melbourne as a city was founded, this venue has attracted crowds in excess of 100,000 with regularity. This photo taken from my seat at the Australian Rules Football match last night is a good an indication of what you can expect to see. Wide expanses of green turf, parochial support for each side and the one thing the picture can't deliver, the atmosphere that'll fill your ears.
As you make your way into the ground you're greeted to a natural pastime of Australian folk. With each step the buzz of the ensuing crowd builds. Whilst buzz is an elementary term, it's also the one that best sums it up. As the game hits dramatic heights, that buzz becomes a raucous cacophony of sound.
Different in many ways to the grounds I've visited around the world, you can purchase a drink inside the ground. Looking up into the reaches of the exclusive Melbourne Cricket Club grandstand (it takes 20+ years to attain membership), you can see people sipping down beers as they enjoy their company. This perhaps sums up the culture of Australian society. Attending sport with your friends, a drink in hand and some chips in the other (priced at $4.20 as of last night), is something that the ninety-nine percentile of Australians have done at one point or another.
The picture above is taken from the 1978 Grand Final, played in front of 101,704 supporters. Prior to the all seater arrangement, crowds hit as high as 119,165 (for those wondering, that was the 1970 Grand Final). For a regular season match, expect crowds in the vicinity of 40,000 to 60,000, with an expected bump up as the finals series begins.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is dear to my heart for a litany of reasons. I still recall my first game, going with my Dad and a friend as we attended a match between Hawthorn (the brown and gold/yellow team pictured above) and the Melbourne Demons. I can recall plenty of moments, occurring both on and off the field, shared with some of my best friends. This is both a ground to watch our sporting heroes battle it out, but also to meet with friends and chat about the week they just had.
For those looking to travel to Australia at some stage, whether you're a sporting enthusiast or someone just looking to gain traditional experiences, the MCG should be first on your list. Having been to numerous grounds around the world, there is something deeply Australian about this one. Perhaps it is the wide expanse of terrain that our eyes must dutifully follow in search of a red or yellow ball? Is it the people we eat, drink and sit with? Is it the general enormity of each grandstand? Whatever the reason, I'm sure you'll have a distinctly Australian experience.