MCG Redevelopment completed

The completion of the $434 million MCG redevelopment project has been commemorated with the unveiling of a set of plaques at an official ceremony featuring Governor John Landy and Premier Steve Bracks.

Governor Landy and Premier Bracks joined MCC president David Jones, MCG Trust chairman John Wylie and Minister for Sport, Recreation and Commonwealth Games, Justin Madden to celebrate the end of a three-and-a-half year journey that has transformed the MCG into one of the world's best sporting stadiums.

The MCG has undergone constant renewal in its 153-year history, but the northern side redevelopment - featuring the rebuilding of the Ponsford Stand, Members Pavilion and Olympic Stand - has been its biggest upgrade to date.

With almost half the stadium rebuilt, capacity is now at 100,000 and facilities are on par with international standards.

Premier Bracks, whose Government contributed $77m in project funding, was effusive in his praise of the new facilities.

"This has always been regarded as one of the world's greatest stadiums. And now I think there is no competition," Mr Bracks said.

"Once you see inside this ground, you'll realise the competition is over, it is the greatest ground in the world, no doubt about it."

Focus on the MCG will remain strong during the Commonwealth Games in March as millions of spectators pass through the gates to watch the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field events.

"The redevelopment covers 55% of the MCG and its been virtually business as usual during the three-and-a-half years or so that work has gone on here," said MCC president David Jones.

"To me, that is a miraculous thing, that we've been able to continue to hold everything at this ground while we have been redeveloping sections of the ground. And I understand that's the first time this has been done anywhere in the world."

As well as installing a temporary athletics track and additional seating, facilities such as elevators, escalators, toilets, bars and catering / dining outlets have been upgraded and also provide better access for people with disabilities.

Seats are 30 per cent bigger than those in the old stand and about 80 per cent of seats are under a new roof cover.

The combined experience of builder Grocon Constructions, the architectural joint venture of MCG5 (Daryl Jackson Architects; HOK Sport; Tompkins Shaw and Evans; Hassell and; Cox Architects) and international structural engineers Connell Mott MacDonald and Arup (CMMA) has delivered the completed project on schedule.

"Normally, it's the sporting folk who get all the accolades here at the MCG," said MCG Trust chairman John Wylie.

"But today is the day for the off-field players to step up and enjoy some thanks and recognition for their contribution to an achievement that will endure for decades and be enjoyed by millions."

MCG5 prepared a feasibility and concept design, developed design, documentation and construction of the project for the new northern stand.

The new northern stand provides approximately 55,000 seats with state-of-the-art seating and support facilities. The MCC has a larger, more defined presence in the stadium.

The developed masterplan further integrates the MCG with its parkland setting and establishes new links with other key facilities such as the Melbourne Park Arena complex.

"The redevelopment is comparable in all respects to international sports stadia recently constructed or under construction," said director of MCG5, Patrick Ness.

The turf will also benefit from the new stand design.

"Turf is highly sensitive to sunlight and ventilation, and the poor design of a stadium is made evident through the poor health of, or repeated problems with, the playing surface," said Mr Ness.

Extensive wind modelling and sunlight tracking studies were completed as part of the design process for the MCG. This ensures that the pitch will thrive under the best achievable conditions, while patrons would be given adequate protection from sun and rain.

Two aspects of the new development have also helped improve the spectator experience: the view lines have been substantially improved in the new stadium, ensuring that seats have an excellent view of the pitch and the seating plats are elevated and brought closer to the arena, resulting in a better, closer view of the action.

"Lines of sight in the old stadium were poor at best, with many blind spots and areas of the field that were not visible from some seats. In some cases there were columns positioned in the centre of the view of the wicket," said Mr Ness.

"Everyone involved in the project can take great pride that this stunning outcome has surpassed all of our expectations. The community response is clear," said Wylie.

"At one level this redevelopment has been simply about sport - about renewing and enhancing the crown jewel of Australian sport. At another level though, it has been about more than sport. It has been about what kind of aspirations Melbourne sets for itself.

And this stand says we won't settle for second best."