$6bn MCG roof plan discussed as Victoria eyes stand knockdown to make stadium bigger

A $6 billion plan to put a roof on the MCG is viewed as extremely unlikely as the Victorian government eyes a redevelopment of the venue.

The state will partner with the Melbourne Cricket Club creating a business case to upgrade the 100,024-capacity venue with a modernisation of the Shane Warne Stand viewed as the most likely recommendation.

Originally named the Great Southern Stand, it was opened in 1992 for the men’s Cricket World Cup, and renamed for the cricketing legend after his passing.

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The northern side of the ground was redeveloped in the early 2000s heading into the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

It was estimated in 2022 a full knockdown and rebuild of the Shane Warne Stand could cost $1 billion and add 5000 seats while also modernising the behind-the-scenes portion of the stand.

“There’s at least 10 to 12 events a year where ticket demand is such that we could have a higher capacity,” MCC boss Stuart Fox said on Wednesday.

“We’re the 11th-largest stadium in the world. We got knocked out by one stadium last year, but it’d be nice to bump back up into the top 10.

“We’ve seen it with the two preliminary finals, we probably could have sold it twice over.

“When a female called Taylor Swift was here, we probably should have just shut the ’G down for the rest of the year.”

While some observers including former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire have called for a roof to be placed on the venue, Fox argued there were only a few rain-impacted events each year.

“We’ve got to come up with a sensible plan, because this has to be funded and delivered at some stage into the future,” he said.

“If we over-scope it, you know, a roof might cost $5 billion or $6 billion alone to retrofit.”

The ground hosted 69 major events in 2024 including the AFL Grand Final, NRL State of Origin, the Boxing Day Test and three Taylor Swift concerts.

“These and other events at the MCG brought more than 620,000 visitors to Victoria from interstate and overseas, with $290 million spent in Victoria and supported 7,500 full-time equivalent jobs,” a press release read.

“Off the back of 2024’s record breaking year of events and economic contribution to Victoria, the MCC, in partnership with the MCG Trust, Victorian Government and other key stakeholders will lead investigation into the future requirements of the stadium to help ensure its world-class status.

“The business case will review the current state of MCG, including the Shane Warne Stand and outline options for redevelopment to meet the contemporary facilities that athletes and spectators require.”

The redevelopment would be unlikely to begin until the end of the decade with major events like the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups to be held in 2027 and 2029 respectively.

The highest ever attendance at the MCG was 143,000 for evangelist preacher Billy Graham’s “crusade” event in 1959, while the legendary 1970 VFL Grand Final saw 121,696 fans squeeze into the venue. At the time it had much more standing room in the Northern Stand.