Development Victoria is partnering with Sport and Recreation Victoria and the Australian Football League (AFL) to redevelop Marvel Stadium as part of its rejuvenation of the Docklands.
New designs released this week reveal the Stadium is to be opened up to the city and converted into a seven-day community meeting place with a ‘Town Square’ plaza and new cafes, bars and restaurants.
The Town Square will greet pedestrians on the Bourke Street footbridge from Southern Cross Station with some stadium walls removed to provide a visual connection to the field of play.
According to the redevelopers, markets and community gatherings will fit in the space while two levels of hospitality businesses will be open to the public and convertible to ticketed areas for AFL matches and concerts.
A “City Edge” stadium extension overlooking Wurundjeri Way will refurbish public and function areas and provide views back into Melbourne’s CBD.
“More bicycle parking, a stadium sensory room, changing places facility and improved lighting all feature in the vision set out by architects Grimshaw with Smartform, with the project to go to construction tender next week,” the redevelopers said.
The State Government committed $225 million to the project as part of its agreement with the AFL and Melbourne Cricket Club to secure Victoria as the home of football.
“The arrangement guarantees that the AFL Grand Final will be played at the MCG until at last 2058 and includes a partnership with the AFL to develop multicultural, indigenous and women’s football,” they said.
“The agreement also secures top-level football in regional Victoria, including AFL games in Geelong and Ballarat.”
They said that inside the stadium new video display boards and other upgraded technology and male and female change rooms will contribute to the stadium experience.
The revitalisation of Marvel Stadium is expected to create hundreds of local jobs during construction with a town planning permit application due to be lodged with the City of Melbourne shortly.
“Pending approvals, construction could start in the middle of 2021,” the redevelopers said.
