AAMI Park | |
 AAMI Park logo | |
 View of AAMI Park from the tennis centre opposite | |
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| Full name | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Swan St Stadium (2007–2010) |
| Address | Olympic Blvd Melbourne VIC 3004 Australia |
| Location | Olympic Boulevard Melbourne,Victoria, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°49′31″S144°59′2″E / 37.82528°S 144.98389°E /-37.82528; 144.98389 |
| Public transit | Richmond railway station Tram route 70 |
| Parking | Parking available atJohn Cain Arena |
| Owner | Government of Victoria |
| Operator | Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust |
| Seating type | All-seater |
| Executive suites | 24 |
| Capacity | 30,050 (total)[3] 29,500 (rugby)[4] |
| Record attendance | Sporting Event: 29,871 (18/06/16: Wallabies v England) Concert: 98,136 / 98,136 (over three nights) (10, 11 & 12 December 2015: Taylor Swift Concert) |
| Field size | 136 m × 85 m (446 ft × 279 ft)[2] |
| Field shape | Rectangular |
| Surface | StaLok Turf |
| Scoreboard | Two curved scoreboards in opposite corners |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2007; 18 years ago (2007) |
| Built | 2010; 15 years ago (2010) |
| Opened | 7 May 2010; 14 years ago (2010-05-07)[1] |
| Renovated | 2023 |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Construction cost | A$268 million |
| Architect | Cox Architecture |
| Structural engineer | Arup Norman Disney & Young |
| General contractor | Grocon |
| Tenants | |
| Rugby League Melbourne Storm (NRL) (2010–present) Rugby Union Melbourne Rebels (Super Rugby andSuper W) (2011–2024) Soccer Melbourne City FC (A-League Men andWomen) (2010–present) Melbourne Victory (A-League Men andWomen) (2010–present) Western United (A-League Men andWomen) (2020–2024) Socceroos andMatildas (select international matches) Australian rules football Melbourne Football Club (AFL) (training, 2010–present) | |
| Website | |
| https://aamipark.com.au | |
TheMelbourne Rectangular Stadium, currently known asAAMI Park for sponsorship reasons,[5] is amulti-purpose stadium located in theMelbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in the suburb ofEast Melbourne,Melbourne,Victoria, Australia. Built in 2010, it is a rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity of 30,050, and is the home of variousrugby league,rugby union andassociation football teams.
Upon its completion, it became Melbourne's inaugural large, purpose-built rectangular stadium. Prior to this project, the primary venues were the oval-configuredMelbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) andDocklands Stadium, primarily suited forAustralian rules football andcricket. The city's former largest rectangular stadium,Olympic Park, had been repurposed from a track and field facility.
Notably, the stadium's main occupants include theNational Rugby League team, theMelbourne Storm and twoA-League Men teams, namelyMelbourne Victory FC andMelbourne City FC,[6] with the stadium having also previously served as the home ground ofA-League Men teamWestern United FC andSuper Rugby team theMelbourne Rebels. Additionally, the venue was one of five chosen for the2015 AFC Asian Cup, responsible for hosting the inaugural match and six subsequent games, including a quarter-final match. The stadium also hosted matches for the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup andFour Nations in 2010 and 2014, along with serving as a venue for the2017 Rugby League World Cup.
While known as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium during its construction phase, the facility has been recognized as AAMI Park since its inauguration in March 2010, resulting from a sponsorship partnership with theinsurance firmAAMI.
Until 2010,Olympic Park Stadium was Melbourne's main venue for soccer, rugby league and rugby union; not purpose-built, it was anathletics stadium with the rectangular grass field set inside therunning track, and it could hold 18,500 spectators, but only 11,000 seated. It had been the home ground of theMelbourne Storm since they entered theNational Rugby League in 1998. TheA-League Men'sMelbourne Victory FC also used Olympic Park Stadium from 2005 to 2007 when they switched permanently toDocklands Stadium.
In 2004, as part of Melbourne's bid for aSuper Rugby team, theVictorian Government prepared an economic impact study on the development of a world class rectangular stadium in Melbourne.[7] But in late 2004, the bid lost out to the Western Australian consortium, which would become theWestern Force.
On 6 April 2006 the Victorian Government announced that a $190 million 20,000-seat rectangular stadium would be built on the site of Edwin Flack Field and would be home toNRL team Melbourne Storm andA-League Men team Melbourne Victory. The stadium's planned capacity was increased to 30,000, with foundations capable of expansion to a capacity of 50,000 if needed. The stadium began construction in late 2007.
In November 2009, when theSuper Rugby competition expanded to 15 teams, the Melbourne consortium won the 15th Super Rugby licence, with the new franchise intending to play their games at the new stadium.
The stadium's first match was the2010 Anzac Test between the Australian and New Zealandrugby league teams on 7 May 2010,[1] with the stadium formally opened by then Victorian premierJohn Brumby. The stadium was referred to as Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Swan Street Stadium or the Bubble Dome[8][9] during its early construction. The stadium's commercial name was announced as AAMI Park on 16 March 2010; initially an eight-year deal, it has been twice extended with the current AAMI sponsorship deal set to expire in 2026.[10]
The stadium held its first event, rugby league's 2010 Anzac Test, on 7 May 2010.[1] The opening ceremony featured the NRL's all-time highest point-scorer,Hazem El Masri, who had retired the previous season, kicking a goal.[11] The first points scored on the ground were from aJamie Lyon penalty kick in the 32nd minute,[12] and the first try was scored byBrett Morris in the 39th minute.[13]Australia defeatedNew Zealand 12–8 in front of a sell-out crowd (near 30,000). Two days later the firstNational Rugby League match was played at the stadium when theBrisbane Broncos defeated the Melbourne Storm in front of a crowd of 20,042.
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium hosted international matches as part of theRugby League Four Nations in 2010 and 2014, when Australia defeatedEngland by 34–14 in front of 18,894 fans on 31 October 2010, and again when Australia defeated England by 16–12 on 2 November 2014 (attendance: 20,585). The stadium hosted two matches of the2017 Rugby League World Cup: the opening match of the tournament between Australia and England, which saw the latter prevail 18-4 in front of a crowd of 22,724, and the quarter final match between England andPapua New Guinea, which saw the latter prevail 36-6 in front of a crowd of 10,563.
On 5 August 2010 the stadium played host to its firstA-Leagues match. It was also another first, as the newly formedMelbourne Heart FC played their first game in front of 11,050 fans against theCentral Coast Mariners. The Heart lost 1–0, andAlex Wilkinson won the honour of scoring the first goal. The first Melbourne Victory match was played at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium v Perth Glory on 14 August 2010 in front of 21,193 fans.
The venue hosted the2015 AFC Asian Cup opening ceremony and seven international matches including the tournament opener betweenAustralia andKuwait on 9 January, and a quarter-final matchSouth Korea andUzbekistan on 22 January.[14]
From the2020-21 A-League season to the2023-24 A-League season,Western United FC began also playing home games out of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, while they awaited the construction of their new home base,Ironbark Fields, inTarneit.[15] Western United's last home game at the stadium prior to the completion of Ironbark Fields occurred on 14 March 2024 againstcrosstown rivals Melbourne Victory, with the match concluding in a 2-2 draw in front of a crowd of 3058. On 28 October 2024, Western United announced that their2024-25 A-League Men season home games against Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory on 4 November 2024 and 1 December 2024 respectively would be played at AAMI Park.[16]
AAMI Park played host to 6 Matches as part of theFIFA Women's World Cup 2023 under its non-commercial name of Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. It also acted as a secondary live site for the Australia vs England semi-final match, as well as the primary live site for the third-place match and the final whenFederation Square decided to stop showing matches.
The Stadium hosted two Open Training Sessions on 21 & 23 May 2024 as part ofGlobal Football Week Melbourne. The Session on 21 May 2024 includedTottenham Hotspur and the A-Leagues All Stars Men, while the Session on 23 May 2024 includedArsenal Womens and the A-Leagues All Stars Women.
TheMelbourne Rebels played their firstSuper Rugby match at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on 18 February 2011. TheMelbourne Rising played their firstNational Rugby Championship match on 24 August 2014, defeating theNorth Harbour Rays by a resounding 55–34 score.[17] The Rising played a semifinal at the stadium on 25 October 2014, but lost by 29–45 to thePerth Spirit.[18]The Melbourne Rebels played their last match at the stadium on 17 May 2024 against theChiefs, with the Rebels losing 23–26.
TheMelbourne Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL) moved its indoor training facilities to the park in 2010, and train at their nearby outdoor training ground atGosch's Paddock,[19] with its administration staff continuing to be based at theMelbourne Cricket Ground.[20]
TheCOX Architecture designed stadium features a "Bioframe" design, with ageodesic dome roof covering much of the seating area, while still allowing light through to the pitch. The northern and southern sides of the stadiums are called the Olympic Side and Yarra Side respectively. The exterior of the stadium is covered in thousands ofLED lights which can be programmed to display a variety of patterns and images.[21]
The stadium includes training facilities and office accommodation for Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory,Melbourne Football Club, the Victorian Rugby Union, the Victorian Olympic Council, Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre (OPSMC), Imaging@Olympic Park Radiology and Tennis Victoria. The stadium is used by theMelbourne Demons as their administration headquarters. The team had wanted the stadium completed by 2008 to coincide with its 150th anniversary. It has planned to house public bars and cafes, 24 corporate boxes, a dining room with a capacity of 1000 people, a gym and lap pool.
The stadium was initially proposed to have aseating capacity of 20,000, upgradeable to 25,000. This was due to both expected demand, as well as a state government agreement withDocklands Stadium that no stadiums with a capacity greater than 30,000 would be constructed in Melbourne before 2010. These plans were revised after the Victory refused to commit to playing at a stadium of such small capacity, having achieved an average attendance of over 27,000 since their move to the Docklands Stadium in the2006–07 A-League Season.
Alternative plans put forward by the Victorian Government proposed a capacity of 30,050, on the condition that the Victory sign on as a tenant. An agreement was reached and the stadium went ahead at this capacity.[22] To assist with the extended capacity, temporary stands can be erected behind the goals duringsoccer matches and removed during rugby league and union games so as to allow space for the in-goal area (an international soccer pitch measures 105 metres in length, while including the in-goal areas, rugby league and rugby union have a minimum field length of 116 and 120 metres respectively). Although the stadium was built with foundations to allow for future expansion to 50,000,[23] the roof was not designed with this in mind, and so the stadium cannot be expanded without major construction work.[24] Construction of the stadium was featured during a 2010 episode of the TV showBuild It Bigger.
Following the stadium's opening in 2010, the stadium's features were first upgraded in early 2023, ahead of its fixtures for the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. TheVictorian Government contributed $25 million to replace the old video screens with two new curved screens, install LED sports light technology in the light towers and under the roof canopy, and replace static advertising and wayfinding boards with LED. Player facilities, broadcasting and corporate facilities were also improved as a result of the upgrade.[25][26]
| Event | Description | Event | Date | Attendance | Gross | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concert | Taylor Swift | The 1989 World Tour | 10, 11 & 12 December 2015 | 98,136 / 98,136 (over three nights) | $10,421,553 | [27] |
| Concert | Ed Sheeran | x Tour | 5 & 6 December 2015 | 66,918 / 66,918 (over two nights) | N/A | [28] |
| Concert | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | High Hopes Tour | 15 & 16 February 2014 | 62,950 / 62,950 (over two nights) | $9,185,208 | [29] |
| Concert | Foo Fighters | Wasting Light Tour | 2 & 3 December 2011 | 60,083 (over two nights) | N/A | [30] |
| Concert | Paul McCartney | One On One Tour | 5 & 6 December 2017 | 59,002 / 59,002 (over two nights) | $9,623,682 | [31] |
| Concert | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour | 2 & 4 February 2017 | 51,192 / 54,000 (over two nights) | $7,384,735 | [32] |
The stadium has hosted six rugby league internationals. The results were as follows;[40]
| Test no. | Date | Winner | Result | Runner-up | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 May 2010 |  Australia | 12–8 |  New Zealand | 29,442 | 2010 Anzac Test |
| 2 | 31 October 2010 | Australia | 34–14 |  England | 18,894 | 2010 Four Nations |
| 3 | 2 November 2014 | Australia | 16–12 | England | 20,585 | 2014 Four Nations |
| 4 | 27 October 2017 | Australia | 18–4 | England | 22,274 | 2017 Rugby League World Cup |
| 5 | 19 November 2017 | England | 36–6 |  Papua New Guinea | 10,563 | |
| 6 | 28 October 2023 | Australia | 36–18 | New Zealand | 20,584 | 2023 Pacific Cup |
The stadium has hosted six Australian men's international soccer matches. The results were as follows;
| Match no. | Date | Home | Result | Opponent | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 February 2012 | Australia | 4–2 |  Saudi Arabia | 24,240 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Fourth Round |
| 2 | 9 January 2015 | Australia | 4–1 |  Kuwait | 25,231 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup |
| 3 | 5 September 2017 | Australia | 2–1 |  Thailand | 26,393 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Third Round |
| 4 | 27 January 2022 | Australia | 4–0 |  Vietnam | 27,740 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round |
| 5 | 16 November 2023 | Australia | 7–0 |  Bangladesh | 20,876 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round |
| 6 | 14 November 2024 | Australia | 0–0 | Saudi Arabia | 27,491 | 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Round 3 |
The stadium has hosted four Australian women's international matches. The results were as follows;
| Match no. | Date | Home | Result | Opponent | Attendance | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 November 2017 | Australia | 3–0 |  China | 10,904 | Friendly |
| 2 | 6 March 2019 | Australia | 3–0 |  Argentina | 6,834 | 2019 Cup of Nations |
| 3 | 12 November 2022 | Australia | 4–0 |  Sweden | 22,065 | Friendly |
| 4 | 31 July 2023 | Australia | 3–0 |  Canada | 27,706 | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| Date | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Stage | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 January 2015 | Australia | 4–1 | Kuwait | Group A | 25,231 |
| 11 January 2015 |  Iran | 2–0 |  Bahrain | Group C | 17,712 |
| 14 January 2015 |  North Korea | 1–4 | Saudi Arabia | Group B | 12,349 |
| 16 January 2015 |  Palestine | 1–5 |  Jordan | Group D | 10,808 |
| 18 January 2015 |  Uzbekistan | 3–1 | Saudi Arabia | Group B | 10,871 |
| 20 January 2015 |  Japan | 2–0 | Jordan | Group D | 25,016 |
| 22 January 2015 |  South Korea | 2–0 | Uzbekistan | Quarter-finals | 23,381 |
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The venue hosted six matches of the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup – four group games and two knockout ones. Seating capacity for the matches was reduced to 27,706 due to media requirements.[41]
| Date | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Stage | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July 2023 |  Nigeria | 0–0 | Canada | Group B | 21,410 |
| 24 July 2023 |  Germany | 6–0 |  Morocco | Group H | 27,256 |
| 31 July 2023 | Canada | 0–4 | Australia | Group B | 27,706 |
| 2 August 2023 |  Jamaica | 0–0 |  Brazil | Group F | 27,638 |
| 6 August 2023 | Sweden | 0–0 (5–4pen.) |  United States | Round of 16 | 27,706 |
| 8 August 2023 |  Colombia | 1–0 | Jamaica | Round of 16 | 27,706 |
In 2011 the stadium project was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter)Melbourne Prize for contribution to the civic and public life of Melbourne.
In June 2012 the stadium won the award for the most iconic and culturally significant stadium at the 2012 World Stadium Awards, held inDoha,Qatar.[42]
| Preceded by | AFC Asian Cup Opening Venue 2015 | Succeeded by |
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