Stuck in a tram trance

By David Schout

Almost a year after Etihad Stadium was renamed Marvel Stadium, Melbourne’s trams, tram stops and overhead announcements still refer to its former name.

In May last year it was announced that the naming rights for the sports and entertainment arena would change in an eight-year deal with The Walt Disney Company.

And on September 1, the change became official.

But it appears the memo is yet to reach Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria (PTV), who still refer to the ground as “Etihad Stadium” on almost all its print and online materials across the network.

The 75 tram that runs along Harbour Esplanade, for example, still digitally beams “Etihad Stadium” across its front and sides.

Further, the Yarra Trams website lists the Route 75 tram as “Vermont South to Etihad Stadium Docklands” in all its digital communications.

Even the Yarra Trams Twitter account is yet to get on board with the name change, still alerting commuters to network changes by the stadium’s former airline sponsor.

Twitter users have alerted the account since last year, and in each instance were told Yarra Trams were “aware of the situation” and were “working closely with the passenger information team on it”.

Yarra Trams told Docklands News it was in fact PTV who were responsible for the name change, and in response spokesperson John Lindsay could not say when the change would occur.

“We are working with Yarra Trams on updating the naming of stops on Latrobe St and Bourke St to more accurately reflect their location,” Mr Lindsay said.

It is understood name changes are carried out as part of wider network change processes to reduce costs.

PTV did not answer questions about when that might occur, nor the usual timeframes when other Melbourne landmarks or venues change names.