Marvel Stadium upgraded unveiled

A new and improved Marvel Stadium is ready for fans following a $225 million upgrade featuring Stadium Square and City Edge turning the stadium into a seven-day-a-week precinct for both residents and workers.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos joined Australian Football League CEO Andrew Dillon on March 21 to unveil the new features, which are set to host a range of multi-genre events, from sporting matches and concerts to graduations and corporate events.

Stadium Square is designed as a year-round civic centre used for community events like last year’s Diwali Festival, with City Edge featuring a new concourse space on the eastern side of the ground with new shops, bars and restaurants with Melbourne’s CBD as a backdrop.

Most excitingly for residents and businesses of Docklands will be the new food and beverage offerings from acclaimed Melbourne chefs.

Pioneer in Melbourne’s plant-based scene, Shannon Martinez (Smith and Daughters and Lona Misa) will head a new two-level restaurant.

Friends of Fire is a fine diner, occupying the top floor, with an accompanying bar, Amphora, downstairs.

The menu will consist of a combination of American-inspired vegan and meat-based dishes.

Other new food options you’ll find at the Stadium are Hunky Dory fish and chips, pizzas from 400 Gradi, souvlakis from Yammas, and fresh sandwiches and snacks from Earl Canteen on ground level.

Minister Dimopolous said the stadium was one of Melbourne’s “biggest drawcards to help pack” its “major events calendar every year.” 

“These upgrades make the venue better than ever for both fans and players at sporting or major events,” he said.

“The project will create fantastic opportunities for the Docklands precinct, establishing better links to the CBD, creating event opportunities and providing the facilities to turn the area into a place Victorians can be proud of.”

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon thanked the Victorian Government for the investment and for helping the AFL “realise the dream of taking Marvel Stadium and the precinct from a place that just holds footy games and events and turning it into a destination venue that can and will operate and service Victorians and visitors 365 days a year.” •