Mmmm.
I actually love your work here mate but that is a very Victorian comment.
its a statement borne out by the facts., A rectangular stadium is not essential when you have several oval stadiums that can accommodate a rectangular field - and it hasnt affected crowd attendance whatsoever.
Its an issue which is going to screw over Queensland when the time comes to upgrade Suncorp and the Gabba - both coming towards end of life periods in the next decade. You cant play AFL/Cricket at Suncorp, and the alternatives re: retractable seating havent exactly borne stellar results to date here.
The so-called self-proclaimed sporting capital of the world should be exactly that. Yet, without a decent sized rectangular stadium, that claim falls flat.
The MCG is the most attended stadium in Australia by miles. Docklands is generally 2 or 3. For me its about value to the taxpayer, and the fact that it works in Victoria, SA and WA.
We all know why there isn't a much larger rectangular stadium in Melbourne.
Actually its because there was a deal done that prevented Aami Park exceeding its current capacity that ended in 2025 in order to protect the private -not AFL - investment in Docklands
Their fear and animosity of any other sport except cricket is blatantly clear. Hence why Melbourne was given the scraps during last years WWC which was a massive success elsewhere across the country and also NZ - except Perth. Adelaide doesn't count either. 2 other AFL states.
Melbourne was given the scraps because the organising body didnt want to even bother dealing with the Victorian Government - which owns the MCG and has rights to use Docklands during major events, or the AFL, which owns Docklands, as well as being naturally opposed to using Oval stadiums, which then limited their options to Aami Park. They literally used Docklands for the last womens match for the Matildas before the WWC started.
No southern or western AU government is going to build big rectangular stadiums. Makes no sense for the taxpayer.