Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia due to the excellence of their respective teams across all disciplines. They’re in a constant duel with Sydney-based outfits to capture the major titles, but are edging the battle in almost every leading sport in the country.
It’s why if you’re sporting mad it’s certainly the place to visit in Australia. There are endless venues to attend games throughout the year and you know you will be witnessing high-quality entertainment. We’ll now look at the best stadia and teams to visit in the region.
AAMI Park
Situated in the Cremorne district, AAMI Park is the home to the NRL champion Melbourne Storm. The Storm won their fourth Premiership crown with a victory over Penrith Panthers in the 2020 Grand Final. Legendary player Cameron Smith was the heart of the team and one of the best players in the history of the league. If you love rugby league, the Storm are the team to watch.
AAMI Park holds 30,000 spectators and tickets are fairly reasonable at a cost of $27 for an adult and $5 for a child. Transport links are excellent in the region, with trams readily available on matchday along with a variety of other means of public transport. Due to the brilliance of the team, the Storm should be top of your watch list.
However, you should not sleep on soccer. Although it does not quite hold the same relevance in Australia as elsewhere in the globe – there are still a plethora of quality teams and players. Melbourne boasts two teams in the A-League that have enjoyed success in the division.
Melbourne Victory have won the division four times, last winning the Grand Final in 2018. Melbourne City finished as runners-up in the competition last season, losing out to Sydney FC. City are an exciting team and are backed at 7/2 in the football betting odds to win their first crown next season. AAMI Park appears to be the place to travel in search of winners.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne also boasts the AFL Champions in the form of Richmond. They claimed their 13th Premiership and second on the bounce in the 2020 campaign. Damien Hardwick’s men overcame Geelong in the Grand Final and are closing in on their rivals at the top of the all-time standings, although Carlton still lead the way with 16 crowns. Aussie Rules originated in Victoria therefore all the leading outfits are based in the state.
However, the most successful tend to play at the MCG and its 100,000 capacity. Richmond share the stadium with Melbourne, Collingwood and Hawthorn, although Richmond have the most dedicated following with 100,000 members. There are no shortage of Aussie Rules games to see in Melbourne during the season. It’s part of the Victorian identity and one that has to be embraced when you’re in the state.
The MCG, of course, hosts cricket. Perhaps no event captures the imagination more than the Boxing Day Test, especially during the Ashes. It’s a guaranteed sell-out and Australia’s national cricket team more than rise to the occasion to perform in front of an expectant crowd. The Baggy Greens have only lost 10 times at the ground in the last 40 years, highlighting their dominance.
You have to book well in advance to get a ticket for Boxing Day itself, with sales beginning in May. Ticket prices are not too expensive, starting at $30, but those can escalate to over $100 depending on the location of your seat. The experience is not one that you will want to miss surrounded by Aussies all having a good time in the baking sun.
