Victoria is set to consider the redevelopment of Melbourne’s sporting crown jewel.

As the state gears up to host the AFL Grand Final on Saturday, the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club have announced their intention to develop a business case into the potential redevelopment of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground including the Shane Warne Stand.

The business case will outline a range of options for the ground’s redevelopment.

It will aim to ensure that the stadium and precinct continues to meet athlete and spectator needs and maintains its world-class status for the decades ahead.

The announcement comes as the MCG is set to host a capacity crowd of more than 100,000 at the AFL Grand Final between the Geelong Cats and the Brisbane Lions this weekend.

Originally constructed in 1853, the MCG (also known locally as the ‘G’) is Australia’s most iconic sporting venue.

In addition to being the home of Australian Rules Football, it has served as the main stadium for the 1956 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games as well as hosting two Cricket World Cup finals in 2002 and 2015.

Last year, the G hosted 69 major events across sport, concerts and community events.

These include the AFL Grand Final, NRL’s State of Origin, three Taylor Swift concerts and a record-setting Boxing Day Test.

These and other events at the venue brought more than 620,000 visitors to Victoria from interstate and overseas, pumped a record $720 million into the state’s economy and supported 7,500 full-time equivalent jobs.

Thanks to a long-term deal that was signed in 2003, the ground is set to host the Grand Final every year until 2059.

In 2022, the ground’s Great Southern Stand was renamed the Shane Warne Stand following the death of legendary spin bowler Shane Warne.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen welcomed the announcement.

“The MCG is our economy’s home ground advantage – we want to keep it that way,” Allen said.

“We’re planning for the future so the ‘G can remain the best stadium in the world.”

 

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