Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

{{Short description|Sports stadium in Melbourne, Australia}}

{{Redirect|AAMI Park|the former stadium in Adelaide known as "AAMI Stadium"|Football Park}}

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

| nickname = AAMI Park

| logo_image = AAMI Park logo.svg

| logo_caption = AAMI Park logo

| image = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.JPG

| caption = View of AAMI Park from the tennis centre opposite

| fullname = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

| city = Melbourne VIC 3004

| country = Australia

| location = Olympic Boulevard
{{nowrap|Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|37|49|31|S|144|59|2|E|display=it}}

| publictransit = {{rint|melbourne|metro}} Richmond
{{rint|melbourne|tram}} {{rint|melbourne|70}} Olympic Boulevard

| broke_ground = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2007}}

| built = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010}}

| opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|5|7}}

| renovated = 2023

| yearsactive = 2010–present

| construction_cost = A$268 million

| seating_type = All-seater

| suites = 24

| parking = Parking available at John Cain Arena

| owner = Government of Victoria

| operator = Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust

| architect = Cox Architecture

| general_contractor = Grocon

| structural engineer = Arup
Norman Disney & Young

| surface = StaLok Turf

| scoreboard = Two curved scoreboards in opposite corners

| record_attendance = Sporting event: 29,902 (31 May 2025; Melbourne City vs Melbourne Victory; A-League Men Grand Final)
Concert: 98,136 (over three nights; 10, 11, 12 December 2015; Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour)

| dimensions = {{cvt|136 × 85|m}}

| field_shape = Rectangular

| seating_capacity = 30,050{{pad|1}}(total)
29,500{{pad|1}}(rugby)

| former_names = Swan St Stadium (2007–2010)

| address = Olympic Blvd

| tenants = Rugby League
Melbourne Storm
(NRL) (2010–present)
Rugby Union
Melbourne Rebels
(Super Rugby and Super W) (2011–2024)
Soccer
Melbourne City FC
(A-League Men and Women) (2010–present)
{{nowrap|Melbourne Victory
(A-League Men and Women) (2010–present)}}
{{nowrap|Western United
(A-League Men and Women) (2020–2024)}}
{{nowrap|Socceroos and Matildas
(select international matches)}}
Australian rules football
Melbourne Football Club (AFL)
(training, 2010–present)

| website = https://aamipark.com.au

}}

The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, currently known as AAMI Park for sponsorship reasons,{{Cite web |last=Welch |first=Kalila |date=2021-11-25 |title=AAMI renews naming rights for Melbourne's AAMI Park |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/aami-renews-naming-rights-for-melbournes-aami-park-715265 |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Mumbrella |language=en-US}} is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in the suburb of East Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built in 2010, it is a rectangular sporting stadium with a capacity of 30,050, and is the home of various rugby league, rugby union and association football teams.

Upon its completion, it became Melbourne's inaugural large, purpose-built rectangular stadium. Prior to this project, the primary venues were the oval-configured Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Docklands Stadium, primarily suited for Australian rules football and cricket. The city's former largest rectangular stadium, Olympic Park, had been repurposed from a track and field facility.

Notably, the stadium's main occupants include the National Rugby League team, the Melbourne Storm and two A-League Men teams, namely Melbourne Victory FC and Melbourne City FC, with the stadium having also previously served as the home ground of A-League Men team Western United FC and Super Rugby team the Melbourne Rebels. Additionally, the venue was one of five chosen for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, responsible for hosting the inaugural match and six subsequent games, including a quarter-final match. The stadium also hosted matches for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and Four Nations in 2010 and 2014, along with serving as a venue for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

While known as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium during its construction phase, the facility has been recognized as AAMI Park since its inauguration in March 2010, resulting from a sponsorship partnership with the insurance firm AAMI.

History

=Prior to construction=

Until 2010, Olympic Park Stadium was Melbourne's main venue for soccer, rugby league and rugby union; not purpose-built, it was an athletics stadium with the rectangular grass field set inside the running track, and it could hold 18,500 spectators, but only 11,000 seated. It had been the home ground of the Melbourne Storm since they entered the National Rugby League in 1998. The A-League Men's Melbourne Victory FC also used Olympic Park Stadium from 2005 to 2007 when they switched permanently to Docklands Stadium.

In 2004, as part of Melbourne's bid for a Super Rugby team, the Victorian Government prepared an economic impact study on the development of a world class rectangular stadium in Melbourne.{{cite web

| url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=279

| title=AAMI Park|publisher= Austadiums

| access-date=2010-05-18}} But in late 2004, the bid lost out to the Western Australian consortium, which would become the Western Force.

On 6 April 2006 the Victorian Government announced that a $190 million 20,000-seat rectangular stadium would be built on the site of Edwin Flack Field and would be home to NRL team Melbourne Storm and A-League Men team Melbourne Victory. The stadium's planned capacity was increased to 30,000, with foundations capable of expansion to a capacity of 50,000 if needed. The stadium began construction in late 2007.

In November 2009, when the Super Rugby competition expanded to 15 teams, the Melbourne consortium won the 15th Super Rugby licence, with the new franchise intending to play their games at the new stadium.

File:Melbourne Rectangular Stadium plaque.jpg

The stadium's first match was the 2010 Anzac Test between the Australian and New Zealand rugby league teams on 7 May 2010,{{cite web

|last=Gough

|first=Paul

|url=http://sportal.com.au/league-news-display/anzac-test-opener-81759

|title=Anzac Test to open new stadium

|date=26 November 2009

|work=Sportal

|location=Australia

|access-date=23 May 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509052719/http://sportal.com.au/league-news-display/anzac-test-opener-81759

|archive-date=9 May 2010

}} with the stadium formally opened by then Victorian premier John Brumby. The stadium was referred to as Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Swan Street Stadium or the Bubble Dome{{cite web

|url=http://moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/field-of-dreams4/

|title=Video: Melbourne's field of dreams

|date=2010-04-26

|work=Moreland Leader

|publisher=News

|access-date=23 May 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501043729/http://moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/field-of-dreams4/

|archive-date=1 May 2010

}}{{cite web

|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/126918,heart-deal-or-no-deal.aspx

|title=Heart: Deal Or No Deal?

|last=Ormond

|first=Aidan

|date=19 April 2010

|work=Four Four Two

|location=Australia

|publisher=Haymarket

|access-date=2010-05-10

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422075419/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/126918%2Cheart-deal-or-no-deal.aspx

|archive-date=22 April 2010

}} during its early construction. The stadium's commercial name was announced as AAMI Park on 16 March 2010; initially an eight-year deal, it has been twice extended with the current AAMI sponsorship deal set to expire in 2026.{{cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/aami-renews-naming-rights-for-melbournes-aami-park-715265|title=AAMI renews naming rights for Melbourne's AAMI Park|date=26 November 2021|publisher=Mumbrella|access-date=10 October 2022}}

=Notable events hosted: 2010s=

==Rugby league==

The stadium held its first event, rugby league's 2010 Anzac Test, on 7 May 2010. The opening ceremony featured the NRL's all-time highest point-scorer, Hazem El Masri, who had retired the previous season, kicking a goal.{{cite web | last = Read | first = Brent

| title = Kangaroos shine brightest against New Zealand

| work = Australian | publisher = News | date = 8 May 2010

| url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/kangaroos-shine-brightest-against-new-zealand/story-e6frg7mf-1225863842447

| access-date = 11 May 2010}} The first points scored on the ground were from a Jamie Lyon penalty kick in the 32nd minute,{{cite news|last=Press Association|title=Australian class sees off New Zealand as Brett Morris scores two tries|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/may/07/australia-new-zealand-test|access-date=20 February 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 May 2010}} and the first try was scored by Brett Morris in the 39th minute.{{cite news|last=Barclay|first=Chris|title=Kangaroos composure denies Kiwis|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10643538|access-date=20 February 2014|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=8 May 2010}} Australia defeated New Zealand 12–8 in front of a sell-out crowd (near 30,000). Two days later the first National Rugby League match was played at the stadium when the Brisbane Broncos defeated the Melbourne Storm in front of a crowd of 20,042.

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium hosted international matches as part of the Rugby League Four Nations in 2010 and 2014, when Australia defeated England by 34–14 in front of 18,894 fans on 31 October 2010, and again when Australia defeated England by 16–12 on 2 November 2014 (attendance: 20,585). The stadium hosted two matches of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup: the opening match of the tournament between Australia and England, which saw the latter prevail 18-4 in front of a crowd of 22,724, and the quarter final match between England and Papua New Guinea, which saw the latter prevail 36-6 in front of a crowd of 10,563.

==Soccer==

On 5 August 2010 the stadium played host to its first A-Leagues match. It was also another first, as the newly formed Melbourne Heart FC played their first game in front of 11,050 fans against the Central Coast Mariners. The Heart lost 1–0, and Alex Wilkinson won the honour of scoring the first goal. The first Melbourne Victory match was played at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium v Perth Glory on 14 August 2010 in front of 21,193 fans.

The venue hosted the 2015 AFC Asian Cup opening ceremony and seven international matches including the tournament opener between Australia and Kuwait on 9 January, and a quarter-final match South Korea and Uzbekistan on 22 January.{{cite web|title=Venues and Match Schedule|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/site/_content/document/00001214-source.pdf|publisher=footballaustralia.com.au|access-date=27 March 2013}}{{dead link|date=August 2016}}

From the 2020-21 A-League season to the 2023-24 A-League season, Western United FC began also playing home games out of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, while they awaited the construction of their new home base, Ironbark Fields, in Tarneit.{{cite web|url=https://wufc.com.au/news/western-united-confirmed-play-home-games-aami-park-2021|title=WESTERN UNITED CONFIRMED TO PLAY HOME GAMES AT AAMI PARK IN 2021|access-date=20 November 2022|website=wufc.com.au|date=18 December 2020 }} Western United's last home game at the stadium prior to the completion of Ironbark Fields occurred on 14 March 2024 against crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory, with the match concluding in a 2-2 draw in front of a crowd of 3058. On 28 October 2024, Western United announced that their 2024-25 A-League Men season home games against Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory on 4 November 2024 and 1 December 2024 respectively would be played at AAMI Park.{{cite web|url=https://wufc.com.au/news/western-united-returns-to-aami-park-for-blockbuster-derbies/|title=Western United returns to AAMI Park for blockbuster Derbies|website=Western United|date=28 October 2024}}

AAMI Park played host to 6 Matches as part of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 under its non-commercial name of Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. It also acted as a secondary live site for the Australia vs England semi-final match, as well as the primary live site for the third-place match and the final when Federation Square decided to stop showing matches.

The Stadium hosted two Open Training Sessions on 21 & 23 May 2024 as part of Global Football Week Melbourne. The Session on 21 May 2024 included Tottenham Hotspur and the A-Leagues All Stars Men, while the Session on 23 May 2024 included Arsenal Womens and the A-Leagues All Stars Women.

==Rugby union==

The Melbourne Rebels played their first Super Rugby match at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on 18 February 2011. The Melbourne Rising played their first National Rugby Championship match on 24 August 2014, defeating the North Harbour Rays by a resounding 55–34 score.{{cite web

|date=24 August 2014

|first=Jack

|last=Howes

|title=NRC: North Harbour Rays v. Melbourne Rising Review

|work=Green and Gold Rugby

|access-date=24 August 2014

|url=http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-north-harbour-rays-v-melbourne-rising-review/

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824092825/http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-north-harbour-rays-v-melbourne-rising-review/

|archive-date=24 August 2014

}}

The Rising played a semifinal at the stadium on 25 October 2014, but lost by 29–45 to the Perth Spirit.{{cite web

|date=25 October 2014

|first=Peter

|last=Mitchell

|title=NRC Semi Final 2: Melbourne Rising Fall, Perth Spirit Soar.

|work=Green and Gold rugby

|access-date=27 October 2014

|url=http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-semi-final-2-melbourne-rising-fall-perth-spirit-soar/

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027051644/http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-semi-final-2-melbourne-rising-fall-perth-spirit-soar/

|archive-date=27 October 2014

}}

The Melbourne Rebels played their last match at the stadium on 17 May 2024 against the Chiefs, with the Rebels losing 23–26.

==Melbourne Football Club (AFL) training and administrative facilities==

The Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) moved its indoor training facilities to the park in 2010, and train at their nearby outdoor training ground at Gosch's Paddock,{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/152260/melbourne-has-re-committed-to-aami-park|title=Melbourne has re-committed to AAMI Park|date=February 6, 2015|access-date=November 11, 2021}} with its administration staff continuing to be based at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.{{cite web |last1=Dexter |first1=Rachael |title=What would the Demons' move to Caulfield Racecourse mean for locals? |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/what-would-the-demons-move-to-caulfield-racecourse-mean-for-locals-20240221-p5f6sp.html |website=The Age |date=27 February 2024 |access-date=15 September 2024}}

Stadium design

=Features=

The COX Architecture designed stadium features a "Bioframe" design, with a geodesic dome roof covering much of the seating area, while still allowing light through to the pitch. The northern and southern sides of the stadiums are called the Olympic Side and Yarra Side respectively. The exterior of the stadium is covered in thousands of LED lights which can be programmed to display a variety of patterns and images.{{cite web | date = 2 August 2009 | first = Peter | last = Rolfe

| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/stadium-of-light/story-fna7dq6e-1225757119915

| title = Stadium of light | work = Herald Sun | publisher = News | access-date = 22 May 2012}}

The stadium includes training facilities and office accommodation for Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Football Club, the Victorian Rugby Union, the Victorian Olympic Council, Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre (OPSMC), Imaging@Olympic Park Radiology and Tennis Victoria. The stadium is used by the Melbourne Demons as their administration headquarters. The team had wanted the stadium completed by 2008 to coincide with its 150th anniversary. It has planned to house public bars and cafes, 24 corporate boxes, a dining room with a capacity of 1000 people, a gym and lap pool.

=Capacity=

File:2015 AFC Asian Cup opening match Australia Kuwait, 9 January 2015.jpg]]

The stadium was initially proposed to have a seating capacity of 20,000, upgradeable to 25,000. This was due to both expected demand, as well as a state government agreement with Docklands Stadium that no stadiums with a capacity greater than 30,000 would be constructed in Melbourne before 2010. These plans were revised after the Victory refused to commit to playing at a stadium of such small capacity, having achieved an average attendance of over 27,000 since their move to the Docklands Stadium in the 2006–07 A-League Season.

Alternative plans put forward by the Victorian Government proposed a capacity of 30,050, on the condition that the Victory sign on as a tenant. An agreement was reached and the stadium went ahead at this capacity.{{cite web

|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200705/s1931002.htm

|title=Melbourne to get 30,050-seat stadium

|publisher=ABC

|location=Australia

|date=2007-05-23

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626081328/http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200705/s1931002.htm

|archive-date=26 June 2007

}} To assist with the extended capacity, temporary stands can be erected behind the goals during soccer matches and removed during rugby league and union games so as to allow space for the in-goal area (an international soccer pitch measures 105 metres in length, while including the in-goal areas, rugby league and rugby union have a minimum field length of 116 and 120 metres respectively). Although the stadium was built with foundations to allow for future expansion to 50,000,{{cite web

| url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23148333-2862,00.html

| title=New ground may hold 50,000

| work = Herald Sun | publisher = News Limited

| date=3 February 2008

| access-date=24 February 2008 | first=Peter | last=Rolfe}} the roof was not designed with this in mind, and so the stadium cannot be expanded without major construction work.{{cite web

| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/grounds-for-concern/2009/09/16/1252780357089.html

| title=Grounds for concern

| work= Age | publisher= Fairfax

| date=16 September 2009

| access-date=18 September 2009

| location=Melbourne}} Construction of the stadium was featured during a 2010 episode of the TV show Build It Bigger.

=Upgrades=

Following the stadium's opening in 2010, the stadium's features were first upgraded in early 2023, ahead of its fixtures for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The Victorian Government contributed $25 million to replace the old video screens with two new curved screens, install LED sports light technology in the light towers and under the roof canopy, and replace static advertising and wayfinding boards with LED. Player facilities, broadcasting and corporate facilities were also improved as a result of the upgrade.{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1247/aami-park-upgrades-underway|title=AAMI Park upgrades underway|work=Austadiums|date=29 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1283/aami-park-upgrades-complete-ahead-of-world-cup|title=AAMI Park upgrades complete ahead of World Cup|work=Austadiums|date=14 July 2023}}

Crowd records

=Concerts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Event

! Description

! Event

! Date

! Attendance

! Gross

! Reference

Concert

| Taylor Swift

| The 1989 World Tour

| 10, 11 & 12 December 2015

| 98,136 / 98,136 (over three nights)

| $10,421,553

|{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore|title=Current Boxscore|website=Billboard.com|access-date=7 January 2018}}

Concert

| Ed Sheeran

| x Tour

| 5 & 6 December 2015

| 66,918 / 66,918 (over two nights)

| N/A

|{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6792709/ed-sheeran-breaks-venue-record|title=Ed Sheeran Breaks Venue Record|website=Billboard.com|access-date=7 January 2018}}

Concert

| Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

| High Hopes Tour

| 15 & 16 February 2014

| 62,950 / 62,950 (over two nights)

| $9,185,208

|{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore |title=Current Boxscore |magazine=Billboard|access-date=26 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226181935/http://www.billboard.com/biz/current-boxscore |archive-date=26 February 2014 }}

Concert

| Foo Fighters

| Wasting Light Tour

| 2 & 3 December 2011

| 60,083 (over two nights)

| N/A

|{{cite web|url=http://www.aamipark.com.au/about/sporting-and-event-history/|title=Sporting & Event History - AAMI Park|website=AAMIPark.com.au|access-date=7 January 2018}}

Concert

| Paul McCartney

| One On One Tour

| 5 & 6 December 2017

| 59,002 / 59,002 (over two nights)

| $9,623,682

|{{cite web|url=https://www.aamipark.com.au/events/paul-mccartney/|title=Paul McCartney - AAMI Park|website=AAMIPark.com.au|access-date=4 September 2021}}

Concert

| Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

| The River Tour

| 2 & 4 February 2017

| 51,192 / 54,000 (over two nights)

| $7,384,735

|{{cite web|url=http://www.aamipark.com.au/events/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band/|title=Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - AAMI Park|website=AAMIPark.com.au|access-date=7 January 2018}}

=Sporting events=

class="wikitable sortable"
Sport

! Description

! Event

! Date

! Attendance

! Reference

Association football (Finals)

| Melbourne City FC vs Melbourne Victory FC

| 2025 A-League Men Grand Final

| 31 May 2025

| 29,902

|{{Cite news |date=2025-05-31 |title=Melbourne City beats cross-town rivals Victory in A-League Men grand final |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-31/a-league-men-grand-final-melbourne-city-victory-live-score-stats/105361996 |access-date=2025-06-01 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

Rugby union (International)

| Australia vs England

| 2016 England rugby union tour of Australia, Second Test

| 18 June 2016

| 29,871

|{{cite web|last1=Rugari|first1=Vince|title=England beat Wallabies 23-7 to claim historic Test series win at AAMI Park|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/live-coverage-of-second-wallabies-v-england-test-at-melbournes-aami-park/news-story/f79a6d1a2e0bf77ac08629a0f7fc04f6|website=Fox Sports Australia|publisher=News Corporation|access-date=19 June 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Ward|first1=Roy|title=Wallabies v England: AAMI Park surface causes concern again as rugby scrums lose grip|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/aami-park-surface-causes-concern-again-as-rugby-scrums-lose-grip-20160618-gpmh8n.html|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 June 2016 |publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=19 June 2016}}

Rugby league (International)

| Australia vs New Zealand

| 2010 Anzac Test

| 7 May 2010

| 29,442

|{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/crowd-roars-for-new-star/story-e6frf7jo-1225863845069|title=Crowd roars for new star|website=HeraldSun.com.au|access-date=7 January 2018}}

Rugby league (Finals)

| Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys

| 2015 NRL Preliminary Final

| 26 September 2015

| 29,315

|{{cite web|title=NRL finals 2015: North Queensland Cowboys through to grand final as Melbourne Storm fail|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/nrl-finals-2015-north-queensland-cowboys-through-to-grand-final-as-melbourne-storm-fail-20150926-gjvkz1.html|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 September 2015 |publisher=Fairfax Media|access-date=26 September 2015}}{{cite web|title=Marika Koroibete punch costs Melbourne Storm big in preliminary final loss to Cowboys|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/marika-koroibete-punch-costs-melbourne-storm-big-in-preliminary-final-loss-to-cowboys/story-e6frf3sc-1227545388475|website=Fox Sports|publisher=News Corporation|access-date=26 September 2015}}

Rugby league (Home & Away)

| Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors

| 2014 NRL season

| 25 April 2014

| 28,716

|{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-25/warriors-take-anzac-day-honours-in-melbourne/5412720|title=New Zealand Warriors beat the Melbourne Storm 16–10 at AAMI Park on Anzac Day|publisher=ABC News|author=AAP|date=25 April 2014}}

Rugby union (Friendly)

| Melbourne Rebels vs British & Irish Lions

| 2013 British & Irish Lions tour

| 26 June 2013

| 28,658

|

Association football (International)

| Australia vs Vietnam

| 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round

| 27 January 2022

| 27,740

|

Association football (Home & Away)

| Melbourne Victory FC vs Sydney FC

| 2012–13 A-League

| 26 January 2013

| 26,882

|

Rugby Union (Home & Away)

| Melbourne Rebels vs New South Wales Waratahs

| 2011 Super Rugby season

| 18 February 2011

| 25,524

|

Rugby league test matches

The stadium has hosted six rugby league internationals. The results were as follows;{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/venues/melbourne-rectangular-stadium/results.html|title=Melbourne Rectangular Stadium - Melbourne Rectangular Stadium - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.RugbyLeagueProject.org|access-date=7 January 2018}}

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#bdb76b;"

! Test no. !! Date !! Winner !! Result !! Runner-up !! Attendance !! Part of

17 May 2010{{rl|AUS}}12–8{{rl|NZL}}29,4422010 Anzac Test
231 October 2010{{rl|AUS}}34–14{{rl|ENG}}18,8942010 Four Nations
32 November 2014{{rl|AUS}}16–12{{rl|ENG}}20,5852014 Four Nations
427 October 2017{{rl|AUS}}18–4{{rl|ENG}}22,274rowspan=2|2017 Rugby League World Cup
519 November 2017{{rl|ENG}}36–6{{rl|PNG}}10,563
628 October 2023{{rl|AUS}}36–18{{rl|NZL}}20,5842023 Pacific Cup

Men's national soccer team results

The stadium has hosted six Australian men's international soccer matches. The results were as follows;

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#bdb76b;"

! Match no. !! Date !! Home !! Result !! Opponent !! Attendance !! Part of

129 February 2012{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia4–2{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia24,2402014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Fourth Round
29 January 2015{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia4–1{{flagicon|Kuwait}} Kuwait25,2312015 AFC Asian Cup
35 September 2017{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia2–1{{flagicon|Thailand}} Thailand26,3932018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Third Round
427 January 2022{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia4–0{{flagicon|Vietnam}} Vietnam27,7402022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round
516 November 2023{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia7–0{{flagicon|Bangladesh}} Bangladesh20,8762026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
614 November 2024{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia0–0{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia27,4912026 World Cup Qualifiers Round 3

Women's national soccer team results

The stadium has hosted four Australian women's international matches. The results were as follows;

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#bdb76b;"

! Match no. !! Date !! Home !! Result !! Opponent !! Attendance !! Part of

122 November 2017{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia3–0{{flagicon|China}} China10,904Friendly
26 March 2019{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia3–0{{flagicon|Argentina}} Argentina6,8342019 Cup of Nations
312 November 2022{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia4–0{{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden22,065Friendly
431 July 2023{{flagicon|Australia}} Australia3–0{{flagicon|Canada}} Canada27,7062023 FIFA Women's World Cup

2015 AFC Asian Cup

File:AAMI Park 2015 AFC Asian Cup Iran v Bahrain.jpg v Bahrain during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup]]

class="wikitable sortable"
Date

!Team #1

!Res.

!Team #2

!Stage

!Attendance

9 January 2015

|{{fb|AUS}}

|4–1

|{{fb|KUW}}

|Group A

|25,231

11 January 2015

|{{fb|IRN}}

|2–0

|{{fb|BHR}}

|Group C

|17,712

14 January 2015

|{{fb|PRK}}

|1–4

|{{fb|KSA}}

|Group B

|12,349

16 January 2015

|{{fb|PLE}}

|1–5

|{{fb|JOR}}

|Group D

|10,808

18 January 2015

|{{fb|UZB}}

|3–1

|{{fb|KSA}}

|Group B

|10,871

20 January 2015

|{{fb|JPN}}

|2–0

|{{fb|JOR}}

|Group D

|25,016

22 January 2015

|{{fb|KOR}}

|2–0

|{{fb|UZB}}

|Quarter-finals

|23,381

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

File:AAMI Park - FIFAWWC 2023 (3).jpg versus Brazil during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup]]

The venue hosted six matches of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup – four group games and two knockout ones. Seating capacity for the matches was reduced to 27,706 due to media requirements.{{cite web |title=AAMI Park upgrades complete ahead of World Cup |url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1283/aami-park-upgrades-complete-ahead-of-world-cup |website=austadiums.com |access-date=23 August 2023 |date=14 July 2023}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Date

!Team #1

!Res.

!Team #2

!Stage

!Attendance

21 July 2023

|{{Flagicon|NGA}} Nigeria

|0–0

|{{Flagicon|CAN}} Canada

|Group B

|21,410

24 July 2023

|{{Flagicon|GER}} Germany

|6–0

|{{Flagicon|MAR}} Morocco

|Group H

|27,256

31 July 2023

|{{Flagicon|CAN}} Canada

|0–4

|{{Flagicon|AUS}} Australia

|Group B

|27,706

2 August 2023

|{{Flagicon|JAM}} Jamaica

|0–0

|{{Flagicon|BRA}} Brazil

|Group F

|27,638

6 August 2023

|{{Flagicon|SWE}} Sweden

0–0 (5–4 pen.)

|{{Flagicon|USA}} United States

|Round of 16

|27,706

8 August 2023

|{{Flagicon|COL}} Colombia

|1–0

|{{Flagicon|JAM}} Jamaica

|Round of 16

|27,706

Awards

In 2011 the stadium project was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) Melbourne Prize for contribution to the civic and public life of Melbourne.

In June 2012 the stadium won the award for the most iconic and culturally significant stadium at the 2012 World Stadium Awards, held in Doha, Qatar.{{cite web |url=http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-rectangular-stadium#news-451884 |title=Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park) – Our past projects – Our projects – Major Projects Victoria |publisher=Majorprojects.vic.gov.au |access-date=2012-07-13 |archive-date=26 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826231945/http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-past-projects/melbourne-rectangular-stadium#news-451884 |url-status=dead }}

File:Melbourne Rectangular Stadium from city.JPG

File:2015 A-League Grand Final AAMI Park panorama.jpg

See also

References

{{Reflist|colwidth=25em|refs=

{{cite web

|url=http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-current-projects/melbourne-rectangular-stadium

|title=Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park)

|publisher=Major Projects Victoria

|access-date=18 May 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124160852/http://www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au/our-projects/our-current-projects/melbourne-rectangular-stadium

|archive-date=24 January 2010

}}

{{cite web

|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/bubbling-with-excitement-on-opening-night/story-e6frf9if-1225863869762

|title=Bubbling with excitement on opening night | last=Reed | first=Ron | date= 8 May 2010 | work = Herald Sun

|publisher = News| access-date=18 May 2010}}

{{cite web

|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/rugby-union/capacity-crowd-tipped-for-opening-melbourne-rebels-game/story-e6frfgkf-1226006544197|title=Capacity crowd tipped for opening Melbourne Rebels game|date=16 February 2011

|work = Herald Sun | publisher = News | access-date=2011-02-16}}

{{cite web

|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/site/_content/document/00001665-source.pdf

|title=A-League 2010/11 Season Draw

|publisher=A-League

|access-date=2010-05-18

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601091016/http://www.a-league.com.au/site/_content/document/00001665-source.pdf

|archive-date=1 June 2010

}}

}}