AusLeisure

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has won Federal and Victorian Government funding to develop a $2.5 million rooftop walk and zip line across the Melbourne Cricket Ground, giving people a different perspective on the iconic venue.

While the proposal is still in the initial concept and design phase, the MCC hopes that within 12 months it will join other famous venues including the Adelaide Oval, the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africe and Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland in offering a rooftop adventure experience.

Commenting on the planned experience, MCC spokesperson Prue O'Donohue advised that visitors would have the chance to fly between the MCG’s grandstands on a harnessed zip line..

She explained "MCG lovers and people who are passionate about the ground will definitely be amongst those (we attract), but we also hope that will draw in the more interstate or international tourist market that might not necessarily considered the MCG previously.

"That's more for the thrill seekers out there. In theory it will take you from one part of the ground to the other with a birds-eye perspective of the hallowed turf."

O'Donohue said the "roof experience" would provide panoramic views of the city, adding "I think this is a very different experience that Melbourne will have to offer.”

The Victorian Government is to contribute $650,000 towards the attraction, with the Federal Government understood to be matching that amount.

Welcoming the plan, Victorian Sport and Tourism Minister John Eren said the idea would offer unprecedented promotional opportunities for Melbourne.

Minister Eren stated “we're building this infrastructure so that all of those visitors from interstate and international can have a birds-eye view of Melbourne's CBD, and also the sporting precinct.

"The tourism sector is worth $21 billion to our economy and we want to grow that sector.

The MCG hosted outdoor cinema screenings earlier this month, in a move to create other non-sporting revenue streams.

Images: The MCG (top) and the Big Rush swing attraction at the Moses Madiba Stadium, Durban, South Africa (below).

3rd January 2016 - RECORD 80,000 BIG BASH LEAGUE CROWD AT THE MCG

18th November 2015 - ADELAIDE OVAL TO OFFER ROOF CLIMB VISITOR EXPERIENCE

10th July 2014 - BRIDGECLIMB LAUNCHES VIRTUAL TOUR

6th March 2013 - NEW MATCH FIXING LAWS AIM TO PROTECT INTEGRITY OF VICTORIAN SPORT

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.