Help for a MCG newbie

[ashley76]

Hi guys
Travelling down from Qld to Melbourne to watch a game at the MCG. I know this has probably been asked a million times but what are the best places to watch a game? We will have our family of 4 and are all very excited. My son is so excited to be going to the home of footy. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Adelaide Docker]

Just get General admission seats at the gate.

Ps I love your youtube channel

 

[silverscope]

Hi guys
Travelling down from Qld to Melbourne to watch a game at the MCG. I know this has probably been asked a million times but what are the best places to watch a game? We will have our family of 4 and are all very excited. My son is so excited to be going to the home of footy. Any help will be appreciated.

Yeah General Admin would be your best bet then you can walk around a bit, change stands at the half so you can take in the whole place etc.

I suggest if you get the opportunity, to do the National Sports Museum at the MCG. Will also allow you to familiarise yourself with the ground and how to get there. I assume you're not going to the Friday night game and most likely the Sun or Mon game. Saturday would be a great to see it before you go to a game.

 

[Cudi_420]

Hard to get a "bad" seat at the MCG. In my experience the worst seats in the house are pockets at either end in the Southern Stand. Just something about the angle of the seating. Not quite as bad in the Olympic Stand. GA at the MCG is pretty good. If you're an AFL member, highly recommend reserving seats on level 2 of the AFL Members if you can. These seats along with level 2 of the Olympic stand on the wing are the best seats in the house. Perfect vantage point and smack-bang in the middle of the wing.

 

[isamedthegiants]

Hi guys
Travelling down from Qld to Melbourne to watch a game at the MCG. I know this has probably been asked a million times but what are the best places to watch a game? We will have our family of 4 and are all very excited. My son is so excited to be going to the home of footy. Any help will be appreciated.

Coming from Brisbane just be careful about those big steel things that are on the Melbourne roads.

They can be very dangerous if you get in their way.

They are called cars.

I don't think they're in Brisbane yet?

 

[ManWithNoName]

Yeah General Admin would be your best bet then you can walk around a bit, change stands at the half so you can take in the whole place etc.

I suggest if you get the opportunity, to do the National Sports Museum at the MCG. Will also allow you to familiarise yourself with the ground and how to get there. I assume you're not going to the Friday night game and most likely the Sun or Mon game. Saturday would be a great to see it before you go to a game.

Second to this, do a tour too while you're there if you can.

 

[Forever North]

I work as an attendant at the G. Just be aware that the seating arrangements for each game varies. For example there will be plenty GA seats on level 1 for the Richmond v GC game on Sunday but hardly any for Melbourne v Collingwood on Monday. Level 2 around the ground and level 3 in the Sthn stand are usually reserved/corporate seats. Apart from genuine blockbusters there are always level 4 GA seats available on the day. Just get there early to sit in the front rows up there, it's not bad especially in the Olympic stand. The bigger the expected crowd the more 'reserved' the stadium becomes.

If you are just planning to get GA tickets simply ask one of the attendants where the GA areas are, we are given a handout with the seating arrangements every game. They'll be able to guide you.
If you are going to buy reserved seats then for me the best place to watch footy at the G is on level 2 Olympic stand between sections N50-55. Level 1 M50-55 is also very good.

 

[ashley76]

I work as an attendant at the G. Just be aware that the seating arrangements for each game varies. For example there will be plenty GA seats on level 1 for the Richmond v GC game on Sunday but hardly any for Melbourne v Collingwood on Monday. Level 2 around the ground and level 3 in the Sthn stand are usually reserved/corporate seats. Apart from genuine blockbusters there are always level 4 GA seats available on the day. Just get there early to sit in the front rows up there, it's not bad especially in the Olympic stand. The bigger the expected crowd the more 'reserved' the stadium becomes.

If you are just planning to get GA tickets simply ask one of the attendants where the GA areas are, we are given a handout with the seating arrangements every game. They'll be able to guide you.
If you are going to buy reserved seats then for me the best place to watch footy at the G is on level 2 Olympic stand between sections N50-55. Level 1 M50-55 is also very good.

Wow thanks for that. We are coming down for the round 14 Richmond vs Brisbane game so it should be cool to get GA tickets shouldn't it? We arrive in Melbourne at 9:45am. Another stupid question - thinking about SkyBus from airport. That is the cheapest option hey isn't it

 

[blue harvest]

IMO can't beat level 1 about 20 rows back for atmosphere and being close to the action, but it all comes down to personal preference.
Many people like a more elevated view on the other levels where you can see the play unfold better. I like the wings/half forward which give a good view of the whole ground, but others prefer behind the goals which is great fun watching the forward entries and shots on goal. I also find the most expensive seats (level 2) lack a bit of atmosphere due to it being a more well to do crowd.

General Admission depends on who is playing, some games you can get good level 1 GA seats where as others may have limited or none and you will have to sit on level 4, if it's Brisbane then you should be okay. If it's raining then obviously undercover is better, handy tip level 1 from row Z back is undercover, level 2 Ponsford and Olympic is not really undercover, depends on wind.

 

[Shane Hird]

Wow thanks for that. We are coming down for the round 14 Richmond vs Brisbane game so it should be cool to get GA tickets shouldn't it? We arrive in Melbourne at 9:45am. Another stupid question - thinking about SkyBus from airport. That is the cheapest option hey isn't it

Yep catch the bus..or pile everyone into a taxi van and pay the extra $30.
Either way, with kids prepare for a $150 day of food, drinks and transport. Add $50 if drinking beer yourself.

 

[Shane Hird]

Plus tickets. Better withdraw $300..

 

[BF Tiger]

Very front rows of the top decks are good viewing. You really see the set-ups, spreads and movement from there.

For s family of four I'd probably skip SKyBus and get a taxi or Uber if you are familiar with that. SKyBus you pay per person I believe.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Wow thanks for that. We are coming down for the round 14 Richmond vs Brisbane game so it should be cool to get GA tickets shouldn't it? We arrive in Melbourne at 9:45am. Another stupid question - thinking about SkyBus from airport. That is the cheapest option hey isn't it

You can actually take a public bus to Broadmedows station then from there into city however to do that you'll need mykis and it'll take longer than Skybus. It'll cost about $20 for the 4 of you though. Skybus is about $12? each iirc

 

[isamedthegiants]

You can actually take a public bus to Broadmedows station then from there into city however to do that you'll need mykis and it'll take longer than Skybus. It'll cost about $20 for the 4 of you though. Skybus is about $12? each iirc

Sky Bus return for an adult is $38.

If there's 4, including kids, get a cab, much cheaper.

 

[blue harvest]

Another stupid question - thinking about SkyBus from airport. That is the cheapest option hey isn't it

$38 one way for family, cheaper than a cab but dumps you at Southern Cross Station which is a long hike from the G. They have some sort of free hotel drop off service once you arrive at Southern Cross but this involves a bit of waiting around.
Free trams in the CBD area which get you to walking distance of the G, or you will need to buy Myki cards to ride the trains but they don't really get you any closer than trams. It's nice to do the walk along the river from Federation Square to the G.

 

[ashley76]

We are staying at the Mantra on Exhibition St. Hopefully we can get early check in or at least dump our bags.

 

[blue harvest]

We are staying at the Mantra on Exhibition St. Hopefully we can get early check in or at least dump our bags.

Be aware there are 2 Mantras on Exhibition Street, the one at the top end is called Mantra on the Park and the other end Mantra 100 Exhibition.

 

[Forever North]

Wow thanks for that. We are coming down for the round 14 Richmond vs Brisbane game so it should be cool to get GA tickets shouldn't it? We arrive in Melbourne at 9:45am. Another stupid question - thinking about SkyBus from airport. That is the cheapest option hey isn't it

Yeh don't waste money reserving seats for this one, GA will do. Spend your cash on a nice dinner instead. Maybe get there nice and early and choose the best GA spots, should be plenty around given the crowd will be around the 30k mark, max.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

If you get general admission, sneak into the good seats on Level 1 towards the end of the last quarter. Most of the attendants are decent human beings and will let you down there if you ask nicely and there isn't a huge crowd. Got my son and niece (in her first game) down there last week so they could get to the fence after the game.

 

[BoxMatrix]

For example there will be plenty GA seats on level 1 for the Richmond v GC game on Sunday but hardly any for Melbourne v Collingwood on Monday.

According to the MCG website, their's around 12 bays of GA on Level 1. Not exaclty hardly any...

 

[nobbyiscool]

It's worth checking out Skybus transfers - once you get to Southern Cross station from the airport, you can talk to the service desk there about the shuttle buses that go to various hotels. I'm fairly certain the shuttle is included in the price of the ticket from the airport.

And as others have said, don't worry about reserving seats for Richmond vs Brisbane. The MCG website will publish the GA areas the day before the game - for that game I expect you'd be able to get plenty of GA seating on level 1, and perhaps even on level 2 of the Ponsford Stand (behind the goals to the right of the tv screen.)

If it's the kids first time, I'd suggest spending the first half down on level 1, and the second half a little higher up.

I'm fairly certain the museum isn't open on game days, but it's still worth heading down to gate 3 if you get there early enough - if you're prepared to take out a second mortgage, the kids will love the merchandise shop inside the gate! (Much more variety, and more sizes than what you get in the merch vans outside the ground.)

 

[ashley76]

Thanks guys. Bit stressed about the arrival and getting there but it should be lots of fun.