Melbourne cricket ground, affectionately known as the MCG, has a seating capacity of more than 100,000. Normally, domestic and international cricket games are played in this stadium as well as Australian Rules football. However, other sporting events such as Rugby Union, Rugby League and Soccer games are occasionally played here. Several special MCG events like concerts are staged here when the stadium is free of sporting events. Musicians like David Cassidy in 1974, David Bowie in 1978, U2, Paul McCartney and Madonna in 1993, the Rolling Stones in 1995, Michael Jackson in 1996, and Billy Joel and Elton John in 1998 held concerts at Melbourne cricket ground.

Dating back to 1853 when the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) selected the site as the location for the Melbourne Cricket Ground through to February 2006 the MCG has gone through regular renovations and redevelopments to keep it up to date with modern technologies and structural enhancements. The very first cricket match was played at the MCG on September 30, 1854 and since then the ground has been host to regular cricket matches featuring teams from around Australia and worldwide. Hen talking of Cricket and the MCG there is one name that is as iconic as the stadium itself, Sir Donald Bradman and in keeping with all good Australian abbreviations he is often referred to as ‘The Don’. Sir Donald Bradman played eleven test matches at the MCG and made centuries in nine of them.

Significant redevelopments of the MCG were undertaken for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Many of the athletic and other sporting events for the 1956 Olympics were held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Some 40 years later the MCG also hosted the 2006 Commonwealth Games. One the opening day of the 1956 Olympic Games crowds of 103,000 people visited the MCG arena. The MCG is the sporting centre of Victoria and has also hosted, and in some cases still hosts, events such as the 1992 Cricket World Cup Final, Annual AFL Grand Finals, Rugby Union Bledisloe Cup and the FIFA World Cup (soccer) Qualifiers. On January 30th, 2009 the Melbourne Cricket Ground was proclaimed one of the world’s seven sporting wonders. Australian Rules football games are played here during the winter months and culminate at the end of September each year with the Grand Final, a single match that all but stops the State of Victoria.

Located with a short distance to the city of Melbourne there are also several hotels and other accommodations near to the MCG many of them within easy walking distance. The comfortable Flag Choice Hotel and Metro Inns are less that one kilometre away on Jolimont Road and for people looking for Five Star accommodation the Hilton Hotel on the Park, Park Hyatt Melbourne and the Royal Hotel all good choices for hotels near the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It should be noted that accommodation near the MCG is often only available at inflated prices during major events. People with limited budgets should consider the budget hotels and backpacker hostels within the city of Melbourne for their MCG accommodation.

The Grand Mercure, Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne, Swanston Hotel, and Mercure Melbourne all offer a selection of mid range accommodation with tariffs beginning from $135. Other mid-range and affordable accommodation near the MCG is available at Oaks on Market, Knightsbridge Apartments, Treasury City Edge Service Apartments Eastern Town House, and City Edge Serviced Apartments. Self contained apartments and serviced accommodation near the MCG with cooking facilities include Albert Heights Executive Apartments and Birches Serviced Apartments. There is plenty of accommodation and hotels available near the MCG it is recommended to book you room months beforehand if you are planning on attending a particular event as accommodation near the MCG at these times sells out quickly.