MCG car park to close for major sporting events
Cars will be blocked from parking at major sporting events at the MCG in an effort to strengthen security against vehicular terror attacks.
Yarra Park will be closed for marquee matches, including the Richmond-Carlton AFL season opener next week.
Fans will not be able to park outside the MCG for major fixtures.
Photo: Paul RovereThe move, aimed at keeping fans away from cars, comes in the wake of terror attacks overseas where vehicles have plowed into crowds.
Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive officer Stuart Fox acknowledged in a statement that the changes would inconvenience "a small number" of fans but said the focus was on ensuring a safe environment for punters.
“Ongoing events both around the world and closer to home clearly demonstrate that we need to minimise the risk of interactions between vehicles and pedestrians, especially in crowded places such as outside the MCG,” he said.
Footy fans have taken to social media to express their discontent with the changes, many concerned about the reliability of public transport.
"It seems I shall get home at 2 or even 3 am now," said James Walshe in a comment on the MCG's Facebook page.
Other's were concerned about the stadium's accessibility.
"Makes it very difficult for my 92-year-old dad to come. He can no longer walk from the station," commented Jennifer Glanville.
The ban was first implemented for the 2017-18 Boxing Day Ashes Test, and will continue throughout the AFL season. Matches including the Essendon-Collingwood Anzac Day blockbuster, Queen's Birthday and Dreamtime at the 'G will see Yarra Park closed.
Other games, "subject to weather and the condition of the park", will see an 80-metre "exclusion zone" introduced around the stadium, reducing capacity by a third - to approximately 2000 cars.
MORE TO COME