Marvel Stadium

Docklands Stadium, also currently known by naming rights sponsorship as Marvel Stadium, is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Docklands area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Construction started in October 1997 and was completed in 2000 at a cost of A$460 million. The stadium features a retractable roof and the ground level seating can be converted from oval to rectangular configuration.The stadium is primarily used for Australian rules football and was originally built as

The precinct is also headquarters for the Seven Network's digital broadcast centre and National Australia Bank.

The stadium has never operated under the name 'Docklands Stadium', having been covered by naming rights deals throughout its entire operating history. When it opened, the Colonial State Bank paid $32.5 million for 10 years of naming rights, and the stadium opened as Colonial Stadium; the same year, Commonwealth Bank took over the Colonial State Bank and began to discontinue the brand; Commonwealth then sold the balance of the naming rights contract to Telstra for about $50 million, and the stadium's name was changed to Telstra Dome on 1 October 2002. During this time it was colloquially referred to as "The Dome" – a colloquialism used actively by clubs which were sponsored by rival telecommunications companies (such as Essendon with 3 and Carlton with Optus). On 1 March 2009, the naming rights transferred to Etihad Airways, and the venue became known as Etihad Stadium under a five-year deal, which was later extended to ten years, at a cost estimated at between $5–$8 million per year. This once again caused problems as the AFL would not initially recognise the new name due to its deal with rival airline Qantas; the league recognised the new name only after further negotiation between the two parties. In September 2018, the stadium was renamed Marvel Stadium after the stadium operators negotiated an eight-year deal with the Walt Disney Company (the parent company of Marvel Entertainment) to change the naming rights and install a Marvel retail store at the venue.

Oval shaped, turf playing surface of 19,053 square metres (205,080 sq ft) or 170 by 140 m (560 by 460 ft) Retractable roof 38 metres (125 ft) above the playing surface, opens east–west, and takes eight minutes to fully open or close. Movable seating (4 sections of the lower tier can move 18 metres forward to give a rectangular configuration) Two large internal video screens, one behind each goal (installed 2022); and two smaller internal video screens on opposite flanks of the field (original construction) – displaying scores, video replays and advertisements. 1000 video seats 13 function rooms 66 corporate boxes Premium Club membership area, The Medallion Club 500 car parking spaces below the ground Over 700 2000-watt lights for arena illumination A varying capacity of between 12,000 and 74,000, depending on the event. For example, seats can be laid on the ground. An AFL capacity of 53,359 Dimensions of playing area are 159.5 metres by 128.5 metres (174.4 yards by 140.5 yards)The ends of the ground, where the AFL goal posts are located, are named after the two leading goalkickers in VFL/AFL history: the northern end is the Lockett End, after Tony Lockett; and the southern end is the Coventry End after Gordon Coventry. Some clubs informally use alternative names during their home games in place of those to honour their own histories.

Docklands Stadium is serviced primarily by trains at Southern Cross Station, which is located on the City Loop and is serviced by all major metropolitan and country train and coach lines. The stadium is located on a public pedestrian concourse adjoining the northern end of the station. The stadium is also serviced by several tram routes:

On Harbour Esplanade: Route 70, Route 75 and City Circle On La Trobe St: Route 86, Route 30 and City CircleThe stadium also has a 500 vehicle carpark underneath the field which is accessible by the public for event days.

The venue appeared in the 2007 film Ghost Rider. Its name, wherever visible, was digitally changed to the SoBe Dome. It can also be seen in the video for Jessica Mauboy's single "Running Back", as well as some television shows, such as the Seven Network's City Homicide and Network Ten's Rush.