The AFL has partnered with The Walt Disney Company Australia to rename Etihad Stadium as Marvel Stadium. The name change will take effect from September this year in a deal that stands for the next eight years.
The name change will also include a Marvel store and several entertainment areas. "Marvel is a powerhouse in the entertainment industry and one of the most recognised brand names in the world. It is a brand dedicated to audience experiences, which firmly aligns with our vision to create incredible experiences for fans," Melbourne Stadiums Limited CEO Michael Green said. "This partnership will allow us to take the stadium atmosphere to the next level and create memorable experiences for a vast array of audiences and we look forward to delivering a truly game-changing experience." Etihad Stadium was first opened in 2000 as Colonial Stadium. In March of that year, the first AFL game was played between Essendon and Port Adelaide, where Essendon won by 94 points. In 2002, the stadium was renamed the Telstra Dome until 2009, when it was renamed Etihad Stadium. The announcement today follows the massive deal between the Victorian Government and the AFL that will see $225 million invested into renovating the stadium and the surrounding Docklands area.
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Two incidents have emerged from the round 9 clash between St Kilda and Collingwood, after rival fans were filmed violently brawling at Etihad Stadium.
The first incident allegedly occurred on level 1 of the stadium between rival fans, before the more violent incident occurred at the EJ Whitten Legends Bar. Channel Nine showed the footage which was posted on social media platform Snapchat, and was later shared on other social media platforms. Police are working with the AFL to investigate the incidents. It is believed the incident at the EJ Whitten Legends Bar was started over comments made about the 2010 Grand Final. A witness to the incident told Channel Nine that the brawl occurred during the first half, when St Kilda were playing well, and a Collingwood supporter said, "Pity you didn't do that in 2010". In the footage posted on social media, it shows at least half a dozen people throwing punches and glasses in the bar, which overlooks the ground from behind the goals on the Coventry end. Several people involved were told to leave the stadium. During this season alone, there have been several incidents of crowd violence. These include a scuffle on the Anzac Day match between Collingwood and Essendon, and a brawl at the round 5 match between Port Adelaide and Geelong at Adelaide Oval. The investigation of the brawl is ongoing. Former Geelong premiership coach and Essendon great Mark "Bomber" Thompson has been arrested and charged in relation to seven drug offences.
The news comes after Thompson's home in Port Melbourne was raided back in January. The 54-year-old said that the police raid was in relation to a 28-year-old flatmate, Thomas Windsor, who had faced court in Geelong on Monday. Thompson has appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court this afternoon. The charges include two counts of trafficking ecstasy, one count of trafficking methamphetamine, one count of possession of both ecstasy and methamphetamine, and other counts which include possession of LSD and possession of a prescription drug without a prescription. Thompson has applied for bail, despite police arguing against due to the 54-year-old having a large sum of money which he may use to try and leave the country. The court has allowed bail due to Thompson's possible commitments with the AFL and media. Thompson was the captain of Essendon when the club won the premiership in 1993. The club will celebrate 25 years after the premiership with a team reunion on the 10th of May, where former teammates of Thompson hope to see him there. He also coached Geelong from 2000-2010, where the Cats won their first premiership in 43 years in 2007. The Cats then won another premiership in 2009 under Thompson. He then became senior assistant coach to James Hird. When Hird sat out the 2014 season due to the supplements saga, Thompson managed to take Essendon to the finals. More news to come. The AFL is expected to secure a deal by Friday that will make the MCG the home of the Grand Final until at least 2057. The deal will also see improvements to Etihad Stadium, along with financial assistance to grow women's football and grassroots football.
The massive deal between the Daniel Andrews government and the AFL, which is expected to total at least $500 million, will include improvements to state-league and women's football grounds which include:
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has promised interstate clubs, should they make the Grand Final, will receive a charter flight to Melbourne. Interstate clubs will also have access to the MCG as a training ground for home and away games and finals games. The MCG's Great Southern Stand will receive an upgrade to ensure that the ground's capacity will stay above 100,000. Etihad Stadium will receive a $225 million investment to improve the stadium and the surrounding Docklands precinct. Daniel Andrews is expected to make an announcement regarding the $500 million deal on Friday. Essendon defender Conor McKenna was suspended for three matches last night after he plead guilty to biting Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson, during the second quarter of their round 3 clash at Etihad Stadium.
Match review officer Michael Christian accessed the incident and charged McKenna with serious misconduct, which is a charge that it referred directly to the Tribunal. The incident occurred when McKenna had possession of the ball, but was tackled over the boundary line by Dickson. In the heat of the moment, McKenna bit Dickson's neck while on top of him. Footage was captured from the match following the incident, showing a red mark on Dickson's neck. The hearing at the Tribunal took almost 90 minutes, where most of the hearing consisted of deciding on the punishment for the Irishman. McKenna's legal representative, Adrian Anderson, who was the former football operations manager for the AFL, argued that a two-match sanction would be appropriate. Anderson referred to the biting incident between West Coast's Chris Masten and Fremantle's Nick Suban in 2015, where Masten received a two-match suspension. Suban, who was bitten on his left forearm, had to take antibiotics for almost a week because the bite pierced the skin. Tribunal chairman David Jones argued against Anderson's view, stating that the bite was on Dickson's neck, which brings a higher risk of infection. Jones believed that a sanction between two and four weeks would be more appropriate. Two people were contacted to give character references for the Bombers defender. The first was former Sydney Swans player Tadhg Kennelly, who stated that McKenna "plays the game in the right way". Vic Metro coach Marty Allison, whom McKenna lived with when he first came to Australia, was also contacted to give a reference but was unable to be contacted. Jones, alongside Tribunal jury members Stewart Loewe, Michael Jamison and Wayne Henwood, handed down a three-match suspension. McKenna briefly spoke to reporters after the hearing, sounding remorseful for his actions. "I take responsibility for my actions. I'm very sorry for what I've done and am looking forward to moving on and getting on with the season," McKenna said. The defender will miss upcoming matches against Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Melbourne. |
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