Stadium Precinct

Overview

Stadium Precinct was one the first areas developed in Docklands, with the opening of the Docklands Stadium in March 2000. The Stadium was originally known as Colonial Stadium, with the name Marvel Stadium coming into effect in 2018.

The precinct is home to National Australia Bank, the Australian Football League and also encompasses Harbour Esplanade.

Key developments within the Stadium Precinct include:

Marvel Stadium - 52,000 seat capacity (in Aussie Rules configuration) and a retractable roof for all-weather sports and entertainment
Home to the Australian Football League’s (AFL) national headquarters located on Harbour Esplanade, to the west of the Stadium
HOME Docklands, 676 residential apartments at 687 and 689 La Trobe Street (north of the Stadium)
The Village@NAB – National Australia’s Bank second building in Docklands (south-east Stadium Precinct)
A Mantra Peppers hotel (north-east Stadium Precinct)
Lacrosse, a 22-level, 270 apartment residential tower at 675 La Trobe Street (north-east Stadium Precinct)
Victoria Point mixed-use development including residential tower, commercial tower (with Bendigo Bank as the major commercial tenant), hotel and associated retail (south-west Stadium Precinct)

Marvel Stadium Redevelopment

In 2018, the Victorian State Government announced funding of $225 million towards the Marvel Stadium redevelopment to ensure its future as a world-class sporting and entertainment venue.

The redevelopment project was led by the AFL and Development Victoria, along with Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Unveiled in March 2024, the refurbished Marvel Stadium heralds a new era of sport and arts entertainment for the Stadium and Docklands.

The redevelopment has also improved the fan experience at Marvel Stadium and includes new food and beverage, improved public spaces, restaurants and bars and meeting spaces.

The transformation positions Marvel Stadium as a world-class venue which is set to host a packed calendar of events all year round. It also adds an incredible new experience for Docklands, including better links between the CBD and Docklands.

Development Victoria and AFL Joint Venture

Development Victoria and the Australian National Football League (AFL) have entered into a Joint Venture agreement to explore redevelopment opportunities at two prominent Docklands sites on Harbour Esplanade.

The Joint Venture agreement for 140 and 160 Harbour Esplanade creates a major new development opportunity to deliver a range of potential future uses such as housing, commercial and entertainment.

Development Victoria and the AFL are now exploring opportunities to transform the Docklands waterfront and Stadium precinct into a premier destination, bringing new life, activity and jobs to the area.

Currently home to Marvel Stadium, AFL House, and the former Channel 7 broadcast centre, the redevelopment has the potential to deliver a diverse mix of housing, commercial spaces, hospitality venues, and entertainment options and bring thousands of jobs into the vibrant waterfront precinct.

Future designs will be subject to planning approvals, with the aim of unlocking high-quality urban outcomes that support Docklands’ continued growth as a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood.

An Expression of Interest process to find an experienced developer for the project has now commenced and will be open until 5pm Friday 5 December 2025, followed by a Request for Proposal for shortlisted developers. The EOI can be found on the Buying for Victoria website.

Location

Stadium Precinct acts as the fulcrum of the broader Docklands Precinct, bound by the rail yards and Spencer Street to the east, the waterfront of Harbor Esplanade and Victoria Harbour to the west, La Trobe Street to the North and Bourke Street to the south.

Timeline

1996–1999

1996

The Premier of Victoria endorses a new world class, high technology multi-sports and entertainment stadium for Docklands as a replacement for Waverly Park and new AFL headquarters
Expressions of interested invited for its construction

1997

Docklands Stadium Consortium (Baulderstone Hornibrook, KPMG, Merrill Lynch, Westpac, Channel Seven, News Limited/HWT) announced as winning bidder and construction commences

1999

Melbourne Docklands’ Urban Art program is underway with the announcement of public art commissions for the Stadium with 'Vox Lumiere and Threaded Field'

2000–2005

2000

Colonial State Bank purchase the naming rights for 10 years
Colonial Stadium opens on 9 March and hosts 56 events and over 1.7 million people in its first year
La Trobe Street bridge and Bourke Street pedestrian bridge open in-line with the Stadium opening
The Australian Football League’s (AFL) new headquarters at the Stadium are completed and occupied by the AFL and Docklands Authority

2001

Seven Network’s new state of the art Digital Broadcast Centre on the north-west corner of the Stadium Precinct is completed and digital broadcasting begins

2002

Colonial Stadium renamed as Telstra Dome after the naming rights were sold to Telstra for approximately $50 million

2003

Network Seven assign rights for Stage 2 (699 La Trobe Street) of the north-west Stadium Precinct to Pacific Harbour Developments Pty Ltd
Development to be known as 360 Degrees

2005

Devine’s Victoria Point mixed-use development including residential tower, commercial tower (Bendigo Bank major commercial tenant) hotel and associated retail, on south-west corner of the Stadium Precinct is completed

2006–2010

2006

Acquisition of Telstra Dome by James Fielding Infrastructure from Docklands Stadium Consortium (Baulderstone Hornibrook, KPMG Corporate Finance (Vic), International Sports Facilities Management and Clifton Project Management & Associates)

2008

VicUrban enter into a Precinct Development Agreement with 675 LaTrobe Street Pty Ltd to develop Lacrosse Docklands, a $300 million mixed-use development on the north-east Stadium Precinct
Bourke Junction consortium (ISPT, Cbus Property and EPC Partners) awarded the contract to develop the south-east Stadium Precinct, with a $700 million mixed-use project to be known as Bourke Junction
Pacific Harbour Developments Pty Ltd assign development rights for Stage 2 of the North-West Stadium Precinct (known as 360 Degrees at 699 La Trobe Street) to Salta Properties Docklands P/L

2009

On 1 March 2009, the naming rights of Telstra Dome are transferred to Etihad Airways and the venue officially becomes known as Etihad Stadium

2010

North-east Stadium Precinct is split into two stages: Stage 1 – 675 La Trobe Street (Lacrosse) and Stage 2 now known as 677 La Trobe Street
Charter Hall Group and PanUrban acquire the rights to develop Stage 1 of Lacrosse Docklands, a residential tower at 675 La Trobe Street in the north-east Stadium Precinct
Medibank announces its new head office at 720 Bourke Street (adjacent to the Stadium) and construction commences
Lacrosse Stage 1, a 22-level, 270 apartment residential development in the north-east Stadium Precinct is completed
Flagship (La Trobe) Pty Ltd acquires the development rights for Stage 3 at 685 La Trobe Street of the north-west Stadium Precinct

2011–2015

2011

The Village at NAB, National Australia Bank’s second office complex in Docklands, commences construction at 700 Bourke Street (south-east Stadium Precinct)

2013

Capital Alliance Docklands Pty Ltd and Lacrosse Stage 2 Pty Ltd Development acquire the development rights for Stage 2 at 677 La Trobe Street of the north-east Stadium Precinct for a 19-level building mixed use development, to be known as ‘MDocklands’

2015

Australia Xing Six Holding Pty Ltd (AXS) acquire the development rights for 685 La Trobe Street (Stage 3) from Flagship (La Trobe) Pty Ltd in the North-West Stadium Precinct

2016–2020

2016

Construction is completed on the 19-level MDocklands mixed-use development at 677 La Trobe Street in the north-east Stadium Precinct
MDocklands features a 5-star Mantra 'Peppers' hotel on Levels 2 to 5 (87 guest suites), 186 private apartments over the remaining floors, 11 ground floor retail apartments and 168 car parking spaces
The AFL takes over the ownership and management of the Stadium

2018

The Stadium celebrated its 18th birthday, whilst also welcoming over two million patrons through the turnstiles, including the Stadium’s 40-millionth visitor
The State Government and Tourism Research Australia announced that Docklands and the Stadium were Melbourne’s 7th top attraction for overnight and day trip visitors
The Victorian State Government funded $225 million towards the upgrade of the Stadium so it can continue to attract world-class sporting and entertainment events to ensure Victoria maintains its reputation as the sporting capital of Australia
The Stadium is renamed for a fourth time to Marvel Stadium

2019

In June 2019, the Stadium wins Global Venue of the Year at the Stadium Business Awards — the first time an Australian venue has been named Venue of the Year