Music
Etihad Stadium was the place to be in 2015
It has long been said that Etihad Stadium is one of the busiest stadiums in the world, and looking back on their 2015 event schedule it is pretty easy to believe.
In 2015, Etihad Stadium had a jam-packed event schedule, which is in no way out of character for the 50,000-plus capacity venue. But what was different last year was the incredible variety of events that took place under the retractable roof. 
Etihad Stadium has developed a reputation for attracting diverse events over the past few years. 2015 was a case in point for the venue, hosting a record-breaking UFC event, an indoor FIM Speedway Grand Prix and the Darts Invitational Challenge on top of their regular staple of AFL and A-League matches, Big Bash League Twenty20 cricket and huge rock and pop concerts.
The versatility of the venue – which has the largest retractable roof in the southern hemisphere, retractable seating on Level 1 and an elaborate curtaining system to create a smaller, more intimate venue within the stadium – allows Etihad Stadium to attract the best events in the world, regardless of genre.
The stadium is best-known for its sport, particularly AFL, and has five tenant clubs that play home matches at the ground. North Melbourne, Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, Essendon and St Kilda all play home matches at Etihad Stadium and in 2015 the venue, clubs and AFL worked hard to provide an exceptional experience for all fans who attended matches.
From Round 1 in 2015, AFL fans at the stadium were treated to a new more technically advanced venue. Etihad Stadium introduced 1500 IPTV high definition screens that show non-stop, relevant material and enable the home clubs to theme the event to give it a real ‘home ground’ feel. On top of that, fast and free Wi-Fi was available to all patrons. 
Etihad Stadium also introduced Sunday Funday, which included food and beverage discounts, kick-to-kick on the arena, free entry for children and complimentary half-time treats for kids. The initiatives were a huge hit with fans as was the venue’s decision to install 10 chilled water stations throughout the stadium.
In terms of atmosphere, it is hard to beat the A-League’s Melbourne Derby – particularly when it is hosted at Etihad Stadium in front of 40,000-plus ardent supporters. But the two sides took their rivalry to a new level in 2015 with Melbourne Victory playing Melbourne City in a semi-final in front of more than 50,000 patrons.
Victory took the points in that game and went on to win the championship, premiership (top of the ladder at the end of the season) and the FFA Cup Final.
Etihad Stadium is also home to Big Bash League team, the Melbourne Renegades. Their matches are always full of excitement and it is the only venue in Australia that can guarantee play due to the closable roof.
But it isn’t just cricket matches the roof has saved in 2015. The Foo Fighters were scheduled to play at Etihad Stadium in February 2015 when an enormous storm hit Melbourne. The band and patrons were blissfully unaware of the disastrous conditions outside, which would likely have seen the concert interrupted or even cancelled without the ability to close the roof. More than 57,000 fans were in attendance to see the Foo Fighters; a massive band on a massive stage in front of a massive crowd! 
The venue also welcomed more than 50,000 screaming patrons in early 2015 when One Direction dropped by to perform for their adoring fans. At the other end of the musical spectrum, more than 100,000 rock addicts saw AC/DC perform two concerts in December.
But perhaps the event that had the most eyeballs – both in attendance and on television – was UFC 193, which broke records for attendance and gate takings and resulted in the ‘unbeatable’ Ronda Rousey losing her title to Holly Holm.
UFC 193 was hugely popular with more than 50,000 people in attendance and in excess of 1 million pay-per-view subscriptions. Rousey’s shock loss to Holm was an international talking point and it all happened in the centre of the Etihad Stadium arena.
The event was a remarkable success and again highlighted the venue’s ability to stage enormous events of international significance.
But the stadium’s dedication to pushing the envelope is perhaps best demonstrated by its hosting of the 2015 FIM Australian Speedway Grand Prix, which required Etihad Stadium to build a dirt motorcycle track on top of the playing surface.
The arena, which is normally reserved for football, soccer and cricket players, was completely transformed to host the world’s best athletes on two wheels. So successful was the event that tickets for the 2016 Grand Prix are already on sale. 
It seems 2016 will follow a similar vein to 2015 for Etihad Stadium. As well as Speedway, AFL, A-League and Big Bash League cricket already scheduled, the venue will host five performances of Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo across three days.
It will be the first time the Tattoo has been performed in Melbourne and the demand has been phenomenal. Once again, Etihad Stadium is proving its ability to bring the greatest and most popular events in the world to Melbourne and provide experiences that people love.
Ticketmaster is very proud to have been a partner of Etihad Stadium since the venue opened in 2000 and we look forward to seeing what adventures await the stadium in 2016 and beyond!
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