Docklands Stadium

The Docklands Stadium known now as Etihad Stadium an formerly known as Colonial Stadium and the Telstra Dome. The Docklands Stadium was origanly built for the purpose of taking over Waverly Park, which it succeeded in doing, but like Waverley Park the ground designed for football holds other events such as soccer and the inter-rules after the conclusion of the premiership season.



Constuction

the Docklands Stadium was anouced on the 31st of october 1996 as a replacment for Waverly Park in 1997 construction started and the stadium of the future was underway.

Opening Night

Construction was finaly completed by 2000 and the first match in the Docklands Stadium was played by Essendon the eventual premiers of 2000 and port adelaid. Essendon ended up victorious by 94 points in front of a crowd of 43,012

Problems

At times this venue has been suggested as a redeveloped Princes Park Football Ground or a rival stadium in the Docklands area, this matter caused the AFL to launch an investigation.

the Docklands Stadium has endured criticism over the quality and suitability of its playing surface, in particular for AFL requirements. It has been criticised by players and coaches for its slipperiness, hardness and lack of grass coverage. The turf has required regular expensive replacement since its inception due to a lack of sunlight inside the stadium.

During the 2010 Victorian storms the external roof (not the main retractable roof) caved in, causing damage and flooding in one of the stadium's entertainment precincts.

Home Teams

The Docklands Stadium is officially home ground to five AFL teams. The Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Essendon, St Kilda and North Melbourne use the stadium as their primary home ground. Collingwood and Richmond, also play home games there, but their official home ground is the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Geelong also use it for a number of home games, but the club's home ground is Skilled Stadium in Geelong.