Why Melbourne Is the Sports Capital of the World

This is a post from PRISM’s Social Army – regular briefings on topics aligned to our business or close to our hearts. Today’s entry is from Andrew Philpott from PRISM’s Melbourne office. 

They love to talk about how Melbourne is the world’s most liveable city. Hmmmmm – I’m not sure about that. An appalling airport and ageing public transport system and road network makes life difficult for those who want to travel. And there lies the rub. Many thousands do want to travel here because Melbourne is the sports capital of the world. And here’s why…

First, it plays host to many international events, those that resonate throughout the world – think the Australian Grand Prix, located in a park close to the CBD; the Australian Open, one of the world’s leading grand slam tournaments; then we have (V8) Supercars, with three rounds in Victoria; and Moto GP and World Superbikes at Phillip Island, although this is a 140km trek.

2015 saw both the ICC Cricket World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup hosted in the city. In 2016 we had the Internationals Champions Cup, which saw Atletico Madrid, Juventus and the mighty Tottenham Hotspur travel Down Under, while the World Cup of Golf has just been played here, and this year we will see the arrival of the Presidents Cup. Add in AFL, with 9 clubs in close proximity to the city, the Melbourne Cup, (itself a public holiday in Victoria), which is the richest ‘two-mile’ handicap race in the world with a purse of $6.2m, plus rugby league and union rugby and it all adds up. Oh, and the city hosted the Olympics in 1956, and the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

As for venues, Melbourne has the MCG (cricket), which is the 10^th-largest stadium in the world, and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Then there’s Etihad Stadium (AFL), AAMI Park (football/soccer) and Melbourne Park (tennis). All are within walking distance of the city centre – and where else in the world can you say that?

It truly is a city of sport.  And it’s mega!

Andrew Philpott 

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