Hard hats and a leaky roof add to opening night jitters for AAMI Park
FOR a stadium that has been compared to the Bird's Nest in Beijing, AAMI Park didn't quite look the part yesterday. On the eve of its official opening, the $267.5 million jewel in the crown of rugby league in Victoria appeared far from the finished article.
A steel fence surrounded the ground. Workmen were still repairing the bitumen surface outside the venue. Inside the ground, more workmen in hard hats were frantically rushing about, putting the final touches on the 30,000- seat venue.
While Premier John Brumby held court adjacent to the playing surface - beating his chest, discussing the Storm's salary cap scandal and proclaiming his state's standing as the sporting capital of the world - workmen in hard hats watched from the stadium roof. The same roof that, according to one report this week, leaks.
It hasn't been the only problem the stadium has encountered. Other reports have suggested the LED lights surrounding the stadium, which allow it to display patterns and images, are not ready. In the bowels of the stadium, the gymnasium is yet to be fitted out with weights. At least the lap pool had water.
Enough of the teething problems, though. AAMI Park represents a giant leap forward for the sport in Melbourne. Olympic Park, the Melbourne Storm's former ground, was an eyesore. In comparison, one official yesterday described AAMI Park as an "architectural wonder" of Victoria. I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
"Melbourne sports fans are used to having the best facilities and now Melbourne Storm fans have the ground that they deserve," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.
"It will be great for the game in Victoria."
Brumby added: "You can reach out and imagine you can almost see and touch the players. The spectator experience I think will be absolutely phenomenal."
There's little doubt about that. The worst seat at AAMI Park is better than the best seat at Olympic Park. In that respect, it bears a remarkable resemblance to Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.
The ground, built in the shadows of the MCG and Melbourne Park tennis centre, will become the Storm's home in more ways than one. The club, still reeling from the salary cap scandal which cost it two premierships and all its points this year, will move its base to the stadium.
At its disposal, along with a lap pool, ice baths and the gymnasium, will be an elite training centre and office space. It even has bike storage facilities, one of the many environmentally friendly measures included in the design.
Tonight's game between Australia and New Zealand has been a sell-out for days. Thousands more are expected to flow through the gates on Sunday when Melbourne hosts Brisbane at the same ground.
Maybe the only people more excited than the Victorian public are the players themselves. There hasn't been a lot for Storm captain Cameron Smith and his teammates to savour of late. That's about to change. This is a moment that the game in this state, and the players at the Storm, have waited years for.
"It's going to be a great match given what's happened over the last couple of years with the Kiwis taking out the World Cup," Smith said.
"There's not much dividing both teams.
"From a player's point of view, all the guys in the Australian camp are really excited about tomorrow night, getting to play in the new stadium, AAMI Park, a purpose-built stadium in Victoria for our game, and sold out as well.
"All the boys are really excited and looking forward to it."
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