57
KANGAROOS AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL GAME
Where?
Telstra Dome
740 Bourke Street
Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia
When?
April to November
Significance:
Take your pick for a moniker. They are officially nicknamed the Kangaroos. Unofficially, they are known as the “Shinboners,” a name derived from their butcher shop origins. No matter what you call them, the North Melbourne Football Club is rich with history and influence in Australian rules football and enjoys a loyal following from local fans.
The Kangaroos are part of the Australian Football League (AFL). The AFL ranks at the top of professional sporting leagues in both attendance and television ratings. Six million fans have gone through the gates of various arenas during a regular season with an average attendance of 36,000. This is the second highest of any professional sports league in the world.
Clad in the famed blue and white, the Kangaroos embrace their club’s motto of Victoria Amat Curan, Latin for “Victory Means Dedication.” They have had their share of victories and setbacks, but their dedication is never in question. Their origin dates back to 1869 when local cricketers were clamoring for a competitive sport to keep them occupied during the winter months. While not its founder, James Henry Gardiner had a hand in those important early years—around fifty to be exact—of Australian rules football.
Today, the Kangaroos claim two home stadiums, the Telstra Dome and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, Telstra is the more common place to see a Kangaroo game. The arena has since been immortalized in the movie Ghost Rider, although a logo for SoBe Dome was digitized over Telstra.
Who attends?
North Melbourne Australian rules football fans who know every word to “Join in the Chorus” and can sing it or shout it proudly.
How to get there?
Train: Spencer Street Station is the closest train station to Melbourne Docklands The Bourke Street Pedestrian Bridge winds around to the southern side of Telstra Dome.
Tram: The free City Circle Tram runs through Docklands and along the waterfront on Harbour Esplanade in both directions.
Hours are from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. seven days a week, except for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Daylight savings extends the hours from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Bus: The Fishermans Bend bus 236 travels along Lorimer Street, Docklands.
Taxis: Taxi ranks are located on Harbour Esplanade, Bourke Street, NewQuay, and at the coach terminus at Spencer Street Station. During a North Melbourne game, taxi ranks are provided on LaTrobe Street near the Gate 6 entrance, and Bourke Street near the Spencer Street intersection.
Driving: The main road running along the Melbourne Docklands is Harbour Esplanade that connects to Wurundjeri Way (via Dudley Street and Bourke Street extension) and LaTrobe Street. The Westgate Freeway connects to Docklands via the off ramp to Lorimer Street. CityLink’s western section connects to Docklands via Footscray Road.
Tickets:
For secondary ticket access, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.
2345 Waukegan Road, Suite 140
Bannockburn, IL 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
E-mail: sales@gotickets.com
www.gotickets.comAccommodations:
Crowne Plaza Melbourne
1-5 Spencer Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9648 2777
Fax: +61 3 9629 5631
Reservations: 1-877-227-6963
www.ichotelsgroup.comNote: A short walk to enjoy Australian rules football at the Telstra Dome.
Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne
630 Little Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9622 8888
Fax: +61 3 9622 8888
www.vibehotels.com.auNote: At the corner of Spencer and Little Collins streets, this modern hotel has an art deco style. The service is friendly and the hotel rooms are considered very stylish.
Clarion Suites Gateway
Note: Luxury and hospitality await guests at the corner of William and Flinders Street. Perfect for both leisure and business travelers.
Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens
380 William Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9322 8000
Fax: +61 3 9322 8888
www.radisson.comNote: Near many major landmarks, including the Flagstaff Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and, of course, the Telstra Dome.
On-Site Hospitality:
The Telstra Dome boasts sixty-six superbly appointed suites. Whether you are entertaining friends or clients, the electric atmosphere of an Australian rules football game will impress them. Each suite has twelve to sixteen seats.
Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event.
Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests@tseworld.com
www.tseworld.comwww.pcevents.com
Premiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales@sportstravel.com
www.sportstravel.com
Dining:
Bellissimo Cucina & Trattoria
427 Docklands Drive
Waterfront City, Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia
Note: Traditional Italian cuisine includes many pasta, meat, and seafood options. Bellissimo also has a wide range of wine, spirits, and beer.
Steakhouse
Pier 35 Marina, 263-329 Lorimer Street Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia Phone
: +61 3 9646 0606
www.steakhouse.net.auNote: Featuring prime quality Certified Australian Beef, including Angus and Wagyu steaks cooked over a flame right before your eyes. A large seafood and vegetarian menu is available as well.
The Lounge Room
28 NewQuay Promenade
Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia
Phone: 03 9600 0565
Note: The lounge-bar restaurant provides a great view of the city and waterfront access. Stop in to sample modern Australian cuisine or just get together with friends for drinks.
Mecca Bah
55A NewQuay Promenade
Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia
Phone: +613 9642 1300
Fax: +613 9642 1299
www.meccabah.comNote: Moroccan and Middle Eastern style await you with a menu that features minced lamb and Lebanese sausages.
Airport:
Melbourne Airport
Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:
Best way to watch the action:
The Medallion Club is the place to go to get the best seats in the Telstra Dome. Membership will get you into the finest restaurants and bars, which allow you to enjoy Australian rules football in a unique and exclusive way.
Best place to get up close:
If you truly want to get up close and personal and ensconce yourself in Australian rules football, learn “Join in the Chorus,” the official anthem of the Kangaroos. You can sing it or shout along with the crowd. Mind you, it is no “Tie Me Kangaroo Down.”
Best travel tip:
Parking underground seems like a good idea when you get there. However, trying to leave is another story altogether after the game is over. You’ll have to kill time with several rounds of “Join in the Chorus.”
Notable Quotes:
“. . . Australian football still has a charm, a depth of feeling, that is lost when sport simply becomes a function of the entertainment industry, when players become performers employed by a franchise known to their fans through staged media events, when supporters become customers who go to a game as they might otherwise go to the cinema, except they barrack for one side.”—Martin Flanagan,
www.theage.com.au“Our game will never lose its lustre as a spectacle for the simple reason that it is spectacular. Over the past century, a variety of visitors to Australia, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, and C. B. Fry, the gifted amateur who represented England at three sports, have attested to its wonder as sport.”—Martin Flanagan
Relevant Websites: