No games on the schedule here for the rest of the season. The guide below still holds for the next one.
Where to stay near Melbourne Cricket Ground
Where visiting fans stay
Checked at the source
Siddhardha Bobba, Google Maps
Melbourne CBDVisiting fans pick this
20 min. Walk from Flinders Street Station over William Barak Bridge, or train to Jolimont. Most hotels, laneway coffee and bars, the NFL Shop on Bourke Street and the 49ers fan bar at Federation Square. Flinders Street Station is a 1-mile walk to the MCG.
Lan Hồ, Google Maps
East MelbourneVisiting fans pick this
5-15 min. Walk through Yarra Park or Fitzroy Gardens. Closest beds to the ground, led by the Pullman East Melbourne right across Wellington Parade. Quiet streets and Fitzroy Gardens, but few restaurants.
Mark, Google Maps
Richmond
10 min. Walk from Richmond Station through Yarra Park. Swan Street pubs, the Mountain Goat brewery and the main exit route all point here. Richmond Station sits 0.5 mile from the MCG, and the Precinct Hotel is across the road from it.
Shashank Prasanna, Google Maps
Southbank
30 min. Walk over Princes Bridge and William Barak Bridge, or train from Flinders Street. Crown Melbourne was the official Rams fan hotel and hosted Rams House on Crown Riverwalk in 2026. Riverside bars and big hotels, one river crossing from the CBD.
Around the stadium
From a specialist guide
The MCG sits inside Yarra Park, so there is no bar strip at the gates. The closest drink is the Pullman East Melbourne on Wellington Parade, where hundreds of fans drank before the 2026 game. Swan Street pubs in Richmond sit about half a mile south by Richmond Station, and the CBD is a 20-minute walk. East Melbourne hotels put you a short walk from the gates, but most fans are better off in the CBD.
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to Melbourne Cricket Ground
From Melbourne Tullamarine
Checked at the source
Melbourne Airport (MEL) at Tullamarine. SkyBus Melbourne City Express runs to Southern Cross Station in about 30 minutes, every 10 to 15 minutes, from 4 AM to 1 AM. Take SkyBus from the curb at Terminals 1, 3 or 4 to Southern Cross Station: A$25.90 one way or A$43.40 return online, no booking needed. From Southern Cross, a Hurstbridge or Mernda line train goes to Jolimont, the MCG's own station, or tram 48 to Stop 11.
On game day
Checked at the source
Train to Jolimont, about 5 min. Gate 2, 0.2 mile through Yarra Park. Train to Richmond, about 10 min. Shane Warne Stand, 0.5 mile past Punt Road Oval. Tram 48 or 75, about 5 min. Gate 2 (0.2 mile) or Gate 3 (0.25 mile). Tram 70, about 5 min to Gates 1 to 7 via the footbridges.
Before kickoff at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Before kickoff
Checked at the source
For the 2026 game, Yarra Park became a fenced, ticketholders-only Stadium Campus from 7:00 AM, with American food, beer, the NFL Shop, sponsor stands and live entertainment. Leave it and you cannot come back in. Melbourne Park ran a three-day festival, Sept 10 to 12, 2026, across the rail line from the MCG: flag football, all 60 Super Bowl rings and the Lombardi Trophy, an American food village, a game watch party on a 20-meter screen and the official post-game party. Day tickets were A$49 to A$59; kids 13 and under got in free. The Rams turned Crown Riverwalk in Southbank into a free LA tailgate, Sept 10 to 12: a floating football field on the Yarra, Silverados set up for tailgating, food trucks, a bar, Rampage and the Rams Cheerleaders. Transport Public Bar at Federation Square was the 49ers fan base for the week, free and open daily, with alumni, Sourdough Sam, the Gold Rush and a game-day watch party from 8:30 AM. There is no parking-lot tailgate at the MCG. Car parking is extremely limited on event days, so the pre-game happens in Yarra Park, Richmond pubs and the CBD.
Game day at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Getting in
Checked at the source
Bag policy: NFL clear bag rules: a clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus one small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. No non-clear backpacks, coolers or luggage. Medical items are allowed after inspection.
Bags at other MCG events: Bags must fit under your seat. Larger bags go to the cloakroom at Gate 3.
Re-entry: You can move between the stadium and Yarra Park once inside, but leaving the secured campus ends your day.
Touring the stadium
Checked at the source
A 75-minute guided tour from Gate 3, leaving regularly from 10 AM to 3 PM: the MCC Long Room, player change rooms, the boundary line walk and the media center. A$38, or A$50 with the Australian Sports Museum. Book ahead at tickets.australiansportsmuseum.org.au; tours run only on select event days. Inside Gate 3, covering Australian sport from cricket and footy to the Olympics. A$38 on a normal day. On match days it is open to ticketholders for A$20, bought as a Ticketek add-on or at the Gate 3 counter.
After the final whistle
Checked at the source
Exit paths lead straight through Yarra Park to Richmond Station, and Jolimont Station sits about 0.2 mile north of Gate 2. On game day, trains and trams ran every 2 to 4 minutes, with extra exit routes opened to spread the crowd. Barassi Way stays closed to traffic for 60 minutes after the final whistle so the walk to Richmond is car-free.
One thing to avoid
From a specialist guide
Do not leave the fenced NFL Stadium Campus in Yarra Park once you are in: there is no re-entry. Do not drive; MCG parking is extremely limited on event days, and a full day of trains and trams caps at A$5.70.
Food and drink at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Bars near the stadium
Checked at the source
Transport Hotel, Google Maps
Transport Public Bar
Ground Level, Transport Hotel, Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000
Big riverside pub at Federation Square with some of the city's largest screens. The 49ers branded it inside and out for game week, ran a Faithful takeover the day before and a game-day watch party from 8:30 AM.
Away fans: the 49ers made it their Home of the Faithful in 2026: Niners fans first, but everyone welcome.
The Precinct Hotel, Google Maps
Precinct Hotel
60 Swan Street, Cremorne VIC 3121
Swan Street pub right on the main exit route, built for big sports days. For the 2026 game it opened at 7 AM for an all-day NFL tailgate with American food and post-game entertainment.
Away fans: mixed crowd on the walk between Richmond Station and the ground.
Fargo and Co, Google Maps
Fargo and Co
216 Swan Street, Richmond VIC 3121
A 200-seat, two-level bar in the vaults of a 1907 bank on Swan Street. It ran an NFL watch party with limited tables for the 2026 game.
Away fans: richmond locals and fans after a table close to the ground.
The Duke of Wellington, Google Maps
Duke of Wellington
146 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Melbourne's oldest licensed pub, open since 1853, the same year as the MCG. Screens run through the venue for big games, and the rooftop is open late on weekends.
Away fans: sports crowd heading to the MCG from the city.
Things to do around Melbourne Cricket Ground
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
Eat65 points
Hot jam doughnuts at Queen Victoria Market
American Doughnut Kitchen has fried hot jam doughnuts from its vintage van at the market since 1950, and it ran 49ers-themed doughnuts for game week.
$. The day before
Eat65 points
Espresso at Pellegrini's
Pellegrini's opened in 1954 and was one of the first Melbourne cafes with a real Italian espresso machine, and it still serves under its heritage neon sign.
$. The day before
Tour100 points
MCG tour and Australian Sports Museum
A 75-minute guided tour of the 1853 ground leaves from Gate 3, and the combo ticket with the museum costs A$50.
$$. The day before
Eat50 points
Laneway coffee on Degraves Street
Tables from the Quarter fill cobbled Degraves Street starting at 7 AM, the laneway picture of Melbourne cafe life.
$. The day before
Photo50 points
Hosier Lane street art
Melbourne's best-known street art lane changes overnight and includes Adnate's 23-meter mural.
Free. The day before
Photo40 points
AC/DC Lane
Named for the band, this lane is covered in music murals, including Mike Makatron's 3D sculpture of Bon Scott.
Free. The day before
Landmark50 points
Cooks' Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens
Built in Yorkshire in 1755 by Captain James Cook's parents, the cottage was shipped brick by brick to Melbourne in 1934.
$. The day before
Landmark40 points
Meet under the clocks at Flinders Street
"Meet you under the clocks" means the row of departure clocks over Flinders Street Station's main entrance, Melbourne's classic meeting spot.
Free. 2 hours 30 minutes before kickoff
Ritual50 points
Walk William Barak Bridge to the 'G
The 525-meter footbridge carries fans from Birrarung Marr over the rail yards straight to the MCG.
Free. 2 hours before kickoff
Photo40 points
Shane Warne statue at Gate 2
The bronze of the leg-spin great outside Gate 2 has been the MCG's go-to meeting point and selfie stop since 2011.
Free. 1 hour 30 minutes before kickoff
Drink65 points
Post-game pint at Mountain Goat
Mountain Goat has brewed in a red brick Richmond warehouse on North Street since 2004, and it charged A$20 for two pints at its 2026 NFL watch party.
$$. 5 hours after kickoff
Seats and views at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Where each part of the stadium sits, and what you see from it.
Level 1M1 to M57Level 2N sections, such as N13, N23 and N29Level 2A in the Shane Warne Stand, Level 3 in the Members' ReserveP sections, only in the Shane Warne Stand and the Members' ReserveLevel 4Q sections, such as Q5 to Q57Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.
