Melbourne: The Sporting Capital of the World
It’s safe to say Melbourne is home to some of the most famous annual sporting events.
Spectators fly from all over the world to Victoria, to catch a glimpse of their favourite sports in action.
Australian Football League
Aussie Football League (AFL, or ‘footy’, or ‘soccer’) takes over the whole city when it’s on! The AFL season runs from March – September, and it attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
AFL and AFLW provide the perfect opportunity for fans to spectate both the rising stars of football and the pros.
Tennis: The Australian Open
The Australian Open Grand Slam is held annually at Melbourne Park. Get wrapped up in the festive atmosphere with this summer sports highlight.
It is the first of the four huge tennis competitions of the year. These are The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. The tournament runs for two weeks every January. The general public can buy day passes that allow a spectator seat.
Cricket: The Ashes
The Cricket Test matches happen every summer at the Richmond MCG. They showcase men’s and women’s Test cricket, Twenty-20 and One Day Internationals.
In particular, cricket peaks on Boxing Day. The Boxing Day Cricket Match is an internationally recognised sporting event. The summer also sees some One Day International Matches. These matches host some of the biggest global teams who go head-to-head with one another.
Motorsport: Formula One
The Grand Prix in Melbourne is one of the most famous sporting events in the world. Formula One is the most internationally recognised event in motorsport, and it happens right here in Australia!
Each year, 44,000 fans are seated at Albert Park racetrack, which has been holding the Grand Prix since 1996.
Surfing
Head a little bit out of Melbourne, and you’ve got some of the most famous surfing events in the world. The South Victoria coast is a surf hub for pro events.
Bass Coast offers a great location for surfers – there are competitors from all over the world who compete here.
Philip Island’s Pro Qualifying Series of surfing happens annually at Cape Woolamai.
Or of course, there’s Bells Beach where the Rip Curl annual surf competitions are held. Bells Beach has one of the longest rides in the world!
