Australia
Australia does not have an official national stadium, yet its two biggest stadiums alternate hosting large events are the following:
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (Australian rules football, cricket, and major soccer events)—often seen as the de facto national stadium due to historical links as well as being the current largest in Australia.
- Stadium Australia, currently known under a sponsorship deal as 'ANZ Stadium', the 2000 Sydney Olympic Stadium (Rugby League, Rugby Union, football (soccer) and occasional Australian rules football). There exists a popular rivalry between ANZ Stadium and the MCG due to lasting rivalries between football codes and the respective cities. There was an implied claim to being the new national stadium when it opened in 1999 with the name 'Stadium Australia'. Cricket is also played at the venue with the New South Wales Blues Cricket team playing at the venue in the past and the venue being the home ground for new Big Bash League team Sydney Thunder. The Australian national cricket team will also play their first game at the venue in 2012.
Read more about this topic: National Stadium
Famous quotes containing the word australia:
“I like Australia less and less. The hateful newness, the democratic conceit, every man a little pope of perfection.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
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—Alex Atkinson, British humor writer. repr. In Present Laughter, ed. Alan Coren (1982)