AAMI Park (aka Rectangular Stadium)

Spectacular lighting? I don't think so

I was invited to the opening of Melbourne’s new football stadium on Friday night.  When I left home it was a bit overcast and I thought I’d definitely need a jumper.  On the train I saw a few spots of rain on the window.  Arrive at Jolimont station and it’s pouring – just a shower I assumed.  On the train I get a text message saying that according to the paper there is going to be a lighting spectacular on the roof of the stadium before the game.  Now my understanding was that the spectacular lighting system that we designed would not be complete for another month or so; needless to say I was intrigued.  When I get to the ground I see one of those really unfortunate laser lighting installations lighting up the shells of the stadium roof.

I get to my seat and wouldn’t ya know it, it was positioned immediately below the drip line of the roof giving me the double problem of driving rain hitting me directly and a steady drip, drip, drip of rain from the roof above.  A 12 year old next to me advises that he has taken the last of the ponchos from the vendor in the circulation space.  My jumper by now (and jeans and shoes for that matter) is soaking wet.  25 minutes in and it’s 0-0. I still don’t get the rules completely.  Then there is grounds for optimism – my companion for the evening Quinny and I discover  that despite the sign at the bar, full strength beer is being served, and we find a hot 4 ‘n’ 20.  Then we think ‘there is a god’ as we see a couple of ponchos sticking out of the bin.  This is not a time to be proud or image conscious so we get them on and endure another quarter of an hour till half time.  Then, neither of us had the stamina for another 40 minutes of rugby league initiation in the rain so instead we repaired to the Hilton Hotel bar where it’s warm and dry.

Some time later, a particularly damp looking man tells me Australia won.

Yes, the rain really was that bad