A strategic alliance has been formed between award-winning Melbourne event venue CENTREPIECE, the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Pullman on the Park hotel, enabling delegates to easily move throughout each.

Conveniently located next to one another, CENTREPIECE, the MCG and Pullman on the Park are connected by footbridges and walking paths, offering business event organisers a unique ‘meet, celebrate and stay’ all-in-one precinct. Accessibility carts can also commute between the properties as required.

After a relaxing night’s stay and breakfast overlooking Fitzroy Gardens at one of 419 five-star rooms at the recently renovated Pullman Melbourne on The Park, delegates can enjoy a refreshing walk across the gardens to CENTREPIECE, taking their seat in the 2,000 sqm grand hall for the day’s agenda.

To enjoy a break from the conference, guests can network and socialise in one of the MCG’s event spaces that hero the stadium’s art, culture and heritage roots. Or take in an Australian Football League (AFL) match or concert, before strolling back to the Pullman.

CENTREPIECE can be found in the heart of the 40-hectare Melbourne & Olympic Park Precinct. Unrivalled as Melbourne’s home of sports and entertainment and boasting six premier event spaces, it’s a highly compelling precinct for hosts aiming to provide a ‘postcard’ Melbourne setting.

Meet at CENTREPIECE: Winner of the Best New Tourism Business at the 2022 Victorian Tourism Awards

Quintessentially Melbourne, with sweeping views of the Melbourne city skyline, CENTREPIECE is surrounded by open green spaces, Australian gum trees and championship tennis courts which are part of the precincts rich sporting history and home to the Australian Open tennis grand slam.

Inviting the outside in, the three-story venue is flooded in natural light via expansive windows and atrium skylight.

Level one, adjacent to Garden Square is a public café and restaurant. This space is available to be hired exclusively for events or is the perfect addition for social events hosted in conjunction with your conference. A state-of-the-art production kitchen located on level one will be delivered with the latest technology to support the culinary teams’ Paddock to Plate philosophy and focus on sustainability.

Level two, adjacent to Rod Laver Arena and the new Tennis Show Court, is The Grand Hall and Pre-Function space. The Grand Hall is a versatile space that is complemented by an outdoor terrace with uninterrupted views of the Melbourne CBD, connecting you to the gardens outside. This 2,000 sqm space is divisible by 3, equally in half and more, encouraging flexibility. It is perfect for conferences from 200 to 1000 guests, a gala dinner of 1400 guests or a cocktail party for 3,000 guests.

CENTREPIECE is connected to a large outdoor piazza that can be used for activations and displays or for a VIP red carpet arrival into the venue. The venue is also connected to Tennis HQ, which boasts more than 1,000sqm of break out spaces with an exclusive dedicated café for your event guests.

On level three you will find breakout rooms that can be used in conjunction with your event in The Grand Hall or alternatively for your smaller conferences. Designed for the international media for the Australian Open, there are 10 studios that can seat between 10-100 guests, an auditorium for 250 guests and additional 5 meeting rooms. Like level two, this level connects into Tennis HQ’s level three boardrooms. Three outdoor terraces with spectacular views of the city skyline complete this spectacular venue.

Watch this animated arial fly-through of the Melbourne & Olympic Park Precinct to show how much development has occurred in recent years.

Celebrate at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground

The MCG (lovingly known by locals simply as ‘the G’), is so much more than Australia’s biggest sporting stadium. Steeped in a rich history, it has been the home of Australian football since 1859 and was the birthplace of Test cricket in 1877 and one-day international cricket in 1971.

It was the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games and attracts up to 100,000 fans to the annual Australian Football Grand Final.

It has hosted Papal and Royal visits and housed US Marines, the US Army air forces and our own RAAF during World War II. It has also been a concert venue for international and local performers, held charity events, dinners and many more.

The MCG offers event organisers a choice of 29 different event spaces, with MCG Events catering to conferences, meetings, and corporate functions of various sizes overlooking the MCG arena, central business district or Yarra Park.

It’s the perfect venue to host a gala dinner after conferencing at CENTREPIECE (or vice versa). Premium VIP experiences to sporting and entertainment events held during your conference can also be arranged by the MCG Events team.

MCG’s maximum reception capacity is 1200 delegates, or 530 for a banquet dinner with stage and dancefloor.

For conferencing you can find spaces for 60 delegates in a u-shape setup, 1000 delegates in theatre-style and 300 delegates in a classroom setup.

An unforgettable business event doesn’t always have to equate to a large-scale event and MCG Events proves that small too can be epic.  

In the heart of the coveted Members Reserve is the exclusive Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Committee Room. Featuring spectacular views towards the hallowed turf and an exceptional range of paintings, photographs and iconic features, the Committee Room depicts the MCG’s long and proud history.

The Committee Room restaurant is available to book on non-event days. MCG Events has proudly partnered with iconic Melbourne chef Guy Grossi, to elevate your business event with an exclusive Guests of the Grossi Dining Experience.

Guy Grossi is renowned as Australia’s most respected master of Italian food. Bookable for 20-80 guests, the Grossi Dining Experience includes a four-course meal with matched wines in the Committee Room, and an appearance from Guy Grossi to provide an insight into his approach to ingrained Italian traditions with Australian culture.

Stay at Pullman on the Park

Pullman on the Park is an upscale hotel where delegates will discover a new level of warmth, service and sophistication.

Not only is the hotel adjacent to CENTRPIECE and the MCG, it’s also convenient to the airport (25km) and a short walk from the central business district (with great access via the city’s fantastic tram service).

In addition to the hotel’s excellent Cliveden Bar & Dining experience perfect for delegate breakfasts or post-conference social drinks, the hotel boasts easy access to Melbourne’s best dining experiences and restaurants. Their event facilities can even cater for a stylish cocktail reception for up to 1000 delegates.

Get free support from MCB

It’s so easy to meet, celebrate and stay at Melbourne’s unique sports and entertainment precinct.

Contact MCB to find out more about these fantastic venues and accommodation offerings for your next conference.

MCB can support you with everything from bidding; development of local organising committees; organising site inspections; connection to top speakers and local talent; professional conference organisers; suppliers championing sustainability initiatives; delegate boosting support and so much more.