View source for Marrara Oval

{{Short description|Sports ground in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = TIO Stadium
| nickname = Marrara Stadium<br>Marrara Oval
| logo_image = TIO Stadium logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| image = Marrara Oval grandstand.png
| image_size = 313px
| caption = View of the grandstand at Marrara Oval in March 2016
| location = [[Marrara, Northern Territory|Marrara]], [[Northern Territory]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12|23|57|S|130|53|14|E|display=inline,title}}
| opened = 1991
| owner = [[Government of the Northern Territory]]
| operator = [[AFL Northern Territory]]
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = 
| architect = 
| ends = 
| former_names = Football Park
| tenants = {{plainlist|
*[[Northern Territory Football Club|NT Thunder]] (QAFL/NEAFL) (2008–2019)
*[[Wanderers Football Club|Wanderers]] (NTFL) (1991–present)
*[[St Mary's Football Club (NTFL)|St Marys]] (NTFL) (1991–present)
*[[Darwin Buffaloes|Darwin Buffaloes]] (NTFL) (1991–2025)
*[[Parramatta Eels]] (NRL) (2014–present)
*[[Gold Coast Suns]] (AFL) (2020–present)
*[[Adelaide Football Club (AFLW)|Adelaide Football Club]] (AFLW) (2017–2019)
*[[Western Bulldogs]] (AFL) (2004–2010, 2012–2013)
*[[Melbourne Football Club]] (AFL) (2010–2019)
*[[2017 Rugby League World Cup]]
*[[Richmond Football Club]] (AFL) (2011)
*[[Sydney Roosters]] (NRL) (2012)
*[[Gold Coast Titans]] (NRL) (2013)
}}
| seating_capacity = 12,215<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-13/sellout-likely-as-big-time-footy-hits-top-end|title=Sell-out likely as big time footy hits Top End|last=McGowan|first=Marc|date=13 July 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=[[Bigpond]]|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>
| dimensions = {{cvt|175 x 135|m}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Atkinson |first1=Cody |last2=Lawson |first2=Sean |title=From the SCG to Kardinia Park — do ground sizes contribute to the end result in AFL games? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-16/cody-and-sean-afl-analysis-how-much-do-ground-sizes-matter/101154950 |website=ABC News |date=15 June 2022 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>
| embedded = {{infobox cricket ground|embed=yes
|end1 = McMillans Road End
|end2 = Airport End
| international = true
| firsttestdate = 18–20 July
| firsttestyear = 2003
| firsttesthome = Australia 
| firsttestaway = Bangladesh 
| lasttestdate  = 1–3 July
| lasttestyear  = 2004
| lasttesthome  = Australia 
| lasttestaway  = Sri Lanka 
| firstodidate  = 6 August 
| firstodiyear  = 2003
| firstodihome  = Australia 
| firstodiaway  = Bangladesh 
| lastodidate   = 6 September  
| lastodiyear   = 2008
| lastodihome   = Australia 
| lastodiaway   = Bangladesh 
| firstt20idate = 
| firstt20iyear =
| firstt20ihome = 
| firstt20iaway = 
| lastt20idate  =
| lastt20iyear  = 
| lastt20ihome  = 
| lastt20iaway  = 
| date = 28 May
| year = 2020
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/ground/56390.html Cricinfo
}}
}}

'''Marrara Oval''', currently known as '''TIO Stadium''' for sponsorship reasons, is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in the suburb of [[Marrara, Northern Territory|Marrara]], [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], [[Northern Territory]], Australia. With a seating capacity of 12,215, the ground is the largest stadium in the Northern Territory, and primarily hosts [[Australian rules football]], [[cricket]], and [[rugby league]].

Marrara Oval was opened in 1991. The ground has a record attendance of 17,500, set in 2003 for a football game featuring the [[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)|Indigenous All-Stars]]. Marrara Oval has hosted at least one [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) game in every season since 2004 and at least one [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) game in every season since 2012. The ground has also hosted both [[Test cricket|Test]] and [[One Day International]] (ODI) cricket fixtures, most recently in 2008.

==History==

===Australian rules football===
Marrara Oval was officially opened to the public on 30 June 1991 as the new home of the [[Northern Territory Football League]] (NTFL), and was conservatively estimated as costing $8&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Marrara magic: public spotlight shines on colosseum|last = Geracitano|first = Ted|date = 29 June 1991|work = [[Northern Territory News|NT News]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> The first game played under lights at Marrara was a match between [[Nightcliff Football Club|Nightcliff]] and [[Southern Districts Football Club|Southern Districts]] on 9 December 1994. Transport and Works Minister [[Daryl Manzie]] officially handed over the lights to the NTFL that day. Installing the lights cost $1.2&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite press release |last= Poole|first= Eric|title= Media release: Northern Territory Government Sports Minister Eric Poole|date=8 December 1994|location= Darwin, Northern Territory|publisher= Department of Sport and Recreation}}</ref> The light towers were constructed by Darwin firm Norbuilt.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Park lights up for footy action|last=Morris|first=Grey|date=15 November 2004|work=[[Northern Territory News|NT News]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref>

In February 1992, Marrara Oval hosted its first match sanctioned by the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL), a preseason [[1992 Foster's Cup|Foster's Cup]] fixture between {{AFL Col}} and {{AFL WC}} attended by 11,000 people. Further preseason fixtures were hosted at the ground over the next decade, including several [[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)|Indigenous All-Stars]] games and a historic match between Essendon Bombers and West Coast Eagles in the AFL 2000 pre-season where Essendon went on to win the Ansett Cup. A 2003 match between the Indigenous All-Stars and Carlton attracted a crowd of 17,500 people, setting a new ground record.<ref>[https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=69 TIO Stadium Crowds], Austadiums. Retrieved 26 November 2016.</ref> The first regular-season AFL match played at Marrara Oval came in round 20 of the [[2004 AFL season|2004 season]], when the {{AFL WB}} hosted {{AFL PA}}.<ref>[http://afltables.com/afl/venues/marrara_oval_gm.html Marrara Oval – All Games], AFL Tables. Retrieved 26 November 2016.</ref>

Between 2004 and 2008 a single Western Bulldogs "home" game was played at the ground each season. In 2010, {{AFL Mel}} also began to play an annual "home" fixture in Darwin. The Western Bulldogs onsold their 2011 fixture to {{AFL Ric}}, but returned for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Port Adelaide also had a three-year deal with the Northern Territory government and Marrara Oval, in which they would be the "away" team for games at TIO Stadium each year between 2009 and 2012. Since 2014, only one AFL game has been played at Marrara Oval each year. From 2020, {{AFL GC}} will play two home games a year at Marrara Oval, replacing Melbourne.

Marrara Oval has been a secondary home ground of the [[Adelaide Football Club (AFL Women's)|Adelaide Crows women's team]] since 2017. In April 2016, the Adelaide Crows launched a successful bid to enter a team in the inaugural [[AFL Women's]] season. The bid was constructed in partnership with AFLNT, with the club to share resources and facilities between its Adelaide base and AFLNT's Darwin location. It included a commitment to host some home games in Darwin.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burtenshaw|first1=David|title=Women's bid lodged with AFL|url=http://www.afc.com.au/news/2016-04-29/womens-bid-lodged-with-afl|access-date=19 November 2016|work=Adelaide FC|publisher=Bigpond|date=29 April 2016}}</ref>

In 2020, Marrara Oval hosted the annual [[Dreamtime at the 'G]] match between {{AFL Ess}} and {{AFL Ric}} as it was not possible for the match to be played at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] due to the city of Melbourne, and ultimately the state of Victoria, being locked down during the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="darwin">{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/478305/the-dreamtime-not-at-the-g-sir-doug-nicholls-headline-act-gets-new-stage|title=The Dreamtime NOT at the 'G: Sir Doug Nicholls headline act gets new stage|publisher=AFL.com.au|first=Damian|last=Barrett|date=31 July 2020|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref>

====AFL records====
{{Col-start}}
{{Col-2}}
* Highest team score:
** 26.8 (164) – {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL GEE}}, 16 May 2024 <ref name="MOrecords">{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/venues/marrara_oval.html|title=Marrara Oval|publisher=AFL Tables}}</ref>
* Largest winning margin:
** 93 points – {{AFL WB}} vs. {{AFL PA}}, 13 June 2009<ref name="MOrecords"/>
* Lowest team score:
** 4.3 (27) - {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL Car}}, 21 August 2020<ref name="MOrecords"/>
* Most goals kicked:
** 17 – [[Brad Johnson (Australian footballer)|Brad Johnson]] ({{AFL WB}})<ref name="MOrecords"/>
{{Col-2}}
* Most goals in a game:
** 5 on nine occasions
*** [[Brendan Fevola]], {{AFL Car}} vs. {{AFL WB}}, 18 June 2005<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Brad Johnson (Australian footballer)|Brad Johnson]], {{AFL WB}} vs. {{AFL Fre}}, 16 June 2007<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Brad Miller (footballer)|Brad Miller]], {{AFL Mel}} vs. {{AFL PA}}, 22 May 2010<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Paul Stewart (Australian footballer)|Paul Stewart]], {{AFL PA}} vs. {{AFL Mel}}, 21 July 2012<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Jack Darling]], {{AFL WC}} vs. {{AFL Mel}}, 4 July 2015<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Jack Lukosius]], {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL WB}}, 27 May 2023<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Jack Lukosius]], {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL Ade}}, 3 June 2023<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Bailey Humphrey]], {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL Gee}}, 16 May 2024<ref name="MOrecords"/>
*** [[Jack Lukosius]], {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL Gee}}, 16 May 2024<ref name="MOrecords"/>
* Most disposals in a game:
** 42 – [[Noah Anderson]], {{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL Gee}}, 16 May 2024<ref name="MOrecords"/>
{{Col-end}}

===Cricket===
Marrara Oval has hosted top-level international cricket on several occasions. It is sometimes known as '''Darwin Cricket Ground''' during these matches. In July 2003, the ground hosted the first [[Test cricket|Test]] of [[Bangladeshi cricket team in Australia in 2003|a series]] between [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] and [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]]. A [[One Day International]] (ODI) game between the same teams was played the following month. In July 2004, a second Test was played, the first of [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 2004|a series]] between Australia and [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]. After that, top-level international cricket did not return to Marrara Oval until mid-2008, when the ground hosted [[Bangladeshi cricket team in Australia in 2008|a three-ODI series]] between Australia and Bangladesh.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/2/75.html Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin], CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 November 2016.</ref>

====International centuries====
Two Test<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=1155;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Test matches / Batting records|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> and One ODI<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=1155;orderby=start;runsmin1=100;runsval1=runs;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|title=Statistics / Statsguru / Test matches / Batting records|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> centuries have been scored at the venue. 

=====Tests=====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
! No. !! Score !! Player !! Team !! Balls !! Innings !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result
|-
| 1 || 110 || [[Darren Lehmann]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 221 || 2 || {{cr|BAN}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|July|18}} || Won
|-
| 2 || 100* || [[Steve Waugh]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 133 || 2 || {{cr|BAN}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|July|18}} || Won
|}

=====ODIs=====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
! No. !! Score !! Player !! Team !! Balls !! Innings !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result
|-
| 1 || 101 || [[Ricky Ponting]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{ntsh|1100}} 118 || 1 || {{cr|BAN}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|August|6}} || Won
|}

====International five-wicket hauls====
Four Test five-wicket hauls have been taken at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia/engine/records/bowling/best_figures_innings.html?class=1;id=1155;type=ground|title=TIO Stadium, Darwin / Records / Test matches / Best bowling figures in an innings|access-date=12 October 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
! No. !! Figures !! Player !! Team !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result
|-
| 1 || 5/65 || [[Stuart MacGill]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|BAN}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|July|18}} || Australia won
|-
| 2 || 5/31 || [[Chaminda Vaas]] || {{cr|SRI}} || {{cr|AUS}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2004|July|1}} || Sri Lanka lost
|-
| 3 || 5/37 || [[Glenn McGrath]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|SRI}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2004|July|1}} || Australia won
|-
| 4 || 7/39 || [[Michael Kasprowicz]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|SRI}} || {{dts|format=dmy|2004|July|1}} || Australia won
|}

===Rugby league===

In the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL), the [[Sydney Roosters]] played host against the [[North Queensland Cowboys]] in Round 7 of the [[2012 NRL season]] in front of 10,008 fans. This was the first time Darwin hosted a professional Rugby League game since 1995.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/09/21/261801_ntnews.html|title=Darwin to host Cowboys and Roosters|date=21 September 2011|work=[[Northern Territory News|NT News]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> The second game at Marrara came in Round 17 of the [[2013 NRL season]] when the [[Penrith Panthers]] (who had previously played games in Darwin during the 1990s) defeated the [[Gold Coast Titans]] 40–18 in front of 8,050 for what was a Titans home game.

In 2014, the [[Parramatta Eels]], a Sydney-based [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) club, announced they would be playing four games at Marrara over the following four years. The first game came on 9 August (Round 22) during the [[2014 NRL season]] when the Eels defeated the [[Canberra Raiders]] 18–10 in front of 9,527 fans.

In 2017 Marrara Oval hosted a quarter-final of the [[2017 Rugby League World Cup]] between [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] and [[Samoa national rugby league team|Samoa]], Australia winning 46–0. It drew a crowd of 13,473, which is the highest rugby league crowd the stadium has ever gotten and the fourth highest overall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=69|title=TIO Stadium Crowds (Marrara Stadium) {{!}} Austadiums|website=www.austadiums.com|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>

==Other events==
TIO Stadium has hosted [[AC/DC]] for their "Ballbreaker" tour in November 1996, when 13,000 fans and 170 tonnes of equipment packed the ground.
[[Elton John|Sir Elton John]] performed for the first time in the Northern Territory, at TIO Stadium on 17 May 2008 as part of his Australian Tour.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elton John to rock with the crocs|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/01/2205237.htm?section=entertainment|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231111643/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/01/2205237.htm?section=entertainment|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|date=1 April 2008|work=ABC Online|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=2 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Elton rolls in for crocodile rock |url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/01/3760_ntnews.html |date=1 April 2008 |work=[[Northern Territory News|NT News]] |publisher=[[News Corp Australia]] |access-date=2 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118200253/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/01/3760_ntnews.html |archive-date=18 January 2012 }}</ref>

==AFL records==

===Individual===

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=4|Most career games by a player
|-
! style="width:60px;"| Games !! style="width:140px;"|Player !! style="width:100px;"|Club !! style="width:70px;"|Years
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''10''' || [[Kane Cornes]] || {{AFL PA}} || 2004–2013
|-
| [[Danyle Pearce]] || {{AFL PA}} || 2006–2016
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''9''' || [[Nathan Jones (Australian footballer)|Nathan Jones]] || {{AFL Mel}} || 2009–2018
|-
| [[Tom Logan (footballer)|Tom Logan]] || {{AFL PA}} || 2006–2013
|}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=4|Most career goals by a player
|-
! style="width:60px;"| Goals !! style="width:140px;"|Player !! style="width:100px;"|Club !! style="width:70px;"|Games
|-
| '''17''' || [[Brad Johnson (Australian footballer)|Brad Johnson]] || {{AFL WB}} || 7
|-
| '''15''' || [[Jack Lukosius]] || {{AFL GC}} || 5
|-
| '''12''' || [[Ben King (footballer)|Ben King]] || {{AFL GC}} || 5
|-
| '''10''' || [[Mitch Hahn]] || {{AFL WB}} || 5
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''8''' || [[Daniel Giansiracusa]] || {{AFL WB}} || 6
|-
| [[Robbie Gray]] || {{AFL PA}} || 5
|}
{{col-end}}

<sup>''Last updated: 17 May 2024''<ref>[https://afltables.com/afl/venues/marrara_oval.html AFL Tables - Venues - Marrara]</ref></sup>

==Attendance records==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
|+Top 10 sports attendance records
!width=1%|No.
!width=17%|Date
!width=46%|Teams
!width=22%|Sport
!width=8%|Competition
!width=6%|Crowd
|-
| align=center|1 || align=center|7 February 2003 || align=center|[[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)|Indigenous All-Stars]] vs. {{AFL Car}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|n/a|| 17,500
|-
| align=center|2 || align=center|12 February 1994 || align=center|[[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)|Indigenous All-Stars]] vs. {{AFL Col}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|n/a|| 15,000
|-
| align=center|3 || align=center|12 August 2006 || align=center|{{AFL WB}} vs. {{AFL PA}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 14,100
|- 
| align=center|4 || align=center|17 November 2017 || align=center|[[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] vs. [[Samoa national rugby league team|Samoa]] || align=center|[[Rugby league]] || align=center|[[2017 Rugby League World Cup|2017 RLWC]] || 13,473
|-
| align=center|5 || align=center|14 August 2004 || align=center|{{AFL WB}} vs. {{AFL PA}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 13,271
|-
| align=center|6 || align=center|11 February 2007 || align=center|[[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian rules football)|Indigenous All-Stars]] vs. {{AFL Ess}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|n/a|| 13,119
|-
| align=center|7 || align=center|18 June 2005 || align=center|{{AFL WB}} vs. {{AFL Car}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 13,037
|-
| align=center|8 || align=center|16 May 2024 || align=center|{{AFL GC}} vs. {{AFL Gee}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 12,112
|-
| align=center|9 || align=center|15 July 2017 || align=center|{{AFL Mel}} vs. {{AFL Ade}} || align=center|[[Australian rules football]] || align=center|[[Australian Football League|AFL]] || 12,104
|-
| align=center|10 || align=center|23 April 2021 || align=center|[[Parramatta Eels]] vs. [[Brisbane Broncos]] || align=center|[[Rugby League]] || align=center|[[National Rugby League|NRL]] || 12,056
|}
<sup>''Last updated on 17 May 2024''</sup>

==See also==
*[[List of Test cricket grounds]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Austadiums|69}}

{{AFL grounds}}
{{Melbourne Football Club}}
{{Australian Football League}}
{{AFL Women's grounds}}
{{Adelaide Football Club}}
{{AFL Women's}}
{{NRL Grounds}}
{{Test Cricket Grounds AUS}}
{{NEAFL}}
{{2017 RLWC venues}}
{{Darwin, Northern Territory landmarks}}

[[Category:Australian Football League grounds]]
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Australia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Darwin, Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Darwin, Northern Territory]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1991]]
[[Category:Rugby league stadiums in Australia]]
[[Category:North East Australian Football League grounds]]
[[Category:AFL Women's grounds]]