Fans rate new Optus Stadium as best for AFL

AFL fans have rated Perth’s new Optus Stadium as Australia's best sporting venue.

In the 2018 fan survey for AFL.com.au and the AFL Record, more than 48,000 people were asked where they attended most matches in the past 12 months, then invited to rate watching the game at that stadium.

The fans rated Optus Stadium (pictured), the Adelaide Oval and the MCG as their top three venues.

As reported by AFL.com.au, fans rated the top three AFL venues as follows:

1. Optus Stadium
The new $1.5 billion arena in Perth tops the chart with an average rating of 9.0 out of 10.

The new venue has been embraced by AFL fans with crowds having topped 53,000 for West Coast's round one opener against Sydney, and 56,000 at the round six Western Derby. 

2. Adelaide Oval
The historic ground's revamp ahead of the 2014 season brought AFL games into the centre of Adelaide and increased seating capacity to more than 50,000.

Fans rated watching footy at the venue 8.9 out of 10 on average.

Adelaide Oval is home for Power and Crows fans, as well as hosting Irish fans for 2017's International Rules Test.

3. Melbourne Cricket Ground
The largest and best known of Australia's stadia, the world-renowned MCG is third in fans' ratings, averaging 8.7 out of 10.

The MCG's Great Southern Stand will eventually be upgraded as part of a $500 million mega-deal agreed with the Victorian Government earlier this year, though the redevelopment could be a decade away.

That deal will ensure the ground remains able to hold more than 100,000 spectators, while it was also announced the MCG would host the Grand Final until at least 2057.

Geelong's GMHBA Stadium was fourth in the survey while the Sydney Cricket Ground, which dates back to 1848, comes in fifth with an average rating of 8.3. 

Fans' full ratings:

25th May 2018 - SECRET GABBA RENOVATION PLANS LEAKED TO MEDIA

13th April 2018 - AFL BREAKS WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ATTENDANCE RECORD AT NEW OPTUS STADIUM

28th March 2018 - WEST COAST EAGLES AIM TO ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY AT OPTUS STADIUM

11th February 2018 - OPTUS STADIUM WELCOMES RECORD CROWD FOR AFLW FIXTUREW

29th January 2018 - MORE THAN 53,000 FANS ATTEND FIRST SPORTING EVENT AT PERTH’S OPTUS STADIUM 

11th October 2017 - STUDY TO INVESTIGATE FANS’ REAL STADIUM EXPERIENCES 

10th September 2017 - ADELAIDE OVAL MOVES TO BECOME CASHLESS VENUE 

21st July 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES ‘COMMERCIALITY FRAMEWORK’ FOR STADIA 

19th July 2017 - POLLSTAR MID-YEAR RANKINGS SHOW AUSTRALIA’S OUTDOOR VENUES ECLIPSING INDOOR ARENAS

3rd May 2017 - MASTER PLAN FOR SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK PROPOSES ENHANCED CONSERVATION AND NEW SPORT FACILITIES 

20th March 2017 - ADELAIDE OVAL TO GET $9 MILLION SOUND AND LIGHT EQUIPMENT UPGRADE

2nd June 2016 - SCG TRUST’S TECHNOLOGY WINS AT INTERNATIONAL STADIUM BUSINESS AWARDS 

20th April 2016 - ADELAIDE OVAL, MCG AND SCG TRUST’S JAMIE BARKLEY IN THE RUNNING FOR TOP INTERNATIONAL STADIUM AWARDS 

4th February 2015 - MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND TO TAKE STADIUM TECHNOLOGY AND FAN ENGAGEMENT TO NEW LEVELS

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