Fed Square’s new giant screen set for use as AFL finals live viewing site

The recently unveiled $5.4 million giant screen at Melbourne’s Federation Square is to be put to the test for Melbourne Demons fans this weekend when it becomes the centrepiece of a live viewing site for Saturday’s AFL finals game against the West Coast Eagles.

The newly installed digital facade screen will show the AFL preliminary final on Saturday afternoon for fans in Melbourne who can’t make it to Perth.

With a big crowd expected, fans are being encouraged to visit Fed Square to watch one of the most anticipated games in the recent history of the Melbourne Football Club.

The Collingwood versus Richmond preliminary final will also be screened at Margaret Court Arena on Friday evening, with up to 5,000 people allowed inside to enjoy the action.

The Victorian Government has warned fans planning to attend Friday night’s blockbuster to take care when buying a second-hand ticket to this year’s AFL finals series.

The new screen, which is made up of 850 LED panels and four million individual pixels, wraps around the northern and easters sides of Fed Square’s Transport building shows content 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Named the ‘Digital Facade’, the screen will showcase art programs and content, as well as other Melbourne cultural events and activities.

The Digital Facade is part of a Federation Square revamp that includes a new flagship Apple Store, the refurbishment of the Alfred Deakin Building, a $36.6 million ACMI upgrade, a new Melbourne Metro Town Hall Station entrance and more public space.

Commenting on the live viewing site, Victorian Minister for Sport John Eren stated “for those that can’t make it to Perth, we’ll have Federation Square set up as a family-friendly live site showing the game on the biggest screen in town.”

“We’re putting fans first. Whether its clamping down on ticket scalpers or setting up live sites to watch the games, we want to give footy fans the best experience possible.”

Melbourne Football Club Chief Executive, Peter Jackson added “we understand that not all supporters can travel to Perth for the game, so it’s great to be partnering with an icon of the city, Federation Square, where our supporters can come together and cheer on the team.”

“We urge our supporters to get behind the team, experience the atmosphere at Fed Square, and enjoy what’s going to be an extremely exciting afternoon of footy.”

Images: Fed Square's new giant screen (top) and digiatl facade (below).