MCG’s Great Southern Stand to be renamed in honour of cricketing great Shane Warne

The Great Southern Stand at the MCG is to be named the SK Warne Stand in perpetuity following the sudden death of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne.

Warne’s surprise death at the age of 52 while on holiday in Thailand has prompted tributes from around the world including politics, the cricket community and the entertainment industry.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison led tributes from politicians, saying he is shocked and saddened, commenting "Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman."

On Twitter, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, paid tribute and announced the name change, writing “I’ve just informed the Warne family that the (Victorian) Government will rename the Great Southern Stand at the MCG - the place he took his hat trick and 700th wicket - to honour Shane and his contribution to the game. The S.K. Warne Stand will be a permanent tribute to an amazing Victorian.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Sport, Martin Pakula, confirmed that he had consulted with Premier Andrews, Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Chairman Steve Bracks and MCC Chief Executive Stuart Fox - resolving to commemorate Warne by renaming the Southern Stand in his honour.

Minister Pakula advised “we will be renaming the Great Southern Stand the S.K. Warne stand and we'll be doing that as soon as we possibly can.

"I can think of no finer tribute to the greatest cricketer this state has produced than to rename the stand the S.K. Warne stand and no matter whatever happens to that stand in the future whether it's rebuilt, refurbished, renovated, it will remain the S.K. Warne stand in perpetuity because his legend will live in perpetuity."

Cricket Victoria is also looking at ways it can honour Warne as there were already plans to potentially rename a stand at the Junction Oval in his name prior to his death.

Commenting on the tribute, Cricket Australia Chairman, Dr Lachlan Henderson stated that renaming the Southern Stand at the MCG was a fitting tribute to the cricketing great, stating “that would seem a very appropriate acknowledgement of Shane Warne.

"He's been an icon of the game, obviously with St Kilda Cricket Club, Victoria, our Australian team for so many years. He also played cricket all around the world. So it's a very fitting tribute.

Premier Andrews and Prime Minister Morrison have also reported to have contacted the Warne family to offer a state funeral but the family has been given some time to work out what they would like to do.

Great Southern Stand redevelopment
In advance of its renaming, there has also been recent speculation that the 30-year-old Great Southern Stand is set for a rebuild.

The 45,000-capacity Great Southern Stand opened in 1992 setting a new standard for stadium facilities at the time, and while it has been upgraded since then in 2012, a complete rebuild appears the most likely next step.

The Victorian Government is preparing to complete a feasibility study that will decide the future of the Southern Stand.

According to The Age, sources have said the study was likely to recommend an entire rebuild of the stand, at a cost of more than $1 billion, with work potentially to start within five years.

Image: The Great Southern Stand at the MCG. Credit: MCG.