MCG Events was announced winner in three prestigious categories at the recent National Meetings Events Australian (MEA) Awards, capping off a stellar 12 months.

1. MEA National Awards for Innovation
2. MEA National Event Venue of the Year – capacity less than 1,000
3. MEA National Best Sales, Marketing and Business Development Person of the Year – Troy Stasinowsky

The MEA award for Innovation is designed to celebrate innovative approaches to any aspect of the events industry that improves or enhances the delivery of events. This National Award is testament to the MCG Events teams’ ongoing commitment to growing Business Events at Australia’s greatest sporting stadium.

When Delaware North was appointed the new Hospitality Partner at the MCG, at the beginning of 2022, MCG Events was created to meet the challenge to re-vitalise, re-energise, and re-introduce the MCG to the business events market.

Previously the stadium was positioned as a ‘space’. A well-known sporting stadium, sold as a destination rich in sporting history.  MCG Events saw potential for business growth in telling the untold story. The story of its’ cultural significance. The story of its’ heritage and the role it has played in Melbourne’s history. The story of the wider precinct Yarra Park, its rich history and its ability to rival any business event precinct across the globe.

The awards also acknowledge the significant re-brand and creation of new marketing platforms, including an immersive website that enhances the customer journey and visually displays how the stadium is elevating the event experience. The cutting-edge digital platforms also features a full virtual walk through of the stadium and immersive aerial precinct mapping using CITE 360 technology.

The MCG Events team were also pivotal in establishing a new cooperative partnership for Melbourne’s Sports and Entertainment precinct. Since commencing as the new Hospitality partner on 01^st February 2022, MCG Events has been focusing on growing the Non-Match Day activity and a package ‘Meet, Stay and Celebrate’ featuring MCG Events, Centrepiece at Melbourne and Olympic Park and Pullman Melbourne, firmly places this award-winning combination on the world stage as an exciting Business Events destination.

A hallmark of the MCG Events team is to challenge the status quo and to never follow any cookie cutter approach. To reinforce the core proposition of MCG Events – to elevate the event experience, The team implemented several enhancements to the products and services, from tours and stadium experiences, through to menus and integration of exciting new chef partners, all with a ‘Quintessentially Melbourne’ approach that honoured how the MCG signifies Melbourne to the world.

Finally, all of this could not have been achieved without great vision. That is why, it is fitting that Director of Sales and Marketing for MCG Events, Troy Stasinowsky was awarded the National MEA Individual award for Sales and Marketing person of the Year.

“Over the past 12 months a renewed focus on Business Events and commitments to Tourism visibility, has seen the MCG emerge as a destination of choice for local corporate, national association, and international incentive events. The entire team has achieved so much, in just a short time. To think that we are only 16 months into our appointment. These awards really show that we are on an exciting path, and we still have so many more exciting initiatives come.”

– Troy Stasinowsky, Director of Sales and Marketing