Marvel Stadium. It's a thing.
It's not just people naming their kids after Marvel characters. Australia's about to have an entire sports venue named for the brand.
Currently named Etihad Stadium, the Docklands venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, will be rebranded and renamed as Marvel Stadium starting on Sept. 1.
It's a new eight-year partnership between Disney and Melbourne Stadiums Limited, and will see a Marvel retail store built within the venue, as well as "other activations" involving Marvel characters.
Sure, it's pretty much just a renaming at this point, not a Grandmaster's Arena-themed overhaul a la Thor: Ragnarok, but seeing as Chris Hemsworth is a major fan of one of the home teams, the Australian Football League’s Western Bulldogs, we're keeping everything crossed for some fun stunts.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
"Australian fans are amongst the most passionate in the world and through our partnership with MSL, we hope to bring people together, and provide them with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the Marvel brand,” said senior vice president and managing director of The Walt Disney Company in Australia and New Zealand, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, in a press statement.
"Marvel is known for epic storytelling with heart, action, humour and relatability. MSL’s Docklands Stadium has told its own compelling stories over time, via a vast array of sport and entertainment. It’s why this partnership is such a great fit."
Australian reactions have been mostly positive, with some even making suggestions for themed sections of the stadium.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
It's not the first major sporting partnership Disney's launched in Australia. For the release of The Last Jedi in November, Australia's national soccer competition, the A-League, branded matches as the Star Wars Round.
Marvel also teamed up with Australia's National Rugby League for superhero-inspired jerseys.
Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.
