EVENT · ENDS 19 DECRichmond

Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory Derby at AAMI Park, Saturday 19 December 2026: Gates 4:30pm, Women’s Match 5pm, Men’s 7:40pm, Parking $20 If Booked (Melbourne, VIC)

At a glance

When
Saturday 19 December 2026; gates open 4:30pm, women’s match 5:00pm, men’s match 7:40pm, due to finish about 9:30pm
Where
AAMI Park, Melbourne Park (Round 9, doubleheader)
Gates
Gates 1 to 3, 4, 5 and 6 to 8, as listed by the venue
Bags
Must fit under a seat; one bag per person
Tram
Route 70 to Stop 7D (AAMI Park)
Parking
Eastern Plaza Car Park, $20 pre-booked or $30 drive-up
Who it’s for
Anyone going to the Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory doubleheader at AAMI Park
What to do now
If you are driving, book parking before midnight on Friday 18 December
Last checked
Wednesday 4 November 2026, against the AAMI Park pages
Not yet confirmed
Whether one ticket covers both matches, and the extra tram services for this date

Melbourne City host Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday 19 December 2026 in Round 9 of the A-League, as a doubleheader: the women’s match is at 5:00pm and the men’s match at 7:40pm. Gates open at 4:30pm and the event is due to conclude at 9:30pm. Bags must fit under a seat, and the venue says public transport is the quickest and easiest way in. This guide is from AAMI Park’s own event, travel, parking and conditions-of-entry pages, read on 4 November 2026. Melbourne is on daylight saving time (AEDT), so the times below are Melbourne times.

What time do the gates open and which gate do I use?

The AAMI Park event page lists these running times for the Round 9 doubleheader, and says they are approximate and can change without notice:

What Time
Gates open 4:30pm
City v Victory (women’s) 5:00pm
City v Victory (men’s) 7:40pm
Event concludes 9:30pm
Gate Entrance
Gates 1 to 3 Via the Eastern Concourse
Gate 4 Via Entrance F, ground level
Gate 5 Via Entrance E, ground level
Gates 6 to 8 Via the Western Concourse

The event page says Melbourne Park is introducing AXS as its new Official Ticketing Partner. The venue says all retail outlets are cashless.

The exterior of AAMI Park in Melbourne, photographed in 2018
The exterior of AAMI Park, photographed in 2018 (photo: Gary Houston / CC0)

How do I get to AAMI Park by tram or train?

The venue’s Getting Here page says Melbourne Park is a 10-minute walk from the CBD via Birrarung Marr or Tanderrum Bridge. Transport Victoria’s list of events at Melbourne Park says extra trams run to and from events at the precinct, and that Journey Planner shows the extra services within 14 days of the event. When we read the list, this match was not on it yet.

Option What the venue says
Tram 70 From Flinders Street or Richmond Station; stops at Rod Laver Arena (Stop 7B), John Cain Arena (Stop 7C) and AAMI Park (Stop 7D)
Trams 48 and 75 Stop at the MCG on Wellington Parade
Train Richmond, Jolimont, Flinders Street and Town Hall stations
Bus 246 Stops at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Punt Road

For the walking routes into the precinct, see our Melbourne Park getting-there guide.

The Rod Laver Arena and MCG Gates 1 to 3 sign at Stop 7B
The Rod Laver Arena / MCG Gates 1-3 sign at Stop 7B, one stop before AAMI Park on Route 70 (photo: Philip Mallis / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Can I park at AAMI Park, and what does it cost?

Yes. Parking is at the Eastern Plaza Car Park, Entrance D on Olympic Boulevard. The venue’s parking page gives event-day rates of $20 pre-booked and $30 drive-up, and says pre-booking saves 30%. Bookings close at midnight the night before, which for this match is midnight on Friday 18 December. The venue strongly recommends pre-booking because drive-up spaces are subject to availability.

If the car park is sold out, the venue lists private operators nearby: Yarra Park (MCG), Secure Parking and Wilson Parking. It also says limited on-street parking is available along the Yarra River at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

For drop-off and pick-up, every visitor has 20 minutes before parking charges may apply. Guests with reduced mobility can be dropped off or picked up at the Eastern Plaza Car Park (Entrance D). Taxis use the rank next to Melbourne Park Oval on Olympic Boulevard, and rideshare drop-off and pick-up is outside John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard. The venue asks you not to order a rideshare until you reach that point, to avoid congestion.

The Punt Road and Olympic Boulevard intersection in Melbourne
The Punt Road and Olympic Boulevard intersection, where the 246 bus stops (photo: Iamthinking2202 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

What bag can I bring?

The event page says bags must be able to fit under a seat, with a limit of one bag per person. The Conditions of Entry say the same for sports events and add that suitcases cannot be cloaked or stored. Cloaking is at the Information Desk (Gates 1 and 8), and anything on the prohibited list will not be accepted. All items are visually inspected on entry.

The prohibited list includes:

  • Alcohol
  • Glass and cans, metal or hard plastic containers, and plastic bottles over 750ml; the venue says whether metal drink bottles are allowed can vary by event
  • Chairs and stools
  • Professional cameras and recording devices, tripods, selfie sticks and detachable lenses above 300mm
  • Bicycles, scooters, skateboards and skates
  • Musical instruments including air horns, drones and laser lights
  • Any large item that cannot be placed under a seat

The venue lists flag poles over 1.6 metres as prohibited, and it also bans banners or signs bigger than your seat, flags that may cause offence or conflict with sponsors, and anything that blocks other people’s view. Umbrellas must be cloaked unless stored under your seat and not opened inside. Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside or within 10 metres of external doors and food and beverage outlets.

Another view of the exterior of AAMI Park in Melbourne, photographed in 2018
AAMI Park from outside, photographed in 2018 (photo: Gary Houston / CC0)

Can I leave and come back, and what about the sun?

The Conditions of Entry say pass outs may be permitted at some events. If one is allowed, you scan out and show a valid ticket to get back in; if not, there is no re-entry once you leave. The event page does not say which applies to this match.

The venue also warns that some areas of the stadium can be exposed to direct sunlight and heat, and says guests are responsible for their own sun protection and hydration. The venue says screenshots of digital tickets may be accepted if the barcode or QR code is clearly visible, but staff can refuse entry if they doubt it, and it recommends the official ticketing app where possible.

Children aged 2 and under are generally allowed in without a ticket if they sit on a parent’s or guardian’s knee, and anyone under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18. The venue says facial recognition technology may be in use at entry, as part of its security monitoring.

What about accessible parking and seating?

Accessible parking must be booked in advance through your event page on AXS (select Accessible Parking under Available Offers). If that option is not shown for the match, the venue gives the AXS number 1800 316 964. Accessible parking booked through Ticketek before 22 August remains valid. A limited number of accessible bays are in front of John Cain Arena on Olympic Boulevard. The Conditions of Entry say assistance dogs are welcome and that the venue’s guest services team should be contacted in advance if you need help with seating.

The ramp from Tanderrum Bridge during the 2023 Australian Open
The ramp from Tanderrum Bridge during the 2023 Australian Open (photo: Philip Mallis / CC BY-SA 2.0)
AAMI Park during a Melbourne City v Western United match in 2020
AAMI Park during a Melbourne City v Western United match in 2020, a different fixture from this one (photo: FastCube / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Does one ticket cover both matches?

The event page lists the women’s match at 5:00pm and the men’s match at 7:40pm under one set of running times, and describes the day as a doubleheader. It does not say whether a single ticket covers both matches. The venue says all retail outlets are cashless and that parking bookings close at midnight the night before.

Sources

Featured image: AAMI Park during a match in 2019, not this fixture (photo: Medelam / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Melbourne City FC, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Park, AXS or Transport Victoria. Times and rules can change; check the venue’s event page before you go.