Melbourne City v Sydney FC at AAMI Park, Saturday 31 October 2026: Gates 4pm, Kick-Off 5pm, Bags Must Fit Under a Seat, Parking $20 If Booked (Melbourne, VIC)

Melbourne City host Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Saturday 31 October 2026: gates open at 4pm, kick-off is at 5pm and the match is due to finish about 6:50pm. 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 27 October 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 A-League Men Round 3 match, and says they are approximate and can change without notice:

What	Time
Gates open	4pm
Start	5pm
Event concludes	6:50pm

Gate	For
Gates 2 (via the Eastern Concourse) and 7 (via the Western Concourse)	General public
Gates 4 and 5 (via Entrances F and E, ground level)	Corporate
Gate 8B (via the Western Concourse)	Accessibility

The venue’s home page lists tickets for the match as available via AXS, and the event page says Melbourne Park is introducing AXS as its new Official Ticketing Partner. The venue says all retail outlets are cashless, so bring a card.

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 lists this match at 5pm and says extra trams run to and from events at the precinct. It says Journey Planner shows the extra services within 14 days of the event.

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

The same day is Howden Victoria Derby Day at Flemington, where the Victoria Racing Club lists the first race at 12:20pm and the last at 5:40pm. Our Melbourne Cup Carnival transport guide covers that side. For the walking routes into the precinct, see our Melbourne Park getting-there guide.

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 30 October. 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.

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 at 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

Flags matter for a football crowd. 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.

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, so ask staff at the gate before you step out.

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. Gate 8B, via the Western Concourse, is the accessibility gate. 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.

Is anything else on at AAMI Park this week?

The venue’s home page lists Melbourne Victory v Central Coast Mariners at 3pm on Sunday 1 November, and Melbourne City v Western Sydney Wanderers at 7:40pm on Saturday 7 November. The venue says parking bookings for any event close at midnight the night before.

Sources

• AAMI Park — Melbourne City FC vs Sydney FC (running times, gates, bags; checked 27 October 2026)
• AAMI Park — Getting Here
• AAMI Park — Parking
• AAMI Park — Conditions of Entry
• Transport Victoria — Events at Melbourne Park (extra trams, Journey Planner)
• Victoria Racing Club — Howden Victoria Derby Day (race times)

Featured image: AAMI Park during a Melbourne City v Western United match in 2020 (photo: FastCube / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

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