Etihad Stadium is a multi-purpose facility designed to cater for major sporting and entertainment events, as well as social, business and private functions. The stadium is situated in the heart of Melbourne’s Docklands, just minutes from the CBD. Etihad Stadium is the only football stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a fully retractable roof. Since opening on March 9, 2000 more than 19-million people have passed through the venue's turnstiles.