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[[Image:Flickr_ymimexico_247769858--Jalapeno_poppers.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Jalapeno poppers.]]
{{Infobox_Stadium |
'''Jalapeño poppers''' are [[jalapeño]] [[chile pepper|pepper]]s that have been hollowed out, stuffed with a mixture of [[cheese]], [[spices]], and sometimes ground meat, and then deep fried. They are served (usually with some kind of dip) as appetizers at some Mexican- or Southwest-themed bars and restaurants.
stadium_name = Waverley Park |
nickname = ''Waverley''|
image = <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Aflatwaverley.jpg|300px|center]] -->|
___location = [[Mulgrave, Victoria|Mulgrave]], [[Melbourne]] |
broke_ground = 1959|
opened = 1974|
closed = 1999|
demolished = 2001|
owner = Mirvac<br>Victorian Government|
operator = [[Hawthorn Hawks|Hawthorn Football Club]]|
surface = Grass|
construction_cost = Unknown|
architect = Various|
former_names = VFL Park<br>AFL Park|
tenants = Current:<br>[[Hawthorn Hawks]], [[Australian Football League|AFL]]<br>Former:<br>[[Fitzroy Lions]], [[Australian Football League|AFL]]<br>[[St Kilda Saints]], [[Australian Football League|AFL]]<br>[[Waverley/Melbourne Reds|Waverley Reds]], [[Australian Baseball League|ABL]]|
seating_capacity = Former:<br>78,000|
}}
'''Waverley Park''' (formerly '''VFL Park''' and then '''AFL Park''') was an often controversial football stadium in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based [[Victorian Football League]]/[[Australian Football League]] clubs; however, during the 1990's it became the home ground of both the [[Hawthorn Football Club]] and [[St Kilda Football Club]] but was later replaced by [[Telstra Dome]]. Its total capacity was 78,000.
*[http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_24509,00.html Emeril Live! Tailgating Recipe Contest Winner]
*[http://southernfood.about.com/od/jalapenochilerecipes/r/bl21220b.htm Mexican Recipe]
{{Mexico-cuisine-stub}}
==The beginning==
Waverley Park (then VFL Park) was first conceived in [[1959]] when delegates from the 12 [[Victorian Football League|VFL]] Clubs requested the VFL to find land that was suitable for the building of a new stadium. In September [[1962]], the VFL had secured a 212 acre (860,000 m²) block of land at [[Mulgrave, Victoria|Mulgrave]]. This area was chosen because it was believed that with the effects of urban sprawl, and the proposed building of the South-Eastern (or [[Monash Freeway|Monash]]) freeway, the area would become the demographic centre of [[Melbourne]].
The original plans were for a stadium catering for up to 160,000 patrons, which would have made it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, stadium of its time. However, the second stage of construction was never completed and the capacity was set at just over 78,000 patrons.
==Construction==
Work was started at the site on [[January 5]], [[1966]] when the VFL President [[Sir Kenneth Luke]] turned the first sod. On construction of the stadium, a total of 378,000 cubic yards (289,000 m³) of topsoil was excavated and the surface of the oval was lowered to a depth of ten metres from the surrounding area.
The foundations for the K.G. Luke stand were laid in [[1969]] and more than 20 km of solid concrete terracing was laid around the ground.
Finally, on [[April 18]], [[1970]], [[Fitzroy Football Club|Fitzroy]] and [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] played the first game at Waverley Park. However, the stand was far from completed. In fact, the only section of the actual grandstand that was built was the first level of the K.G. Luke stand. the rest of the stadium had only been completed on the ground level. This said, because the size of the ground and the fact that the playing surface was levelled at a depth of 10 metres, this was not such a hassle. The Public Reserve Stands encircling the rest of the stadium were finished at a cost of $4.5 million in [[1974]] and the car parking was extended to fit a total of 25,000 cars. Lighting was added in May [[1977]] at a cost of $1.2 million.
==Trivia==
*Record attendance: 92,935 who saw [[Collingwood Football Club]] versus [[Hawthorn Football Club]] in [[1981]].
*In 1996, an unexpected [[pitch invasion]] occurred when the lights went out at the stadium in a night game between [[Essendon Football Club]] and [[St Kilda Football Club]]. The game was stopped and the last quarter was replayed during the same week.
==Special events==
Waverley Park held many special events in its 30 year life that were not related to Australian rules football. These included:
*[[Rock concert]]s: [[KISS (band)|KISS]] ([[1980]]), [[David Bowie]] ([[1983]]), [[U2]] ([[1998]]), [[Rod Stewart]]
*[[Cricket]]: [[World Series Cricket]]
*[[International Rules Football]]: Matches between Australia and Ireland
*[[Baseball]]: Home of the [[Waverley/Melbourne Reds|Waverley Reds]]
==Records for Waverley Park==
In its life, 732 AFL/VFL matches were played at Waverley Park, 70 of which were finals, and one [[AFL Grand Final]] in [[1991]], which was contested by [[Hawthorn Football Club]] and the [[West Coast Eagles]] because the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] was at the time undergoing major renovations.
*HIGHEST SCORE: [[Fitzroy Football Club|Fitzroy]]: 36.22(238) v [[Melbourne Football Club]]: 6.12 (48) in round 17, 1979
*HIGHEST CROWD: 92,935, Queens Birthday 1981, [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] v [[Collingwood Football Club|Collingwood]]
*MOST GOALS IN A GAME: [[Jason Dunstall]], 17 goals, Round 7, [[1992]]
==Current status==
The last AFL match was played at Waverley Park in [[1999]]. The land was subsequently sold to housing developer [[Mirvac]] to assist the [[Australian Football League]] to finance the construction of its new home, the [[Telstra Dome]]. Anticipating complete demolition, the [[National Trust of Victoria]] moved quickly to nominate the members stand on the grounds that the stadium was the first major stadium purpose built for Australian Rules Football and that it hosted the [[1991]] AFL [[Grand Final]]. The heritage stand also features a mural of football legends by artist [[Harold Freedman]].
Successful lobbying saw [[Heritage Victoria]] grant legislative protection, and the entire stadium has now been demolished except for the members stand and the members stand mural. The surrounding parking lot is being replaced by suburban housing. The members stand is visible from the nearby [[Monash Freeway]], with the oval itself and the remaining section of the K.G. Luke stand being redeveloped as a training base for the [[Hawthorn Football Club]].
*[http://soccer.ballparks.com/Australia/Waverley/index.htm Ballparks.com]
*[http://www.mirvac.com.au/forsale/VIC/waverley_park/index.htm Mirvac Waverley Park] (housing estate on former land)
*[http://www.mirvac.com.au/forsale/VIC/waverley_park/football_back.html Mirvac "Bringing Football back to Waverley"]
[[Category:1974Mexican establishmentscuisine]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishmentsAppetizers]]
[[Category:Australian rules football grounds]]
[[Category:Defunct sports facilities]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian Baseball League]]
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