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Mitchell Collins

Emily Litle

ENG 121001

30 January 2022

Marvellous Connection

When we close our eyes it’s impossible not to think of something that has a drastic

impact on your own personal life. Whether that be a recent event, lost loved one, or

somewhere with unimaginable exclusive memories. For me, when I close my eyes and

reflect on deeper thoughts about my family and friends, I always get taken to my favourite

place, Marvel Stadium in Melbourne Australia. Marvel Stadium to me is a place full of ups

and downs with my close friends and family. I always get the feeling as if my late Great

Grandma is still with me when I visit. And my Pa, he doesn’t have much longer left with us,

but I will never forget the mutual love he and I have for Marvel Stadium. It is most definitely

a sanctuary for me and my family, to reflect on great moments, and feel the presence of our

loved ones who can no longer be there with us. I have jumped with joy, had my Great

Grandmas famous footy biscuits, and bawled my eyes out in those seats on level 2, bay 33.

This is my second home that I explore often to bring back the souvenirs hidden deep inside

my brain. When I visit in my head or in person, the feeling is always the same.

Marvel Stadium is something that no American could even come close to grasping.

Australian Rules Football is played in this stadium which is an oval shape with a length of

525ft and a width of 426ft. These fields are massive! Walking into the stadium you will get a

colosseum sort of feel from it, with multiple cement pillars and 3 levels for fans to sit on,

you are enclosed in this indoor dome that seats 60000 people. The inside of the stadium,
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away from the seats, is full of cafes, food vendors and team merchandise shops. There is

somewhere for you to spend your money no matter what you need, it might as well be a

mini supermarket under there. You also get a small theme park vibe as well; Marvel Stadium

is named that way due to its sponsor Marvel. Not only do you get the normal team mascots,

but you also have the chance to meat your favourite superhero while you’re at the footy.

Many activities for all ages take place around the stadium, from face painting to tackle bags

for the kids or bars and restaurants for the adults. This place is truly a masterclass for

everyone.

Every time I encounter Marvel Stadium, I get a sense of a family environment; it is an

amazing neutral ground that combines both a competitive and a loving/caring environment.

I get a discerned feeling of self-worth and hope. I am provided with my childhood dreams

and childhood memories. I always think about my Great Grandmas famous footy biscuits

(these are in reality what Americans would call store bought cookies, we just changed the

name), kind of in the same way someone might think about their mum’s secret pudding

recipe, or a traditional thanksgiving feast. With as cheesy as this is, Marvel Stadium is my

second home. It is a spectacular place full of fantastic memories and drastic heart break,

everything here is memorable. I have shed numerous tears here watching my hero’s

breakdown and lose. And like many people, where I cry, I also rejoice. Having a place like

Marvel Stadium means so much to me and thousands of other Victorians. It is a shared

place of passion and memories that many of us will truly never forget.

Marvel Stadium is what I think of when times are tough. It allows me to reflect on

moments I can no longer experience with people I can no longer see. But when I visit, I get a

sense that they are there with me, which is always a special feeling. My hero’s and my

family’s legacy come with me every time I think of Marvel Stadium or have the great
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privilege of visiting once again. The connections I have to this special place of mine will

certainly live with me for the rest of my life, and I hope to cherish them with as much care

and passion my Great Grandma did. To continue the traditions set in stone by my elders is

something I will always uphold. Having lost some of them already, and knowing my time left

with others is truly limited, I strive to do them all proud and hold our connection through

Marvel Stadium. I can’t wait until I can visit there again over the summer break. And the

thing I’ll enjoy the most will be sitting in those blue seats, that will always have a place in my

heart and are truly defining who I am as a person which also holds my fondest memories.