Fans Criticize Etihad Stadium's Decision To Close Roof For Melbourne BBL Derby

Despite a "barrage of social media criticism" about oppressive heat under the Etihad Stadium roof, Big Bash League side Melbourne Renegades has "defended the decision" to hang two giant jumbotron screens above the arena for Saturday night's Big Bash League derby against the Melbourne Stars, according to Daniel Cherny of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. A host of people who said they attended the match "took aim at Etihad via the stadium's Facebook page, venting their anger about the conditions under the roof during the match, which began at 7:10pm with the temperature in Melbourne still 35 degrees." The venue indicated that the roof "would have been shut even if the screens weren't present." With stifling conditions inside the stadium, "fans lashed out, criticising the need to have the screens rather than allow the air to flow from outside, and questioning whether the stadium had jeopardised the health of attendees" (SMH, 1/8).