AS BOTH an architect and a football fan, I am often asked what my thoughts are on Melbourne’s new Rectangular Stadium.

In my not so humble architectural opinion I believe that the future home of Melbourne Victory and some other team that plays with a funny shaped ball, will be the benchmark for all major stadia in this country.

Its design, which harks back to Buckminster Fuller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller) and his geodesic dome is something that has never been seen before in this country in relation to stadium design. In fact, my thoughts are that it is finally dragging stadium design in this country kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

Many fans would argue is it really necessary to have that fancy roof and wouldn't it have been cheaper just to have a simple flat roof - because in the end we just want a place where we can watch football and be close to the action? But as you would guess I strongly disagree with that notion.

Instead of just having a football stadium, Melbourne will have an icon. It will be a place that divides people's opinions and have people talking, much like Munich's Allianz Arena and Berlin's Olympic Stadium of the 2006 World Cup. And that is good for not only both the football and architectural communities, but also for the community at large.

I will contrast it to Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium: whilst currently being the best rectangular stadium in this country in my opinion, it's not the kind of stadium that gets people talking. Unless of course if it's in relation to why Roar can't get a decent crowd or whether it should be still referred to as Lang Park.

Melbourne's Rectangular Stadium, as it starts to take shape adjacent to Melbourne's original home at Olympic Park, has the city abuzz.

It's a building that grabs your attention - whether it is by catching a glimpse of it before you disappear into the Domain Tunnel; or by distracting you from your book as you go past on the train or tram; or realising how big it is actually going to be as you walk along Swan Street.

My only hope is that the Olympic Park Trust does the right thing and doesn't go down the path of other stadiums and sell its naming rights because we don't really want to have to keep changing its name every few years like our current home, Colonial/Telstra/Etihad Domed Stadium. Because in my opinion it takes a certain gloss off the place.

According to my recently obtained membership brochure, it's due for completion in March 2010 - just in time for Melbourne's next ACL campaign. But as a person who works within the industry, I wouldn't be beholden to that date because no project ever meets its deadline. Trust me on that one.

Neil would like to point out that his opinion on the current rectangular stadiums in this country is restricted by the fact that the only other stadia (apart from the regularly attended Colonial/Telstra/Etihad Domed Stadium) he has only visited Suncorp Stadium and the Sydney Football Stadium, but would very much like to visit them all to have a fully reasoned opinion.