MELBOURNE'S Telstra Dome, the home ground of Essendon, Carlton, North Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs, will be rebranded Etihad Stadium from the start of next year's AFL season.

The new five-year deal with the Abu Dhabi-based airline coincides with the introduction of non-stop Etihad Airways flights from Melbourne.

Thursday's announcement came at a media conference with Melbourne Stadiums Ltd CEO Ian Collins and Etihad Airways chief executive James Hogan.

Etihad has sponsorship deals with the Ferrari F1 team, Chelsea Football Club, Harlequins Rugby Football Club, the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The airline is also the signature sponsor of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 2009.

Collins said Etihad's international links with sport would help the venue's plans to grow on the world stage.

"In nine years we've become as a venue very much a part of the sporting landscape in Australia," Collins said.

"In that time we've attracted close to 20 million patrons through the gates to watch events. We've staged many hundreds of AFL games, we've hosted many international events such as the Commonwealth Games, Rugby Sevens tournament, a World Cup qualifier, big concerts like U2, Robbie Williams, Barbra Streisand, just to name a few ... WWE wrestling and, of course, a world title fight.

"Like us, they (Etihad) want to get bigger and better."

Hogan said the world's fastest growing airline would fly to more than 50 cities by the end of this year – its fifth in operation.

"As a Melburnian, I know better than anyone the impact of footy and the advantage of being involved in sport is how we take this relationship into the community," Hogan said.

"We’ll be promoting Melbourne, Melbourne sport, Melbourne as a destination through our network."

Telstra Dome, situated in the city's Docklands precinct, opened in 2000 as Colonial Stadium and has a seating capacity of 55,000.