ANZ too big for Australian sports fans?
Full Stadium or not so full? Which do you prefer?
SMH are reporting this morning that a crowd of only 60,000 is expected to watch Australia take on Uzbekistan for a place in the 2010 World Cup finals. We could be the first to qualify.
In which other country would such a crowd, 22,000 below capacity, watch such an important game?
We've clearly got our ticket prices way too high, or indeed we've still got a way to go in Australia, in football, to break through the crowd barriers. Or maybe Aussies just don't need a sports stadium (other than the MCG) this big.
60,000 is a good crowd, but if the Sydney Stadium holds 82,000 then clearly 60,000 people is not enough!!
And how many times does the stadium in Sydney ever sell-out, for any sport?
Not for Rugby League weekly games, nor State of Origin in recent years, or even Wallaby tests other than when the Kiwi's bring 30,000 or more. AFL? Not ever in my memory, Super 14, nope..only maybe David Beckham, Bledisloe Cup, NRL Grand Final and the Uruguay game can fill it.
Three or four events in four years. Not many is it? And it clearly shows Aussies passion for sport just isn't as big as some would have us believe.
Home World Cup Qualifiers are still not sell-outs. And that's with the current level of stars, Kewell, Cahill and co. How many will come to watch Australia if:
1) We are bottom of the group.
2) We have no Kewell, Cahill and co in the line-up in years to come.
3) We continue to play major games in Sydney Olympic Stadium
The FFA need to think about where future World Cup games are played. You'd think Suncorp, the MCG and certainly the Dome would have sold out.
There's nothing worse than thousands of empty seats in a stadium for a big game is there.....ask the NRL they use ANZ every week......it's not a good look is it?
4 comments:
Eamonn
I'm not convinved it won't be full. I've been to two games in Sydney over the past two years which meant nothing (friendly v Uruguay with limited European based players, and qualifier against China which was a dead rubber and consisted mainly of A- League players) and both times it was close to a sell-out. I'm sure once the team is announced, which will obvioously include "Kewell and the gang" tickets will sell faster.
You may be right Theo and I hope you are..but it seems there are few Aussie sports that get sold out these days..guess we are overloaded..
FFA are not convinced it will sell-out hence my blog above...
here's hoping it does:)
I think the China match could take some of the blame here. Australia's approach to that was cynical and took the fans for granted. It is expensive to go watch the team and they not only protected the first teamers but the second and third teamers as well. You'll be asking the same question when the A-Leaguers take on Japan at a half empty MCG.
nearly 60,000, rain probably kept a few away - great atmosphere!
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