Swans blockbuster competing with Rugby Union

[nicko18]

was thinking it would be very interesting seeing how many people will be at the ground tomorrow, as well as the tv ratings after the swans announcement of financial crisis.

I just realised there is a rugby union test match competing with the AFL saturday night. Australia v Ireland @ Perth 7pm AET. This will mean a substantial whack of people who were going to go to stadium australia will instead be staying at home, flicking between live broadcasts of the AFL and the RU.

[thommoone]

Yeah, one of my friends who is a rugby lover but doesnt mind AFL was gona go to the swans game but has chosen to stay hoome cause of the rugby match, and flick between broadcasts

[Plugger46]

The true supporters will turn up, I think we'll get a fair turn out.

I have heard that they have pre-sold a lot of tickets during the week, for tomorrow night's game. So that has to be encouraging in itself.

[nicko18]

Originally posted by Plugger46
The true supporters will turn up, I think we'll get a fair turn out.

I have heard that they have pre-sold a lot of tickets during the week, for tomorrow night's game. So that has to be encouraging in itself.

the fringe supporters (aka union fans) is what will take this crowd beyond 50k.

i asked my boss, who is a mad swans fan (a true supporter like you said), if she was going to the game. she said she was going to stay at home because she'll be able to watch both sports, and both live. i reckon there would be a lot of people like that.

do you know how many pre-sold?

[Bron]

I thought I read a report in the SMH over the last couple of days where Paul G of the Swans membership dept said that they had presold more tivkets than for any of the other Stadium Australia games.

[RogueSwan]

From the HeraldSun

"With the Swans coming off an inspiring win over Richmond at the MCG last week, the club is anticipating a crowd of up to 45,000 for the game, promoted as a celebration of indigenous football.

Teams will play for the annual Marn Grook trophy. Marn Grook is an Aboriginal term for "ball game".

Ticket sales have been at a record pace, but the Swans will need a huge walk-up crowd if they are to break their record of 54,169 - the largest to attend an AFL match outside Melbourne."

I will be one of those walk ups, but will there be another 10 000 like me?

[Jon]

during the record attendance of 54 odd thousand, we had approx 20 000 Newbies coming in to "give the code a go"

We need all of THEM, plus a good number of the Telstra Stad members (an indecent amount of whom are sure to be union fans) to even go close.

All things perfect...perfect weather, no big League or Union games, Swans playing well, good coverage in the media etc...we could have a shot...

Unfortunately a couple of those pre-conditions don't exist this time around....

Knock wood for a big crowd....but don't underestimate the importance of attracting anything over 40 000!!!!!

[Rizzo]

Close to 46K was pretty good considering the Test was on.

[barry]

Originally posted by Rizzo
Close to 46K was pretty good considering the Test was on.

Yep, I especially liked how the top deck of the western (?) stand was not used. I guess to save costs of opening up loos, bars etc.
It meant the 46,000 were cramed into the remaining 50,000 odd capacity, which gave it a good atmosphere.

[Bron]

I thought that the atmosphere was great!

The chants were coming from everywhere!