LIONS then DAYLIGHT
15 Dec 2005, 22:47
Article Sourced from www.foxsports.com.au
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Ashes ticket demand overwhelming
By Scott Coghlan
December 16, 2005
TICKETS to next year's Ashes series are about to become the hottest item in Australian sport.
Cricket Australia yesterday confirmed the schedule for the most eagerly anticipated Test series in years, with CA chief executive James Sutherland in little doubt the interest in Australia's bid to reclaim the Ashes will eclipse that for next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Sutherland said the series, which will also see the original Ashes urn on Australian soil for just the second time, would be the biggest sporting event here since the Sydney Olympics and it could produce the biggest crowd for a game of cricket in this country.
There has already been huge interest in Ashes tickets from home and abroad. Up to 7000 English fans have confirmed their interest, with speculation that figure could reach 40,000.
Sutherland said strict limits would be placed on the number of tickets available to overseas visitors and they would only be available from licensed tour operators. The schedule for the Ashes tour has been completed six months earlier than usual and ticketing details will be announced on January 10.
"The Ashes series is shaping as the biggest sporting event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics," Sutherland said. "It is a nice position to be in, but it is an important consideration for us to get that balance right.
"A lot of planning goes into that and a lot of it will come down to the individual allocations to tour groups. It is a case of having licenced tour operators that have exclusive access to tickets.
"Tickets will go on sale at some stage during the course of next year and we will be making sure the Australian public is very much aware of when tickets go on sale and where they can get them from. The advice I would be giving to Australian cricket fans all around the country is to make sure you get in very early, because the demand for this Ashes series is absolutely unprecedented."
Cricket Victoria chief executive Ken Jacobs said the Australian Test attendance record of 90,800 set in 1961 for the second day of the Test against the West Indies was under threat on Boxing Day 2006. Following its revamp, the MCG will be able to hold about 100,000 people next year.
"The interest is phenomenal," Jacobs said. "There is the potential to break that record. It will be the 100th Test match at the ground as well. It has the potential to be something special."
Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert said his organisation was looking at allocating about 5500 tickets for overseas visitors each day, with the SCG having a capacity of around 40,000.
"It is a real balance," Gilbert said. "We are mindful of a couple of years ago when the British Lions were out here and a game in Brisbane almost ended up being a home game for the Lions."
Gilbert also expects strong demand when CNSW launches its inaugural membership packages, limited to about 1500 seats, early in the new year.
The South Australian Cricket Association is set to hold a ballot for the corporate facilities at the Adelaide Oval and the SACA is bracing itself for its first sell-out days of Test cricket since the 1970s. Queensland Cricket is offering corporates the early opportunity to register their interest for next season via the website, but several clients have taken two-year deals because of the Ashes.
The WACA has received a number of requests for memberships from English fans.
The Australian
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Great news, we don't want the grounds to become full of English people getting sunburnt, getting drunk and chanting songs.
This is Australia's home series and we want to keep the advantages that come with that.
Very happy to see that grounds are making very strict limits.
:thumbsu: :thumbsu:
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Ashes ticket demand overwhelming
By Scott Coghlan
December 16, 2005
TICKETS to next year's Ashes series are about to become the hottest item in Australian sport.
Cricket Australia yesterday confirmed the schedule for the most eagerly anticipated Test series in years, with CA chief executive James Sutherland in little doubt the interest in Australia's bid to reclaim the Ashes will eclipse that for next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Sutherland said the series, which will also see the original Ashes urn on Australian soil for just the second time, would be the biggest sporting event here since the Sydney Olympics and it could produce the biggest crowd for a game of cricket in this country.
There has already been huge interest in Ashes tickets from home and abroad. Up to 7000 English fans have confirmed their interest, with speculation that figure could reach 40,000.
Sutherland said strict limits would be placed on the number of tickets available to overseas visitors and they would only be available from licensed tour operators. The schedule for the Ashes tour has been completed six months earlier than usual and ticketing details will be announced on January 10.
"The Ashes series is shaping as the biggest sporting event in Australia since the Sydney Olympics," Sutherland said. "It is a nice position to be in, but it is an important consideration for us to get that balance right.
"A lot of planning goes into that and a lot of it will come down to the individual allocations to tour groups. It is a case of having licenced tour operators that have exclusive access to tickets.
"Tickets will go on sale at some stage during the course of next year and we will be making sure the Australian public is very much aware of when tickets go on sale and where they can get them from. The advice I would be giving to Australian cricket fans all around the country is to make sure you get in very early, because the demand for this Ashes series is absolutely unprecedented."
Cricket Victoria chief executive Ken Jacobs said the Australian Test attendance record of 90,800 set in 1961 for the second day of the Test against the West Indies was under threat on Boxing Day 2006. Following its revamp, the MCG will be able to hold about 100,000 people next year.
"The interest is phenomenal," Jacobs said. "There is the potential to break that record. It will be the 100th Test match at the ground as well. It has the potential to be something special."
Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert said his organisation was looking at allocating about 5500 tickets for overseas visitors each day, with the SCG having a capacity of around 40,000.
"It is a real balance," Gilbert said. "We are mindful of a couple of years ago when the British Lions were out here and a game in Brisbane almost ended up being a home game for the Lions."
Gilbert also expects strong demand when CNSW launches its inaugural membership packages, limited to about 1500 seats, early in the new year.
The South Australian Cricket Association is set to hold a ballot for the corporate facilities at the Adelaide Oval and the SACA is bracing itself for its first sell-out days of Test cricket since the 1970s. Queensland Cricket is offering corporates the early opportunity to register their interest for next season via the website, but several clients have taken two-year deals because of the Ashes.
The WACA has received a number of requests for memberships from English fans.
The Australian
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Great news, we don't want the grounds to become full of English people getting sunburnt, getting drunk and chanting songs.
This is Australia's home series and we want to keep the advantages that come with that.
Very happy to see that grounds are making very strict limits.
:thumbsu: :thumbsu: