- Banned
- #1
.. you sniverling little victorian minnows. Yes thats you North Melbourne, Richmond, Carlton.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20407993-23211,00.html
SYDNEY'S preliminary final at Telstra Stadium is poised to become the highest-ever grossing AFL game outside Victoria.
With early ticket sales on track for a record 80,000-plus sellout crowd, Friday week's game stands to generate more than $6 million at the gate.
The AFL's massive windfall could increase by another $1million as a result of merchandising sales on the night.
By yesterday afternoon the AFL had sold more than 30,000 tickets for the Swans' final against the winner of tomorrow night's semi-final between Fremantle and Melbourne.
That figure is well ahead of the first day sales for the Swans' 2003 preliminary final against Brisbane at Telstra Stadium which attracted a crowd of 71,019.
Sydney's love affair with the Swans should see a record crowd for an AFL game outside Victoria, which was set in 2003 when 72,393 people watched Sydney play Collingwood at Telstra Stadium in round 21.
The AFL's multi-million dollar bank from the preliminary final underlines why the Swans and the Sydney market is so crucial to the AFL's success.
It should also silence the malcontents within the Melbourne clubs who believe the AFL is spending too much money growing its northern markets, especially western Sydney and south-east Queensland.
The AFL will officially announce today the exact breakdown of how it plans to spend its five-year $1.3 billion war chest that includes the new $780 million TV rights deal that kicks in next year.
Sydney and New South Wales will be the big winners with the AFL expected to commit to spending in excess of $40 million to tackle rugby league and rugby union head on during the next five years.
The AFL's $6 million game in Sydney also proves that the Swans, as a brand, are equal to rival football codes in Australia's biggest and toughest market.
If the Swans' preliminary final sells out as anticipated, it will be the second biggest football game in Sydney for 2006 behind the NRL grand final on October 1, which is expected to draw 83,000 people.
This year's State of Origin rugby league match at Telstra attracted a record crowd of 72,773 for a series opener, while Australia's two rugby Tests against England and South Africa only averaged 61,000 people.
Swans coach Paul Roos believes a record crowd will not only help to create a hostile environment for their opponents, but it will be huge for the game itself.
"It's certainly important to get a 70,000-plus crowd with the atmosphere and the hype," he said.
"There's the importance of winning because it gets you through to the grand final, but there is also the added importance of the development of the game itself in Sydney."
The Swans' must-see preliminary final also represents the best value marquee football match in Sydney this year.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said that Swans tickets, ranging from $60 to $100.70 for adults, represent excellent value and should encourage a sellout.
"We are hoping that we can push towards the AFL record crowd for a match at Telstra Stadium as the preliminary final is the second-most important match on the calendar, behind only the grand final," Demetriou said.
"For a premium match, we believe that we have catered for all types of supporters who wish to attend and we urge the Sydney public to get behind their team."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20407993-23211,00.html
SYDNEY'S preliminary final at Telstra Stadium is poised to become the highest-ever grossing AFL game outside Victoria.
With early ticket sales on track for a record 80,000-plus sellout crowd, Friday week's game stands to generate more than $6 million at the gate.
The AFL's massive windfall could increase by another $1million as a result of merchandising sales on the night.
By yesterday afternoon the AFL had sold more than 30,000 tickets for the Swans' final against the winner of tomorrow night's semi-final between Fremantle and Melbourne.
That figure is well ahead of the first day sales for the Swans' 2003 preliminary final against Brisbane at Telstra Stadium which attracted a crowd of 71,019.
Sydney's love affair with the Swans should see a record crowd for an AFL game outside Victoria, which was set in 2003 when 72,393 people watched Sydney play Collingwood at Telstra Stadium in round 21.
The AFL's multi-million dollar bank from the preliminary final underlines why the Swans and the Sydney market is so crucial to the AFL's success.
It should also silence the malcontents within the Melbourne clubs who believe the AFL is spending too much money growing its northern markets, especially western Sydney and south-east Queensland.
The AFL will officially announce today the exact breakdown of how it plans to spend its five-year $1.3 billion war chest that includes the new $780 million TV rights deal that kicks in next year.
Sydney and New South Wales will be the big winners with the AFL expected to commit to spending in excess of $40 million to tackle rugby league and rugby union head on during the next five years.
The AFL's $6 million game in Sydney also proves that the Swans, as a brand, are equal to rival football codes in Australia's biggest and toughest market.
If the Swans' preliminary final sells out as anticipated, it will be the second biggest football game in Sydney for 2006 behind the NRL grand final on October 1, which is expected to draw 83,000 people.
This year's State of Origin rugby league match at Telstra attracted a record crowd of 72,773 for a series opener, while Australia's two rugby Tests against England and South Africa only averaged 61,000 people.
Swans coach Paul Roos believes a record crowd will not only help to create a hostile environment for their opponents, but it will be huge for the game itself.
"It's certainly important to get a 70,000-plus crowd with the atmosphere and the hype," he said.
"There's the importance of winning because it gets you through to the grand final, but there is also the added importance of the development of the game itself in Sydney."
The Swans' must-see preliminary final also represents the best value marquee football match in Sydney this year.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said that Swans tickets, ranging from $60 to $100.70 for adults, represent excellent value and should encourage a sellout.
"We are hoping that we can push towards the AFL record crowd for a match at Telstra Stadium as the preliminary final is the second-most important match on the calendar, behind only the grand final," Demetriou said.
"For a premium match, we believe that we have catered for all types of supporters who wish to attend and we urge the Sydney public to get behind their team."
