http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20486672-5001023,00.html
Sold out
By Josh Massoud
September 28, 2006 12:00
UNLESS you fancy a glimpse of the game through a cheerleader's pom-pom or television tripods, forget heading to the grand final.
In a black eye for doomsayers who decried the interstate decider as a non-event, only a handful of restricted view tickets remain for Sunday night's big one between out-of-towners Brisbane and Melbourne.
Aside from obstructed vantage points at either end of Telstra Stadium behind the cheerleaders and boom cameras, every seat at the 80,000-capacity venue has been sold.
The unlikely rush has emanated from an unlikely source – Sydney.
Rather than drift into rugby league oblivion with the demise of its last two hopes – St George Illawarra and the Bulldogs – the city has embraced the visiting teams like long-lost relatives.
Of the 15,000 remaining tickets snapped up since Monday, almost two-thirds were purchased by Sydneysiders.
Ironically, many of the locals in the stands on Sunday will be Bulldogs and Dragons fans who purchased tickets in August hoping their team would win through.
But instead of off-loading their seats along with their premiership dream, the vast majority are still headed to Telstra Stadium to witness the historic clash.
Bulldogs diehard Brett Rowe, from blue and white heartland in Belmore, said handing over his tickets was not an option.
"It's a grand final – who cares who is playing?" the 31-year-old said.
"I would love the Bulldogs to be there every year, but that's not going to happen.
"Although I obviously didn't expect it this year, an interstate grand final was going to happen sooner or later.
"As a Bulldogs fan, it's actually better. If we can't be the best Sydney team – no one can."
Dragons fanatic Glenn Baker is also enthused about the prospect of witnessing a new chapter in the game's evolution.
"I'm disappointed the Dragons aren't going to be there, but it will still be a great game," Baker said.
"And if it happens to be a classic, I can always say I was there."
As far as Sydney is concerned, the south-west suburb of Edensor Park has become an outpost for the Melbourne Storm.
It's there that Heather Spickler and her son Luke have decorated their house and car in a purple haze of grand final fever.
"It's attracted plenty of cheering, honking horns and, I must confess, a bit of friendly abuse too," Ms Spickler said.
Along with other Storm fans, the pair trekked to Mascot last night to welcome their heroes to town.
"I took the whole month off work," Ms Spickler said.
"People thought I was crazy, but look who's laughing now."
And it's not only rank-and-file punters who are swept up in the contest's unique appeal.
Telstra Stadium's 6000-seat corporate hospitality section not only sold out quicker than last year, it also raked in more money.
Manager John Montgomery said the last package sold on Saturday – four days earlier than the 2005 fairytale decider between the Tigers and Cowboys.
"From our perspective the all-interstate grand final hasn't affected demand at all, in fact it has broadened that demand."
Even the second-hand market for tickets is not as buoyant as 12 months ago.
About 700 tickets were last night available on eBay – fewer than the same time last year.
Sold out
By Josh Massoud
September 28, 2006 12:00
UNLESS you fancy a glimpse of the game through a cheerleader's pom-pom or television tripods, forget heading to the grand final.
In a black eye for doomsayers who decried the interstate decider as a non-event, only a handful of restricted view tickets remain for Sunday night's big one between out-of-towners Brisbane and Melbourne.
Aside from obstructed vantage points at either end of Telstra Stadium behind the cheerleaders and boom cameras, every seat at the 80,000-capacity venue has been sold.
The unlikely rush has emanated from an unlikely source – Sydney.
Rather than drift into rugby league oblivion with the demise of its last two hopes – St George Illawarra and the Bulldogs – the city has embraced the visiting teams like long-lost relatives.
Of the 15,000 remaining tickets snapped up since Monday, almost two-thirds were purchased by Sydneysiders.
Ironically, many of the locals in the stands on Sunday will be Bulldogs and Dragons fans who purchased tickets in August hoping their team would win through.
But instead of off-loading their seats along with their premiership dream, the vast majority are still headed to Telstra Stadium to witness the historic clash.
Bulldogs diehard Brett Rowe, from blue and white heartland in Belmore, said handing over his tickets was not an option.
"It's a grand final – who cares who is playing?" the 31-year-old said.
"I would love the Bulldogs to be there every year, but that's not going to happen.
"Although I obviously didn't expect it this year, an interstate grand final was going to happen sooner or later.
"As a Bulldogs fan, it's actually better. If we can't be the best Sydney team – no one can."
Dragons fanatic Glenn Baker is also enthused about the prospect of witnessing a new chapter in the game's evolution.
"I'm disappointed the Dragons aren't going to be there, but it will still be a great game," Baker said.
"And if it happens to be a classic, I can always say I was there."
As far as Sydney is concerned, the south-west suburb of Edensor Park has become an outpost for the Melbourne Storm.
It's there that Heather Spickler and her son Luke have decorated their house and car in a purple haze of grand final fever.
"It's attracted plenty of cheering, honking horns and, I must confess, a bit of friendly abuse too," Ms Spickler said.
Along with other Storm fans, the pair trekked to Mascot last night to welcome their heroes to town.
"I took the whole month off work," Ms Spickler said.
"People thought I was crazy, but look who's laughing now."
And it's not only rank-and-file punters who are swept up in the contest's unique appeal.
Telstra Stadium's 6000-seat corporate hospitality section not only sold out quicker than last year, it also raked in more money.
Manager John Montgomery said the last package sold on Saturday – four days earlier than the 2005 fairytale decider between the Tigers and Cowboys.
"From our perspective the all-interstate grand final hasn't affected demand at all, in fact it has broadened that demand."
Even the second-hand market for tickets is not as buoyant as 12 months ago.
About 700 tickets were last night available on eBay – fewer than the same time last year.
