Did the Sydney Football Stadium fail the Wallabies?

if this isn't clear enough for anyone reading... Homebush - you are too far away from the action, which is the main problem, theres not a lot of atmosphere even with a packed house. Why should I have to pay $140 for a ticket and have to watch the big screen anyway? Rugby grounds need to have viewing stands that are more vertical - this offers better atmosphere and actually allows people to see the game. Have a look at Kings Park in Durban for reference, as well as many other grounds around the world. And lower the prices of food and beer, and get decent service, for both homebush and SFS, maybe then you'll get people returning to the grounds, until then people will continue watching the games at pubs or at home. Its quite apparent the ARU is devoted to sponsers and not the fans.

It takes me about the same time to get a train to Homebush as it does to get a taxi to Moore Park. The 'amenities' at Homebush are indeed run better. But getting home from Homebush is a nightmare. Going home from the SFS, on the other hand, is a stroll to a pub, and plenty of available taxis after a couple of beers. And I much prefer the SFS for watching the action, and for the proximity of the entertainment pre/post match. $150 for a ticket down in the dead ball area at Homebush, and ending up watching it on the big screen? No thanks. Every year I seem to (once per year) make the journey to Homebush, and in the human crush trying to get home on the train, dreaming about a beer at the Clock or the Cricketers - and the mens' room - I swear to myself, 'never again'. Thank you for reminding me early in the season, so I don't make the annual mistake again. "When the capacity of the SFS is upgraded to 55,000 seats" - when is that happening?

OME, back in your heyday I wouldn't want to be facing you in the first over ! Bennelong - the hum of the crowd, what a classic !. I have been to the SFS a gazzillion times and agree it is a good venue to watch footy. I also happen to think ANZ is a quality venue. We are lucky in Sydney to have these venues. It is a far cry from 25 years ago when the Wallabies played at the SCG and Concord Oval so quite whining and move on.

Old Man Emu takes the ball for his first over of the day. Comes in to bowl to Worlds Biggest, short outside off stump, Worlds Biggest rocks onto the back foot and smashes that through the vacant point region for four runs, the fieldsmen do not even bother chasing. That was a real loosener from OME - he is going to have to do better than that in this company. Canberra Stadium is my favourite venue, although a misery if it is raining.

I wont be going to a Wallabies match this year - and I've been going to them since the mid 80's - because I'm in protest with the ARU and the rugby schedule. I'm sick of paying $130 for a ticket at Homebush, the lack of atmosphere, the shocking viewing aspect and the rubbish 'B' sides I've watched (ie - France last year and Italy this year - virtually any team outside of the tri nations). I'll got to a good rugby pub, have a punt, a good feed, a drink and watch the games with fellow rugby fans on TV. All too often I've paid premium prices for seats and then been deliver sub standard rugby. Its about bums on seats and entertainment sorry ARU and if you aren't delivering your end.. not even a die hard rugger bugger like me will continue to swear blind allegiance to the cause. I love the history of the Barbarians and it's what makes rugby a great game - what other code throws together a team with some of the best in the world like that? Although the game is really just a spectacle and nothing more - they didn't have any defense, their set plays were ordinary and their scrum was poor. In saying that I don't expect more from a team thrown together.. but I don't expect to pay premium prices either.

I think a lot of the reason that crowds have come down is the fact that many of these games are now considered friendlys. Today people want to see real contests that mean something, not games where you win 50 nil. It also doesnt help when touring sides from the north bring their "b" teams. Look at the socceroos, they can play a team like uzbekistan, (a country where most people couldnt point to it on a map) and get 57000 people turn up. The reason being that its a world cup qualifier and has meaning. If it was a friendly you would be lucky to get 30,000.

world's biggest You can write off people from areas other than your own, and you can further blame the lack of atmosphere at Homebush on the crowd, but I can't understand it. It's a terrible Rugby venue Have you ever been to the SFS ? The best rugby stadiums are steep sided on the rectangle and the hum of the crowd is enough that you wouldn't hear a pin drop. We should get together with the League and sponsor a big Rugby stadium for Sydney Homebush is a white elephant.

John O'Neill's comments following the Barbarians match at the Sydney Football Stadium indicate the fall of rugby union in Australia. "Apart from the All Blacks, it's difficult to see any other tests drawing crowds of more than 60,000." O'Neill said. If there are genuine plans to expand the SFS to hold 55,000 seats, some reports indicate the ARU would host the European nations and the South Africans at Moore Park. What does this say about the game in Australia when a test against the second greatest rugby nation, South Africa, cannot attract more than 55,000 spectators in Sydney? Maybe the ARU need to look at their pricing of matches compared to other codes, in particular soccer internationals. The catering in the major venues around Sydney is crap. Go to the MCG or Docklands and you will have food an/or booze without missing too much of the action.

It's probably impractical but wouldn't it be great if they came to you like they make out happens at the Baseball on T.V

I used to live near Concord, and could walk home from Concord West Hotel in 30 minutes (with a million Bundies under the belt) and still hated the place. I now live on the lower North Shore, so the SFS is even better for me, but I still hate Homebush. But having lived in areas each suitable to one, at the end of the day the SFS is a better stadium. Apparently the plan is to expand it to 55,000. Yeeha! The problem with the catering at any staduium, as I understand it, is that they sell the rights to the highest bidder, who then has X years to make their money back and then a profit. So they do it as cheaply as possible for the highest prices possible. And wonder why service is crap. Stadiums may have KPIs, but you wouldn't know it. Although I remember going to an AFL game one year where the caterers had clearly changed from the cricket game I had been to 3 months before, and the change was noticeable. So it's all about who does it and how. I was in Bay 34 (not my usual) for the BarBars. We got to the game 10-15 minutes before the game. We all split up for relief stop, food, beer, etc. I looked at the beer queues, said forget it, got in the short queue for the noodle bar behind Bay 34, worked out they had ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD 10 minutes before the game started, and then went to my seat. My boys turned up with beers 2-3 minutes after the game started. I went to get some food 20 minutes into the 1st half. No noodles at the noodle bar, grabbed 2 pies. Went for another pit stop 20 minutes into the 2nd (the 743 beers at the Forresters were arriving). Noodle bar fully stocked, no one buying, every other bar closing. I just shook my head. I'll say that for Homebush, at least the catering is slightly better. But it's hard to service 80,000 people promptly. The problem is that they drop the staff levels depending on the expected crowd. I have been there for a 40,000 crowd test and gotten atrocious service because they obviously didn't put enough staff on, and over half the service points weren't open. It's not rocket science. However, the worst thing about Homebush is closing the bars about 10 minutes into the 2nd half. Even the SFS doesn't do that. It REALLY drives me nuts. Because rugby crowds have a real habit of getting drunk and rioting ... I must say, a lot of the time I feel like I'm taken for a ride. I pay top dollar for tickets, usually fight my way into the stadium (whichever), face horrid queues, get sh!t house service, and if I get a decent game to watch I feel lucky. Anyone at the SFS, AU or Homebush that thinks they provide a quality service is kidding themselves. The frustrating thing it it wouldn't be that hard to make it 100% better.

OME, there are plenty of reasons, 1. Capacity ensures most supporters don't miss out on a ticket 2. 75% of seats are undercover 3. plenty of room in concession area's when accessing food and drink 4. Easy to get in and out of venue 5. Members are gaurenteed a seat 6. Very good Corporate and Premium seating 7. Excellent and friendly customer service staff 8. Venue is only 10 yrs old - still modern 9. Reconfiguration allows Swans to play one day and League, Union or Soccer the next day 10. MOST IMPORTANT - the Beer is cold and not flat ! I could go on OME

Worlds biggest - passionate advocacy for ANZ...............any particular reason? Apart from its world class status of course.

I also went to the game on Saturday Night at the SFS, and as an earlier writer said, it was hard to get food and drinks, the lines were 15 to 20 minutes long. (at least) I live the same distance from the SFS as to ANZ Stadium, and it takes twice as long to get home from the SFS as ANZ. There was also other events on in the area that added to the traffic problems. I think if they want to have the bigger games at the SFS the organisers need to address the difficulty with the transport, and sort out the delivery of service to the patrons (their customers)

Malbino the running track was removed after the Olympics, the Stadium North and South ends were reconfigured to move closer to the acction. Also Level 2 in the East and West Stands slide in and out offering great seats. The first 4 levels at the Stadium offer good seats. Level 5 & 6 your getting into the nose bleeds. The SFS does offer closer seating to the action but it only holds 40 k, do the math. As a rule of thumb those living in the East simply don't travel to ANZ. Are they true rugby supporters ??. Are they happy to just go to the SFS to watch the Sydney Waratahs, sorry make that NSW. You want to talk about atmosphere and soul at Rugby Stadiums. You get that in the Northern Hemisphere or Sth Africa but not in Aus or NZ. It is the people in the crowd which offer that. Our crowds just don't get into it. I have been to countless Tahs games at the SFS where you can hear a pin drop. Don't blame it on ( ANZ ) the Stadiums, Rugby supporters need to make more noise. I can't see that happening. Also hoodoogurusinger, well said. All ANZ bashers reside in the East and parts of the North Shore. It is fine for everyone else. ANZ is a World Class venue where the Wallabies have a very good record.

If the SFS crowd was a litmus test for future fixturing, then the same must be the case for Canberra Stadium this Saturday with the Italy Test. The ACT and surrounding areas has been crying poor for a Test match since Argentina visited in 2000, and especially with two Super titles coming in that time. I'm very glad the SFS was well-attended Saturday just gone, and I sincerely hope the same can be said for Canberra this weekend. Yes, it'll be cold, but that's part of the experience. And rum fixes that!! Get out there and get amongst it!!

ilikedahoodoogurusingha, I couldn't disagree with you more. i absolutely refuse to go to homebush. The place has no soul, no heart, no atmosphere. No restuarants, No pubs, it is basically the worst stadium I have ever been to and I have watched rugby in the last 10 years in Stade de France in Paris, Twikenham in London, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and my favourite, Lang park in Brisbane. I would bet my last dollar you would not of got 40 thousand at Homebush on Saturday night. My main critism of SFS is it takes forever to get a $6.50 flat beer. It has been like that since they opened the place and it seems that it will probably always be that way unfortunately.

I went to the game on Saturday, and it will probably be the last time I go to a test at SFS. Queues for the bar were ridiculous, no trains, and an absolute s***fight to get home again. At Homebush I can drive to Pennant Hills pick up my Dad get a bus and be there in less than half an hour. Apparently stats show that most RU fans who go to games are from the North Shore, Central Coast and Western Sydney, it makes much more sense and convenience to go to homebush for the MAJORITY.

Aah I miss living in Brissie. Lang Park - what a venue and what a location!!

Paul, I think most stopped paying attention to old Misery Guts Growden a while ago. The SFS beats Homebush hands down in every facet (except service, where Homebush is poor, the SFS is as everyone said diabloical). 40,000 for a Barbarians game is a decent feat, when a lot of people thought it was a sell out, the trains were knackered, and it was a long weekend (some people do go away even when a game is on). Plus the atmosphere and spectacle were far better, at a ground built for footy. Homebush always feels miles from the game, and feels empty unless you have more than about 50,000. That same crowd at Homebush would have produced poor atmosphere, and it may have actually been lower. You seem to ignore the fact that anyone but Tri Nations games at Homebush now get poor crowds, mainly because the European teams keep sending 2nd rate teams. Was it Wales last year that got 30,000 or so? That's pathetic. Whereas the same crowd at the SFS would have been a better fit, produced a better atmosphere, and probably gotten a higher crowd. Even South Africa games in recent years don't sell out, although I blame that mainly on the poor games of recent years (remember that horrid kickathon a few years ago? the worst Test I have ever seen). So Homebush is not the be all and end all. Decent games fill stadiums, not the stadiums themselves. What I found annoying was this bull sh%t from JON saying the BarBars game was the litmus test for the SFS as a test venue. Um, JON, if you haven't worked out it needs to be used for the smaller Tests, you're not as smart as everyone thinks. I suspect he was just trying to pump the numbers up, rather than that being a true reflection of what they are thinking. If the ARU aren't already planning on using the SFS for tests in Syndey against Italy, weaker Home Nations, and so forth, they're fools. Oh, wait up. This is the ARU I'm talking about .... And trying to suggest Homebush has decent facilities is rubbish. There's 1 pub under the Novotel that is always packed and I've never been to for that reason. It's bad enough when I go out there for league games with 15-20,000. The nearest other pub is next to Concord West station, and does a roaring trade (including from me). However, this is a fraction of those that attend, only really helps those travelling on the Northern line, and requires a decent walk that is exactly the reason you are having a go at the SFS for!! Plus it's horrible to get a taxi from at closing. And eateries in Concord, Flemington and Homebush miss the point. Olympic Park is in the middle of nowhere, and you'd need to catch a cab from your meal to the game. With the SFS you walk past more pubs and cafes to get there than you could ever visit! The fact that the ARU have only in the last year or 2 started setting up decent food and bar facilities on a temporary basis shows how poorly thought out their event management is. Had they been doing this from the beginning, many fans might have warmed to Homebush. As it is, only a Bledisloe Cup will now get me out there, and I never enjoy non-Bledisloes as much as games at the SFS. The only good thing about Homebush is it seats 85,000, meaning the bad old days of only 2,000 seats at the SFS being on sale to the general public are over. Apart from that, change the caterers at the SFS and it'd be perfect. Litmus test passed, JON. Bring on the next Test at the SFS!!

Being a Eastern Suburbs person I understand why the SFS is favoured by locals.Close to Paddo pubs and home. I dont ANZ Stadium location to pubs is the real issue, as per Word Cup you set up temporary bars[ sponsored] Its simply you are too far away from the action .. the game. Sure SFS is too far for many Sydney fans, and I'm happy to move the games and would travel. BUT not to ANZ to watch Rugby as you are too far from the field. Remember the ground was built for Olympics ie there's a running track around the oval. Most people I know who live in Eastern Subs say the same.. you are to far away from the game.