Melbourne Victory won 3-0 against Sydney FC in their first home game at Etihad Stadium this year in the grand final rematch last Saturday. Although the result was good for Victory, the crowd was their lowest ever against Sydney FC.
Only 17,299 showed up, and 17,000 fans in a 56,000 stadium isn’t good enough. The crowd could have comfortably fitted into AAMI Park, a smaller stadium and a stadium that was built for football.
Melbourne Victory must realise that it is time to move out of Etihad Stadium completely, and play all of their home games in the regular season at AAMI Park starting from next season; even the ones against Adelaide United, Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC.
It should happen for two major reasons.
First of all, Etihad Stadium is an oval, built for Aussie rules, so you are far away from all the action, although it is much more suitable for the round ball than the MCG.
Also, the worst seats in the stadium obscure the view of the oval. At AAMI Park, it is a rectanglar stadium, the first large purpose one in Melbourne.
You are not far away from the action whatever sport is being played there, like rugby league, football and from next year, rugby union.
Second, atmosphere.
Yes, Etihad Stadium is a bigger stadium, but if the Sydney FC game was played at AAMI Park and the same 17,000 people attended, AAMI Park’s smaller capacity would of made an electric atmosphere, even short of a capacity 30,050.
Etihad’s time was up as the Victory’s home ground last year. Move to the stadium that was “built for football” for your fans.
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