The Sydney Derby is a sight to behold. The first encounter in the current A-League season was the most electric crowd atmosphere I have ever witnessed.
With one half of Allianz Stadium decked in blue and the other in red, it was every Australian football purist’s dream.
40,000 people packed into Allianz Stadium to see who would take home the three points.
That’s big news for the fans, league administrators, TV executives and excitingly big news for the bean counters regarding gate takings.
So how do you improve on the amazing, almost perfect, situation we now have?
You move the biggest game of the year in Sydney to the biggest stadium in Sydney.
Notice how I said “game”, as in singular.
Every time a derby approaches there are sections of football fans who miss out on tickets to the match.
They demand the most logical thing, moving the game to Stadium Australia.
I for one love seeing attendance figures above 50,000 for our league but I have to agree with the fans at Western Sydney, who argue that moving the games away from the home stadium destroys the essence of a club.
However, the A-League is set up in such a way that you can move one of the Sydney derbies to Stadium Australia each year.
Currently there are 3 derbies a season.
I believe the solution that serves everybody nicely is to move the third derby of the season to Stadium Australia.
Both teams still get one “true home” derby at their stadium every season, so that situation is still maintained.
All you have to is to keep rotating who gets the second “home” derby every year and host it at Stadium Australia.
Make a huge event of it, and that year the “home” team gets all the gate takings.
The next year it is the other team’s turn to host the derby at Stadium Australia, and they get the takings.
Fans worried about losing their home stadium derby still get one of those, and fans who complain about missing out on seats to the derby now have 80,000 chances to get a ticket.
Heck, even forge a trophy and make it an annual prize to win.
Come on David Gallop, make a statement to the sporting world and build the Sydney Derby global showpiece by hosting an annual game at Stadium Australia.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Exactly. But that depends on how many members snap up tickets first haha. I'll be using the opportunity to stand with the RBB for the first time at home after spending the last couple of seasons in the eastern stand.
ciudadmarron
Guest
You bet AZ. Prices start at 50 bucks for 3 matches. 30 at CC I believe. Here's hoping both teams get a few through the door. Given the scarcity of Wanderers tickets in general I'm hoping that the opportunity for joe public to see them in action will see some very good crowds.
yewonk
Guest
no we are not going to anz. let them rebuild a proper rectangular stadium. not watching wanderers playing in the middle of a racecourse
1860melbourne
Guest
Its a world cup year . Interest in the game will be sky high. Round one FC v WSW with their new Marquee man? 60 000 will be the least of your worries.
Allan
Guest
Absolutely
AZ_RBB
Guest
Off topic but are all the WSW fans here planning to attend our ACL home games? Tickets are surprisingly cheap.
AZ_RBB
Guest
A grand final could. But don't see that happening in the near future. A regular season game with a lot on the line should get 60k and that would be insane fun to attend.
ciudadmarron
Guest
I don't think we can, yet.
Lachlan
Guest
I was at the Olympic games grand final between Spain and Cameroon - 100,000 people (including the stands they took down), and the atmosphere was unbelievable. If you can fill the stadium, it's worth it
savagegardening
Guest
Brazil, is not the home of association football, home is where is the game is born and that is England and you'll find their great grounds are, like the pitch, rectangular. PS look at the football stadiums at this years world cup too and think you'll they're a lot more rectangular than oval.
Allan
Guest
There's simply no advertising in media for these derbies, TV advertisements are the difference between 40k at SFS and 60k at Homebush (maybe more).
AZ_RBB
Guest
That's the other thing. It's very rare to see a derby with equal portions of support. Even cup ties, often a large portion is given to neutrals. I'm confident WSW will outnumber SFC. But happy for the smurfs to try and prove me wrong.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Would love to see 60k at ANZ with Wanderers supporters and Sydney supporters spilt right down the middle. Just like that have for FA Cups, at least in this case the support would be even but you get what I mean.
AZ_RBB
Guest
You're probably right. But I think it would be interesting to test the waters once in season 14/15. A finals series game before that would be the ideal test. Now THAT would be massive.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
I think wait a few more years, allowing SFC and WSW more time to grow. It won't be long before 60k+ is easily achievable for a Sydney Derby (and long term I can see it selling out ANZ each year) but that time isn't now. In a few seasons, I think having the third Sydney Derby of each season at ANZ would be perfect.
LX
Guest
Down here in Melbourne, I've also pondered the prospect of having a neutral derby, with split gate receipts. The vast majority of Melbourne Victory fans thoroughly dislike Docklands Stadium, and despite the smaller capacity, would rather play our home derby at AAMI Park. The Neutral Derby could be the season-opener at Docklands, with both Heart's 5-6,000 members and Victory's 21-22,000 members granted admission with their season ticket. I don't understand the geographic nature of Sydney too well, but it might at least be worth pursuing as a one-off to break the record A-League attendance for a regular season match (currently held by MVFC). Get 60,000 and it will make headlines.
Towser
Guest
Either way first derby at ANZ last derby at ANZ,make the most of it. As long as each club has a traditional home & away match. The third match in any A-League season is unfair anyway. Sydney FC this year have 2 Home matches,WSW's have one. Sure WSW's will have 2 next season,but that has zilch bearing on results this season. Cant see the A-League having an even Home & away season in the near future(if ever) due to the lack of clubs. Lets face it a 14 team league produces less matches 26 than current 27,were a way off that yet.
Peaches
Guest
There are many supporters of both clubs who are against this idea. Admittedly many of these supporters will go to all 3 derbies each and every season. While the atmosphere may suffer, I think it's probably worth at least an attempt. Too often people complain about the FFA or the A-League not growing the game. This is an excellent opportunity to do so. A 3rd derby after the Big Bash when I think the field is at it's healthiest would be ideal as a good pitch and a good spectacle will make fans want to come back. It could become one of the best matches of the season in regards to attendance and the quality. Match day does suffer a bit with only the one hotel (Novotel) from memory where people can eat and drink at down the bottom. Though there always seems to be marquees everywhere during events so that could possibly be addressed with a big tent and fencing making a makeshift beer garden even haha
AZ_RBB
Guest
So far the history has been 1st - sold out a week before the game - 19k 2nd - far from sold out - 26k 3rd - instant sell out, tickets going for $100 - 19k 4th - sold out a few days before kick off - 40k 5th - instant sell out, basically members only - 18k Tickets to the 6th derby go on sale this week with member pre-sales. Lets see how it goes.
JamesP
Guest
"This derby is going to be huge pretty soon and 50,000 will be a disappointing figure if it is held at ANZ." If the Melbourne derbies are any indication, the Sydney derby has already reached its peak. You just scraped to 40k at the start of the season and the first derby is always the most hyped.