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Organisers are looking to add extra seats at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium ahead of a potential Asian Cup semi-final blockbuster between Australia and defending champions Japan.
The venue is the smallest of five being used for the tournament and can only accommodate around 23,000 people in its stands.
That’s around 10,000 short of full capacity because the Asian Football Confederation has prevented the sale of tickets to the two non-seated areas behind the goals.
But the home of A-League’s Newcastle Jets could host the biggest match of the Cup so far.
If the Socceroos beat China in Thursday’s quarter-final at Suncorp Stadium, they will most likely play tournament favourites Japan at the ground on January 27.
Despite the likely high demand for tickets, local organising committee chief executive Michael Brown has all but ruled out a switch to Sydney’s ANZ Stadium – which is hosting the other semi-final on Australia Day and final on January 31.
The former Olympic venue can hold around 83,500 fans but moving there would be a logistical nightmare, Brown believes.
“We haven’t even looked at it,” he told AAP on Monday.
“I think it would be disrespectful to either team (Australia or China) to be contemplating it.”
A Hunter Stadium spokesperson confirmed organisers had sought to add temporary seating on the ground’s hills.
“Regarding the semi-finals, we have received a formal request from the Australian Local Organising Committee to increase the capacity at the grassed ends,” a spokesperson told AFP.
“The matter will be deliberated and a decision will be made on it soon.”
Australia had been widely tipped to top their group, meaning they would have played their quarter-final in Melbourne and, if victorious, their semi-final in Sydney.
But Saturday’s 1-0 loss to South Korea meant they finished second and on a much tougher route to the Cup final.
A number of local fans have already gone online to try sell their tickets to Thursday’s match between South Korea and Uzbekistan at AAMI Park, now that Australia won’t be playing.
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