The biggest game of the season in its smallest-ever venue has A-League fans torn.
There’s delight when tickets are locked in for Sunday’s grand final.
But frustration too, that other fans, friends and possibly even club members will miss out.
Tickets went on sale on Monday morning for the showpiece match, pitting old rivals Melbourne Victory against Sydney FC, at the league’s newest venue, AAMI Park.
With only 30,000 seats in the house – including 22,000 for Victory members and 3,500 for travelling Sydney support – fans aren’t leaving anything to chance.
Club members have been given first chance to buy, with FFA saying tickets were “flying” out the door early, confirming a “really strong” day of sales that means the grand final seats might not be made available to the public.
Tickets surfaced for up to $500 each on online auction site eBay on Monday.
Earlier, Victory members lined up outside Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, one of Ticketek’s agencies, for over an hour before tickets went on sale to make sure of their seats.
Supporters admit to mixed feelings about the venue.
AAMI Park was confirmed after months of confusion and negotiation between the FFA, AFL, the Victorian government and other venues.
Etihad Stadium, which packed in 50,873 for Friday night’s semi-final between the two Melbourne clubs, was the preferred venue for the marquee match.
But with the Western Bulldogs fixtured by the AFL to play Fremantle on Sunday at the Docklands venue, neither club nor code was willing to compromise.
Robin Young, of Richmond, one of the first in line, suggested the Bulldogs could have yielded, given the reported funding on the table to move their match to Geelong’s Simonds Stadium.
“The Bulldogs could have been a bit more reasonable, with the money it could’ve had,” he said.
“It’s a bit ridiculous it wasn’t sorted out months in advance, so it’s a failure of the FFA as well.”
Leon Keramaris of Surry Hills, said the FFA should have been more organised.
“It is a great ground to watch football, but capacity-wise, it’s a shame some fans and I dare say some members might miss out,” he said.
Kim, who admitted to “nervous anticipation” after buying his ticket, believed the AFL would never give soccer a leg-up.
“I’m very cynical about the AFL, I think they’re a bit scared of soccer and they’re trying to lock it out as best they can,” he said.
“I’ve got friends who aren’t members who won’t be able to go, but it’s a better place to watch football than Etihad, that’s for sure.”
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