A-League fans snap up grand final tickets, with plenty to miss out

11th May, 2015

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.”

The Crowd Says:

2015-05-13T18:02:25+00:00

RBBAnonymous

Guest

At least we know SFC fans didnt miss out on GF tickets. They couldnt even fill out their small allocation. LOL.

2015-05-12T11:09:01+00:00

Horto Magiko

Roar Rookie

Wrong mr football bondy.. I nearly fell out of my chair too. This is "Mr Football"... Not "Mister Football". As you were..

2015-05-12T06:27:44+00:00

Guest

Kasey love it mate - "Operation Carpet Sweep". ONly thing is this could relate to a number of aussie rules issues.

2015-05-12T06:24:36+00:00

Guest

On the Offisders this weekend, Gerard Wheatly claimed Football supporters have a "chip" on our shoulder about being number one sport in Australia and being locked out of the larger stadium in Melbourne. What he didnt mention was that aussie rules and cricket supporters like himself have a huge chip on each shoulder about Football in Australia.

2015-05-12T04:24:43+00:00

Guest

That's a big final quarter from the AFL there AZ... you know something about the next week we don't?

2015-05-12T01:48:59+00:00

Mr Football

Roar Rookie

The day the AFL wakes up to its self to the fact that all sports can co-exist in the Australian sporting landscape the better of they will be.Cause all they are doing is converting their own supporters to Football. Oh! Did i give something away.

2015-05-12T00:24:04+00:00

Bondy

Guest

Now that's an avatar ...

2015-05-12T00:22:22+00:00

zircon

Guest

Hhhhhhhhaaaaaaaa sporting capital of the world hhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa

2015-05-11T22:56:06+00:00

AZ_RBB

Guest

Typically clueless westie :P It should be AFL 3.4 9.5 11.13 18.16(124) Football 1.1 1.2 4.6 5.6(41) Not to be confused with your IP address.