The AFL’s season opening women’s fixture between Carlton and Collingwood has been moved to Ikon Park due to higher than expected demand.
The women’s tournament, which will kick off on February 3, was originally scheduled to be opened on the Friday afternoon at Melbourne’s Olympic Oval, which holds 7000 people.
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However it will now be played at the nearby Princes Park, which can hold upwards of an extra 10,000 fans, in a prime time of 7.45pm AEDT for increased television and crowd exposure.
The move follows around 2000 people attending a Carlton and Melbourne practice match on Saturday, prompting AFL game development manager Simon Lethlean to consider the switch.
“All footy fans who want to see the opening AFLW match will now have the opportunity to do so at Ikon Park,” Lethlean said.
“It is fantastic the new AFLW competition has so much momentum and interest.”
The match is the first of four games to kick off the season early next month.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Just listening to SEN radio now, they are predicting a crowd figure of 15,000 for that first game at Carlton. Sounds a bit too high, but if it gets close to that number, that would be an incredible debut for the women's game.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
AFL Women's @aflwomens Simon Lethlean tells media we're expecting "above 10,000 fans" for next Friday's free Pies-Blues #AFLW opener, now being held at Ikon Park.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I think it's a combo of corporate social responsibility and getting on the ground floor of something which might have growth potential (and females do make up half the population). The NAB transferred its sponsorship from the pre-season cup to the AFL Women's. Certainly, the sponsors have jumped on board all the clubs, none of them have had trouble filling their sponsorship books. Being associated with the AFL brand is an important part of that, but the buzz surrounding this inaugural season should not be discounted.
TomC
Roar Guru
That's probably true, and also I think part of the appeal might be that companies like Toyota are seen as doing their bit for corporate social responsibility while also aligning themselves with a prestige brand like a major AFL club.
clipper
Guest
MF - do you think it is attractive for companies as there is 'extra news' around the start of the AFLW and thus extra publicity for those companies caught in the slipstream. It will be interesting to see if all these companies are still on board once the initial media traction has worn off a bit.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Toyota has expanded its sponsorship of the Crows to cover the women's team: http://www.afc.com.au/news/2017-01-24/toyota-australia-support-crows-women
Mister Football
Roar Guru
AFL on 7 @7AFL 8 minutes ago The AFL has been forced to move next week's inaugural AFLW game due to a high demand for tickets. 7 News Melbourne
aw
Guest
I was there. I'm no good at estimating crowds but it was pretty hard to get a spot by the fence even arriving 30 mins prior to kick off. The bom radar showed a huge storm front coming through and it was over 30 degrees which probably reduced numbers. Still a solid turn out.
mds1970
Roar Guru
GWS Giants went down by 16 points to Brisbane Lions in a low-scoring trial game at Coorparoo in Brisbane in driving rain on Saturday. I don't have any information on the crowd, but it wasn't publicised at all.
Cat
Roar Guru
Can they maintain it is the real question. I hope they do but I won't be watching much until my team has a side.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Freo had a hit out against the WA Academy, and won by over 100 pts in front of 500 spectators.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I'm not sure how the AFL thought Olympic Park would be acceptable for this opening game of the inaugural season, afterall, didn't the dogs v the dees get over 6k at the Whitten Oval last year? Maybe it was premeditated, to have positive stories in the media in the lead up to this historic game, or maybe they have truly underestimated what's possible with the women's game?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I heard that story about the 2,000 attending a practice game which wasn't even publicised. I'd say there have been practice games in the past in the men's game which haven't attracted as many spectators. Very good signs for the inaugural season.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
AFL Women's ✔ @aflwomens Simon Lethlean tells media we're expecting "above 10,000 fans" for next Friday's free Pies-Blues #AFLW opener, now being held at Ikon Park.
mds1970
Roar Guru
There's a lot that's still unknown about how the AFLW comp will work; as I wrote about in my article last week. But early indications are there's far more support than anyone could have imagined. A trial game that wasn't publicised at all drew a crowd of 2,000 on Saturday. The moving of this game had to happen. Locking the gates and turning people away wouldn't be a good look - and the interest they've guaged indicates that would have happened at Olympic Park.