For 30 years, from the age of ten through to my 40s, I loved watching cricket live at my local ground, the Gabba.
Tickets for the first day of the first Test were booked months in advance, I went to at least one day of every Sheffield Shield match in Brisbane and I have a great collection of Bulls shirts of various designs that I kept for one-day matches.
I saw great moments in cricket live, like Ian Healy’s 150-something in front of his adoring home crowd, and cameos from greats such as Ian Botham and Viv Richards. I was sitting on the dog track near the guys who smuggled in the piglet, and I was even there for the debut of a burly young opener who went by the nickname of Haydos, Matthew Hayden.
Admittedly I was away on work and missed the day Queensland won the Shield at last, but that’s another story.
Fast-forward to 2019 and the question is posed to me by several people who know my tragic history. “Are you going to the first Test?” No – and I’ll probably never go to a Test match or first-class match again.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Sorry, Cricket Australia, but your in-person package is just not worthy of so much of my hard-earned money. Let me tell you why.
It’s damn expensive to begin with, between $50 and $150 depending on whether I want to get out of the sun and what I want to see. I can’t take anything in with me, not even a decent camera, and food and drink inside is stupidly expensive.
The seating is ridiculously uncomfortable for seven or eight hours, especially when it’s crowded, and there’s a decent chance it will be a fairly dull day – don’t mention the last Windies Test! – and the ground staff and security you use are determined to spoil a day out if at all possible.
And, just for good measure, there’s a fair chance most years that you will sit in the back of a stand watching rain tumbling and grass growing.
I’ve tried to find a way to continue to enjoy my passion live. I’ve been to Shield matches, only to be corralled into the one open section of the ground with no shade whatsoever. I’ve been to matches that were washed out after ten overs and told there would be no refunds. I’ve had to send my camera home in an Uber because it was too nice and I may be confused for a professional – not that there were any professionals there that day – and I’ve even given in and attended some hit-and-giggle T20 matches.
I’ve voiced my frustration to the local ground authority and to Cricket Australia, but I haven’t even had the courtesy of a reply from either. My experiences have been generally unpleasant and my hip pocket has been excessively lightened.
My mates and I are the demographic Cricket Australia wants at their Test and first-class matches. We are cashed up, we love our sport and we have families to bring along and introduce to the game. But I can assure Cricket Australia that we won’t be handing over our cash to watch live until the experience is improved.
I’m a traditionalist. I love Test and first-class matches, but it’s the telly in my air-conditioned home or office for me while the live experience is so dreadful.
There are a lot of good reasons attendance at T20 matches is thriving – it’s comparatively inexpensive, it has a great atmosphere, you aren’t there long enough for comfort to become a serious issue and the franchise actually wants your business.
I’m not so sure that Cricket Australia feels the same way about its patrons attending first-class cricket in Australia, so it’s Foxtel Go on my phone in the corner of my office desk today.
Alan Myers
Roar Rookie
Yes, It was actually the camera Nazis that were the last straw for me. My mate and I went along to a Shield match at the Gabba only to be turned away because I had my camera with me including a 400mm lens, which is barely large enough to do cricket anyhow. As we had been dropped at the ground I sent the camera home in an Uber , there was no way it was going in the cloak room! When we did get in (after a bag check to make sure I hadn't hidden it away), there was less than 100 people in total there including zero press. I did my research afterwards, found out the rules and tried to attend the shield final at AB field, only to be turned away because my 105mm lens " looked to big and professional" . As a nice little side note, that was the day where there wasn't a ball bowled.. That was the end, I went home and will never attend a first class game in Brisbane again.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Micko, Your gulag reference is very apt as the worst aspect is their refusal to respond to questions of 'Why'? I thought this is the time of transparency.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
And how much is membership? The majority of people attending a test can't all fit into the members and not everyone wants to watch AFL (I acknowledge that not liking AFL may be considered unaustralian)
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
You can bring booze into Lord's and they behave. The fun police are pretty sickening. Ultimately though, the price is the issue. I still go to the SCG for the test but it's obstructively expensive for the average punter when it's on tv for free https://www.lords.org/lords/match-day/plan-your-day/faqs
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I wonder how much of the operating costs security takes up? Certainly adds on to the cost of tickets or food via the margin the ground operator puts on top.
Cigar Field Sobers
Roar Rookie
I have been there for an NRL double-header and a couple of Big Bash matches, Micko. By comparison, the prices are not nasty, the food and drinks are varied and freely available at numerous outlets, the seating is comfortable, the facilities are all-new of course, and the place is spacious and pleasant. Public transport is included in the ticket price, or you can stroll over the bridge from East Perth, and the event staff are well-trained and helpful. There is also an outstanding new pub next door called The Camfield which has multi configurations and can cope with massive crowds, over 100 taps if necessary. The stadium took a while, cost a packet and instigated much argument and whinging, but the finished article is bloody awesome.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I don't understand how corporate types struggle with the concept of fairness so much? Charge people reasonable prices and people will buy products, charge to much people won't buy products. It's their own fault that they need so much security, $10 for a beer, a little beer at that is a joke. Having said That, at AO they have food trucks and they're foods pretty reasonable and the stadium is awesome.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
They should be reported for Cybercrime. Isn't the act of sending unsolicited emails a crime?
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Me too boys - relax a bit Modsy or lose us ! You will find us thoughtful contributors to ongoing debate, not shock jocks - surely the very reason the site exists !
Gee
Roar Rookie
The Gabba is in need of an upgrade, it has fallen behind compared to the other main grounds. Maybe instead of handing out bonuses (bribes) to public servants Palaszczuk (or her boss Trad) can spend some on upgrading the stadium. Horrible crowd numbers this test, it really just does deserve the less important touring teams like it gets.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
For what purpose indeed? Fact is - and in fairness to the WACA (Association) - they are beholden to meeting minimum insurance cover "prerequisites / conditions precedent. Problem is, if they *don't* adopt the security plan put forward by their security contractor (who themselves are required to adopt "best practice", but who also have their own vested interests in "maximising" security approach re time taken and consequently resources charged for), they leave themselves open legally, including at Director (Board) level.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Micko, yes I've been to plenty of match days at Perth Stadium. It's vanilla; for all of the "quirks" of the WACA ground I rail against (and to be fair, those are operational issues that could have been easily addressed) PS is just another stadium presenting a soul less experience. I mean, great amenities...but if you have to head up to Level 5? Bring your binoculars Certainly don't feel engaged with the game on field.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Optus Stadium is "better" in terms of queues, but you still feel (even more-so) that you're a criminal for having done so once beer is in hand.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Or umbrellas.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
"Why don’t they have day-night tests at the Gabba?" Take this Pakistan series for example. CA had to jump through hoops mid-year when organising scheduling, to get PCB to agree to one D/N Test. And that was always going to go to Adelaide. PCB - as has been expressed by previous touring teams (India, England) - aren't prepared to "disadvantage" their team by playing D/N which is fairly familiar to Australia's Test side, but not to visitors. So no D/N Test for Brisbane this year.
Micko
Roar Rookie
For what purpose? Do they justify why? That's pretty humiliating for a day out at the cricket!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I've been patted down on entry. As have most Members.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Have you been there yet Jeff? What's the experience like compared to the WACA, still the same over-the-top security and nanny state mentality?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Both, Paul. In my experience.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yes, Jeff, I couldn't believe the police state/nanny state vibe at the WACA in recent years. Restricting beer purchases during the last session to like one or two each was absolutely ridiculous: you spend more time queuing for beer than watching the cricket! You're better off in the last session just leaving the WACA and heading to a nearby pub to watch the game there! I wonder what Optus Stadium is like in that regard?