Melbourne Bledisloe Cup Test postponed

I thought it was Jeff

Exactly Andy. That's why I don't want to give up 2022. If Brisbane get 2020 and WA lose 2022 where's the good news for WA?

Perth Stadium is the Craypot mate.

Considering the numbers/interest has diminished in the core markets I’m not actually sure that expansion markets is really what they need atm. Additionally a lot of these games hosting location is as much about what the state can provide ($, etc..) for bringing the show to town vs. strategically where RA might wish to go.

As an aside, why the heck do people call these stadiums by their sponsorship names? I mean I know why broadcasts and the media have to but I really don't know why the general public are such lambs. Perth Stadium seems an apt name to my mind, as does Docklands Stadium.

The rationale is being a 2020 test they had already received some payment. They either need to return that payment, or provide the same at a later date if the gov agrees.

Sorry mate I meant the deal that was struck was a Bledisloe at Marvel 2020 and Optus 2021. So if they "swap" due to Melbourne still being a COVID hotspot, then Optus would get it this year. But it all hinges on the WA Premier loosening the border constraints. If it's not workable then it wouldn't go to Melbourne this year, it would probably go to Brisbane as QLD has been open to hosting pretty much all sporting events this year.

didn't want to say it...but Brisbane will get it....

The Olympic stadium has also been reduced in size and you are comparing crowds to 2000 when we had just won a world cup, Olympics in Oz us hosting thr next RWC in Oz....sport mad nation at this time. But I do think the reason it is not in Perth and is not an option is the extra cost for both teams getting to and staying in Perth. East Coast allows fly in and fly out and a considerably cheaper flights. Perth unfortunately is a logistical pain.

I'd rather have kept 2022 locked in at the Craypot and put our hands up for 2020. They'd both sell out or close to it.

With a capacity of only 53,000 the rational eto move the game from Optus to Marvel is poor. If it was the MCG then it could make sense, or it is just part of the secret "Save the Rebels deal" that will continue to cost Australia rugby for years to come.

The capacity of Optus is 60,000. They had to put in extra chairs and the numbers above are not the tickets sold but the spectators that turned up. So more than 100%.

The deal was for Marvel Stadium (Docklands) so won't be MCG or AAMI as far as I can tell. With the crowd figures, thought I'd put the percentage next to each for comparison as simply having totals doesn't reflect the capacity reached. 2019 Optus Stadium, Perth, 61,241 (94%) 2018 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 66,318 (79%) 2017 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 54,846 (66%) 2016 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 65,328 (78%) 2015 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 73,824 (88%) 2014 Lang Park, Brisbane, 45,186 (86%) 2014 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 68,627 (82%) 2013 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 68,765 (82%) 2012 Lang Park, Brisbane, 52,500 (100%) 2012 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 76,877 (92%) 2011 Lang Park, Brisbane, 51,858 (99%) 2010 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 70,288 (84%) 2010 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, 51,409 (96%) So the average for the last 10 years for each is: Optus: 94% ANZ: 81% Suncorp: 95% Marvel: 96% Note: I took the capacity totals from Google and it stated Optus is "65,000 (Rectangular)". So the past 4 years (outside Perth) haven't been amazing but you can tell that whenever a test is played in WA, QLD or VIC it gets close to a sellout.

Take away from Perth and give it to Melbourne... a familiar theme. Now lets see if Melbourne will turn up this time. The more things change the more they stay the same.

AndyS Exactly , id say Suncorp will definitely get 1 Bledisloe test, and maybe 1 in Sydney depending on their Covid protocols and Covid infections. VIC SA and WA are no chance for any tests in 2020.

Wouldn't think so, at least not without full quarantine for both sides. If they wouldn't shift for the AFL finals series, can't see them moving for rugby.

It's okay, Brisbane can take it off your hands. We already scooped up the AFL GF so we can pick up the slack on the Bledisloe too :silly:

I think this test may be part of the Save the Rebels deal from 2017 and therefore the need to have it in Melbourne. It would be dumb to host it at AAMI park with a capacity of only 30,000. Let's hope that the MCG can host the tests and that it will be another sell out. The MCG hosted 3 Bledisloe tests. In 1997, 90,119, in 1998 75,127 and in 2007 79,322 attended. The biggest crowds were in Sydney with almost 109,874 at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 15 July 2000. However these crowds figures are from very long ago when the dead sea became sick. I included a list of the Bledisloe crowd numbers for the past decade below. There has been a decline in attendance across Australia with Stadium Australia attracted crowds in the 80,000-100,000 during the 2000s that are now we are lucky to get 60,000. The last time the Wallabies played the All Blacks in Melbourne they attracted 51,409 to Docklands stadium. Only one game sold out in this decade - the 2019 tests at Optus stadium that sold out in only 3 days - is an outlier. 2019 Optus Stadium, Perth, 61,241 2018 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 66,318 2017 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 54,846 2016 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 65,328 2015 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 73,824 2014 Lang Park, Brisbane, 45,186 2014 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 68,627 2013 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 68,765 2012 Lang Park, Brisbane, 52,500 2012 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 76,877 2011 Lang Park, Brisbane, 51,858 2010 Stadium Australia, Sydney, 70,288 2010 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, 51,409 (ESPN data).

Will be Brisbane like the AFL final. With WA election in Q1 2021 Mark McGowan will not take any risk.

Nah Mark will sort us out, Twiggy will have a chat to him