1987: When the NSWRL wanted to slug $32 per ticket at the Sydney Football Stadium

On August 28, the rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium was officially opened followed by the first sporting fixture on September 2 when the Sydney Roosters played the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 25 of the NRL Premiership Competition, before meeting again in an elimination final last weekend. 

Tickets for that match ranged from $40 through to $100 for adults 

That was very good value when compared with the $32 that the NSWRL wanted to slug fans for matches played at the original Sydney Football Stadium as part of the 1988 NSWRL Premiership. The price also applied to children. 

The RBA Inflation Calculator equates $32.00 to approximately $76.78 in todays money. 

Source: Rothfield, P. 1987. "$32 To watch top league here". The Daily Telegraph, November 18: 1-2. 

Did the fans get good value for money? No

While the new Football Stadium had hosted regular season NSWRL matches, its first major sporting fixture was on May 17 1988 when 26 441 attended the first match of the State of Origin Series. Queensland defeated NSW 26-18. 

The crowd was down 16 000 on the previous fixture held at the SCG the previous year, suggesting that high ticket prices had turned them off. For the fans that turned up, they were unhappy at what $32 bought them. The facilities were underwhelming.

If you check out the footage of highlights from the game on Youtube, you will find that the areas behind the goalposts were deserted. 

Source: Bowditch, S. & Bilkey, M. 1988. "Football stadium a loser in big game". The Daily Telegraph, May 19: 4. 

In the end they were forced to reduce prices - $20 for adults and $10 tickets for children for the upcoming rugby league tour by Great Britain. Compared to other sporting venues and codes, it was still high. The discounted tickets applied to seats on the wing or behind the goal posts. Sitting on the halfway line still cost patrons $32. Only 24 000 attended the First Test at the stadium on June 11 and and 16 000 for the third test. 

 

Source: Bowditch, S., Bilkey, M. & Chesterton, R. 1988. "$12 cut for end seats at stadium". The Daily Telegraph, May 21: 5. 

1988: The Sydney Football Stadium is offically opened

It has been hoped that the rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium will open its doors to the sporting public during this year.

Our first regular entry for 2022 goes back to the previous Sydney Football Stadium and its first event, held on January 24, 1988. This was the same week that the nation held its Bicentennial celebrations. It was not a sporting event, but a concert headlined by American singer John Denver. The stadium was officially opened by NSW Premier Barrie Unsworth as part of the festivities. 

Tickets ranged from $15 to $25 dollars. 17 000 attended the concert which also included Air Supply, Eurogliders, Dragon and Sharon O'Neill backed by Tommy Tycho and The Sydney International Orchestra. This was down from the projected 30 000 that were expected to.

There was also criticism of the sound system along with an echo that could be heard by attendees.

John Denver also presented a special song that he wrote to mark the Bicentennary but also one for his girlfriend - Cassie Delaney who was also Australian. 

Source: Cameron, M. 1988. "'This is for you, my Aussie girl'". The Daily Mirror, January 25: page unknown.

The first sporting event was on March 4 1988, when Eastern Suburbs played St George in the first game of the 1988 NSWRL season. Click Here to view an entry that I wrote in 2015. 

1988: Plan to sell off the Sydney Football Stadium

This week, NSW will head off to the polls to either re-elect the Liberal Government of Gladys Berejiklian or elect the Labor Party led by Michael Daley to power after eight years in Opposition.

One of the big issues in the election this year is the upgrades and redevelopment of our city stadiums - Parramatta Stadium (opening in April), Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ Stadium.

The most controversial is the Sydney Football Stadium which is at present under demolition. A number of groups have opposed its demolition altogether while others object to the State Government funding redevelopment of the stadium that the Private sector or the SCG Trust pay for construction.

In 1988 when the stadium was opened, there was drama and it was to do with money. Taxpayers had to contribute $39 million to fund construction of the $63 million stadium despite assurances from the Wran Government in 1985 that no taxpayer funds be allocated to the subject.

Above: The Daily Telegraph reported on the proposed sale on May 2, 1988.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported in its editorial of May 5, 1988 that the SCG Trust never explained the need to spend $63 million on the stadium. The question has been raised again in 2019 by critics who oppose redevelopment.

But in 1988, the concern was that the Sydney Football Stadium would never be properly utilised and would only host a few major games that year of rugby league and appears to suggest that it was not being well utilised by other sports including Rugby Union and Soccer.

As for major events, we fast forward three decades and in its final years in the current form, it was being well utilised by various sports. Who would think that every second weekend during the summer months, that there would be professional soccer games played at the stadium.

It also survived competition from Stadium Australia. It took away marquee events, but many fixtures continued to be played there because it provided initimacy for the fans attending. Compared to Stadium Australia, I have preferred the Sydney Football Stadium because I feel closer to the action not to mention the atmosphere.

Finally, it is noted that the State Government acknowledge that there cannot be a situation where not a public cent is spent on building public stadiums.

The Labor Party if elected on Saturday will provide the SCG Trust with a loan to fund the rebuilding of the Sydney Football Stadium. However, the SCG Trust is a department of the NSW State Government. How can they repay the State back unless they hike ticket prices?

No matter who wins the election on Saturday, public funds will be used to rebuild the Sydney Football Stadium.

1988: First NSWRL Game at the Sydney Football Stadium

I love my Rugby League, and to mark off the start of the NRL season, why don't we mark it by sharing some articles of the very first game to be held at the new Sydney Football Stadium all the way back on March 4 1988. The stadium had been built at a cost of $65 million.

The match was between Eastern Suburbs and St George. The visitors (St George) won the game 24-14 before a crowd of 20 000.  This was despite wet weather.

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "Saints shine at league's new home." The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 1.

The back page of the same paper with coverage by Ray Chesterton.

Source: Chesterton, R. 1988. "Saints Draw First Blood." The Daily Telegraph, March 5: 142 & 144. 

 The captains of both teams posed at the new stadium ahead of the game.

Source: Anonymous. 1988. "It's kick off time for a spectacular stadium." The Daily Telegraph, March 4: Page unknown. 

I came across a Youtube video posted by "rugbyleaguevideos" of highlights from that match, screened on Channel Ten. It doesn't even look like there are 20 000. The problem with the stadium has been the lack of shelter for fans. Some would have been forced to go under whatever shelter was available.