Taylor Swift could ruin Matildas’ shot in front of world record MCG crowd
The Matildas have captured Australia’s imagination in 2023, but even they may have found their opponent as they prepare for the final round of Olympic qualifying.
Sam Kerr and company. left an indelible mark on the Australian sporting landscape with their semi-final run and ultimately their fourth place finish at the Women’s World Cup.
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The Matildas’ heartbreaking semi-final defeat to England even reached 11.15 million viewers, making it the highest-rated television program since OzTam’s records were kept in 2001.
It was even bigger than the 8.8 million people who watched Cathy Freeman’s historic 400m gold medal run at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
But while the Matildas took Australia by storm, there was another female heavyweight making an unprecedented mark on the world stage: Taylor Swift and her Eras tour.
Swift Ticket Sales caused absolute chaos when they went on sale for Australia’s seven 2024 shows at the MCG on February 16, 17 and 18 and at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on February 23, 24, 25 and 26.
And now the two are about to collide over the use of the MCG.
The Asian Football Confederation has two representatives who will participate in the Paris Games, which will be played in matches on February 24 and 28.
Australia are set to face Uzbekistan after dismantling Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night, with the first leg away, before the February 28 match at home.
However, the venue where this match will be played has not yet been decided.
Australian star Steph Catley said on Tuesday it would be “pretty incredible” to play the tie at the MCG.
“So James, if you’re listening – MCG,” Catley added.
The James in question is Football Australia CEO James Johnson, who told Nine’s Today that they would look to book in the biggest stadium possible.
Asked about the MCG, Johnson said: “It would be exciting, wouldn’t it? And we’re considering our chances of selling it.
The MCG has a capacity of 100,024, which would be the largest women’s football crowd ever seen. The record is currently held by Barcelona and Wolfsburg with 91,648 at Barcelona’s Camp Nou from April 2023.
The highest attendance at a women’s sporting event was recorded in August at a college volleyball match in the United States. with 92,003 participants in a match between the University of Nebraska and Omaha.
The problems are due to Swift booking dates at Australia’s two biggest stadiums around the same time as the Matildas.
Although Swift’s final show is on February 18 at the MCG, the preparation period for her elaborate show, coupled with the required turf repair and the AFL season set to begin in Melbourne on March 14, this does not will not leave much time to prepare properly. floor.
The next largest stadium on the east coach is Accor Stadium, which will host Swift’s concerts much closer to the date of the Uzbekistan game.
Melbourne’s second largest stadium is also available with Marvel Stadium hosting Pink on February 23-24.
Melbourne’s 30,000-capacity AAMI Park will host a Super Rugby match on February 23 and an A-League match on February 25.
Other Sydney options are Allianz Stadium at Moore Park (capacity 45,500) or Commbank Stadium (30,000 seats).
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host Pink on February 16 and 17, but hopes the pitch will be ready for matches from February 23, while a Super Rugby match will also take place at the ground on February 24.
Suncorp Stadium has a capacity of 52,500 and hosted the Matildas’ quarter-final victory over France at the World Cup, as well as the third-place playoff against Sweden.
