Pfft. After been outplayed for good portions of the game, all you could do is bobsled us off the park.

Go and check data from Aus vs Chile Feb 1998 and Chile's games in Melbourne during Sydney 2000 Olympics for a guide.

It's pretty big from what I know. I think there's roughly 6-7,000.
A game between Chile and Australia in Melbourne would attract roughly 35-40k imo.

How big is the Chilean community in Melbourne?? Surely that is also a factor.

I think you're right. I certainly wouldn't see the NZ game as a 'major international' in that context. I do think however they gave you the best game you guys could get under the circumstances at the time though. I don't think many countries would have wanted to come down to this part of the world in the lead up to an African world cup.

That's becuase the Victoran Government under the now-ousted John Brumby signd a deal with the FFA to guarantee one game per year in Melbourne. The FFA were locked into that deal regardless.

As notors said, Melbourne was sold a lemon last year, as respectful as I can be to the NZ boys who read this.

"even if" are the key words there.
They didnt fill it so your point is moot.

I'd take Chile and not run the risk of copping New Zealand again.

If that's true I'd let Sydney have Chile and for Melbourne to get someone bigger.

Being a Socceroos farewell match and all probably helped. As well as the fact that even if the Paraguay match was a sell out the New Zealand attendance still would have been higher because of the SFS capacity.

And even then we still drew more than double the crowd Sydney did against Paraguay

Melbourne is supposedly guaranteed one major international socceroos game per year.

Last year they tried to pass that off as New Zealand.

Play it right in between both cities ;)

Edited by avy1990: 21/1/2011 08:25:15 AM

ehhh... not a fixture to really excite to be honest, their decent, and have some very good players and play an exciting style of football but would have liked somebody abit more higher profile... Ivory Coast would have been pretty cool

when is that USA game suppose to be on that got teed up in South Africa

x2. Would make up for the 'marquee' fixture we had this year (sorry Kiwi crew! :) and we still have fond memories of Australia vs Chile in Feb 1998 and Chile's appearance at the MCG various times for Sydney 2000.

A wonderful end of season 'marquee' fixture for late May/early June and after that, the Socceroos can go on proper leave.

Let's hope it is in Melbourne.

Per the subject line.