Ticket sales down for Adelaide Oval Test as India refuses to play day-night format
Ticket sales are already a concern for Cricket Australia after a tumultuous period for the sport. But two other factors might see more empty spaces when this summer’s Test series commences.
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Ticket sales for the first Test in Adelaide have suffered from India’s refusal to play a day-night match, the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) says.
SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw says sales for the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval starting Thursday are down compared to past years.
Adelaide has hosted day-night Tests since 2015 but India refused Australian pleas to play the series-opener as a day-night fixture.
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“It has been an issue, it has affected ticket sales,” Bradshaw said on Tuesday.
“One of the characteristics that we have noticed is that we are quite down in interstate sales given it’s a day Test, not a day-night Test.
“There is definitely a day-night factor, without a doubt.
“The fans have absolutely voted with their feet the last few years that we have had day-night Tests, we have been significantly up for attendances.”
Bradshaw still expected overall crowd numbers to surpass the previous best of 113,000 for an Adelaide Test between Australia and India, set in 2014. But another complication was a South Australian government decision to cancel all train services in Adelaide this weekend.
No trains will run because international experts will be in Adelaide to relocate the control centre from the city to the northern suburbs in a decision which was protested by the SACA and Cricket Australia.
“We’re obviously very disappointed that the trains won’t be running on Saturday and Sunday,” Bradshaw said.
“But there has been a lot of work that has been done in order to provide substitute bus services and we’re working very closely with the government to ensure that we can provide the best service that we possibly can.
“There will obviously be some fans that will be impacted in the outer areas.”
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