Adelaide pubs hosting live Matildas v China watch parties
If you missed out on Matildas tickets, don’t despair – there are plenty of places you can watch the game on a big screen.
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The countdown to Friday’s friendly international clash between Australia’s Matildas and China PR at Adelaide Oval is well and truly on.
For fans watching the action live at the oval gates will open at 5.30pm, ahead of kick off at 7.40pm.
While casual parking is available from 4.30pm, everyone is encouraged to leave their cars at home and catch a ride with Adelaide Metro, which is offering free transport on buses, trains and trams – just show your match day ticket.
There will also be road closures around the oval: War Memorial Drive, from 3pm to 11.15pm; King William Rd, from 9pm to 11.15pm; Pennington Tce, from 9pm to 11.15pm; North Tce (Victoria St to King William Rd), from 9.25pm to 11.15pm
If you have or haven’t got a seat at the oval, you can still make your friends green (and gold) with envy by upgrading to, or purchasing, a RoofClimb Game On! ticket, which includes a full half watching the game from the oval’s rooftop platform.
For details of how to buy those tickets visit roofclimb.com.au and for more info about the match head to adelaideoval.com.au
And if you’re not among the 53,000 fans heading to oval, there are lots of ways to show your support for the Tillies – and watch the match live – at these hospo hotspots:
ARKABA HOTEL
150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton
Sportys will be decked out in green and gold to mark the Matildas taking on China PR as part of the ’Til It’s Done Farewell series. Young fans can tuck into $10 kids meals during the game, while their parents can sip on specials such as $7 pints, during happy hour from 4pm to 6pm before kick off.
ALMA TAVERN
66 Magill Rd, Norwood
Get set for food and drink specials from siren to siren.
BRIDGE WAY HOTEL
18 Bridge Rd, Pooraka
See all the action on the largest screen in the Southern Hemisphere (outside a stadium) and says cheers to drink specials.
THE BRITISH HOTEL
13 North Pde, Port Adelaide
Family fun is the name of the game at this venue, where there will two big screens showing the international friendly clash, live music, face painting, a prize for the best dressed fan, happy hour all night, a “Tilly” cocktail on the drinks list and kids eating for free.
BROMPTON HOTEL
5 First St, Brompton
This popular pub with no pokies is cheering on the Matildas by extended its happy hour.
CREMORNE HOTEL
207 Unley Rd, Unley
There will be drink specials, so you can toast the Tillies while watching the game, at this watering hole.
DISTRICT AT SKYCITY
125 North Terrace, Adelaide
Get there early for happy hour between 4pm and 76pm – with house beer, wine and spirits for $6 – and to secure a booth close to the 20m video wall to watch the match live. The kitchen will also be open for pub grub, including $20 burgers, until 9pm
FLAGSTAFF HOTEL
1497-1503 Main South Rd, Darlington
Watch the match on the big screen, while enjoying drink and food specials.
HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR
65 Hindley St, Adelaide
Says cheers to a “Matilda” cocktail and special green and gold arancini dish as you watch the match on a giant wall screen in Sebastyan’s Bar.
THE LION HOTEL
161 Melbourne St, North Adelaide
Shout your mates and yourself to drink specials as you watch the match “played live and loud’, then party on afterwards with the Empire Band from 9pm
MARION HOTEL
849 Marion Rd, Mitchell Park
Knocking off early and feel like a couple of knock off drinks before the game? The Shed has $7 pints – beer and cider – from 4pm to 7pm
RUNDLE MALL
Watch the live broadcast under the Gawler Place canopy, where there will be The Tillies Bar pop-up selling beverages from South Australia’s Blend Etiquette Craft Distillery from 11am and a DJ spinning tunes before kick off.
SARACENS HEAD HOTEL
82 Carrington St, Adelaide
This old favourite, which has a new look, will have an extended happy hour – from 6pm to 11pm and Matildas-themed cocktails.
SEMAPHORE HOTEL
17 Semaphore Rd, Semaphore
The beer garden is the place to be to catch the match on the big screen and dress in green and gold for a chance to win a lucky door prize. There will also be green and gold mimosas on the drinks list, plus free popcorn at half time.
STRATHMORE HOTEL
129 North Terrace, Adelaide
Enjoy a “Tillies Tropical Spritz” tipple and match day drink
specials, before and after watching the game – either at the oval or in the hotel on the big screen. The Strath will also be open late for post-match celebrations.
THE SUSSEX HOTEL
68 Walkerville Terrace, Walkerville
Boasting a large sports bar, this pub will be putting on drink specials during the game and is asking Matildas fans to wear green and gold as a show of support.
Fans enjoy player meet and greet
Matildas madness has reached fever pitch as city businesses prepare for a huge boost when Australia’s beloved national sporting team takes to Adelaide Oval on Friday.
It’s been the hottest ticket in town for months and just days out from the Matildas’ sold-out clash against China, the squad’s iconic green and gold colours have taken over the city.
Supporters of all ages have swept into Adelaide in preparation for the big match, which will be the first time the all-conquering female team has played at the stadium.
On Wednesday morning, hundreds of young soccer fans lined up for hours to meet their heroes, including star players Mackenzie Arnold, Alanna Kennedy and Caitlin Foord, at a special meet-and-greet at the Lego store in Westfield Marion.
Leila Hodges, 10, travelled an hour to attend the event, and gave the Matildas trio special bracelets she had made for them.
“I was waiting in line for more than an hour but it was so worth it,” she said.
“I really wanted to give them something because I’ve never seen them before. I just love soccer and I’m Australian so I love the Matildas.”
Chloe Apostolopoulos, 10, said it was exciting to see the players up close.
“I like the Matildas because they’re a really big inspiration to me and I love soccer – it’s really fun to play. It’s going to be a really cool experience (to watch them),” she said.
Fellow Matildas stars Clare Polkinghorne, Michelle Heyman and Cortnee Vine visited the
Women’s and Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, brightening up the day of several young patients, including soccer fan Madeline, aged 10. She was presented with an official Matildas guernsey signed by all three players, leaving her “speechless”.
“I love AFL and football and had so much fun cheering on the Matildas in their World Cup game against France, with my friends,” Madeline, 10, said.
With more than 50,000 people expected to flood the city for the match, and thousands more set to watch the game on big screens around Adelaide, experts say the local economy will receive much-needed cash injection.
Adelaide Economic Development Agency’s general manager Greg Ratsch said their data shows citywide spending is almost 35 per cent higher on Friday nights when major events are held at Adelaide Oval.
“People don’t just come into the city for an event, they do some shopping, go out for a drink or have a bite to eat, and that injects a lot of money into city businesses,” he said.
Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Anna Moeller said the Matildas attracted a huge local market that would provide a “significant boost” for food and beverage spending in the city.
“This game will target a different cohort – that’s what makes it so great,” she said.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the clash was one of the last opportunities to see the Matildas on home soil before the Paris Olympics in July.
“I’d encourage South Australians without a ticket to go ‘all in’ and head to their local
hospitality venue to cheer on our incredible national women’s football team,” she said.
Squad announced for Adelaide
The countdown to the Tillies coming to town is officially on with fans eager to see their soccer heroes take to the pitch in the historical match scheduled for next Friday night.
For the first time in history, the CommBank Matildas will pack Adelaide Oval for their international friendly against China PR which will be their final game on Australian soil before the Paris Olympics.
Coach Tony Gustavsson announced the 23-player squad set to debut on Tuesday with local South Aussie, Charli Grant returning home for the big game.
“With the Olympics approaching, selection is about looking at the overall picture spanning four years of performance and assembling the best team possible,” Mr Gustavsson said.
One young fan who will be donning the green and gold next week is ten-year-old Lucinda Williams.
A keen soccer player herself and member of the Strathalbyn Strikers Soccer Club, Lucinda has her sights set on one day being a Matilda.
“They’re very exciting and they work well as a team,” she said.
“My favourite is Katrina Gorry or Mary Fowler.”
Lucinda said she is going to “scream” when she sees the acclaimed women’s soccer team and is most looking forward to “them winning”.
The sell out game is a further addition to South Australia’s busy entertainment calendar with the event kickstarting the winter tourism season.
“Thousands of fans are set to flock to our city for the match, while many more tune in to see just how well South Australia puts on major events,” Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said.
“The nation will turn to Adelaide’s iconic venue to witness [the CommBank Matildas] in all their glory once again.”
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