Megan Hustwaite: Why Sydney will never take Melbourne’s sporting crown
For all of Sydney’s splendour, it doesn’t come close to claiming Melbourne’s sporting crown. We’ve long boasted of these events because we’re already the sporting capital of the world, writes Megan Hustwaite.
Opinion
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We all know a Syd.
An upstart cousin, a friend’s little brother. Syd’s has lots of great qualities but tries really hard to be something Syd is not. Syd is desperate to be #1.
But, just like Sydney trying to dethrone Melbourne as the sporting capital of Australia, that’s never going to happen.
Ah Sydney. The beautiful harbour, Opera House and their underwhelming sporting crowds. Our eastern chums came out swinging over the weekend declaring they’ll recruit world-class events to Sydney’s trio of stadiums. In fact, that was an order from Premier Gladys Berejiklian to new Stadiums boss Tony Shepherd.
I like Tony. He’s chairman of my favourite football team, the GWS Giants, and was born in Melbourne.
As for Gladys, well she’s dreaming.
Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world because we already, and have long, boasted the creme de la creme of events.
Our list fills the calendar, from the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, in January to the Boxing Day Test in December. The anticipation of that first ball at the MCG is the real Christmas morning.
We’ve got the Formula 1 Grand Prix, one of the most popular races on the global circuit for its stunning Albert Park Lake backdrop and CBD views. And of course, the Melbourne Cup, steeped in more than 150 years of tradition it’s the race that always has, and always will, stop the nation. Despite the flashy efforts of The Everest, fabulous Flemington is a mountain Sydney can’t climb.
Then there’s the weekly smorgasbord of sport Victorians are treated to.
There’s bums on seats at the AFL each round (pre-Covid) our home-and-away crowds could teach Sydney and the NRL a thing or two about filling a venue.
Oh, but NSW has State of Origin! And Melbourne has claim to the biggest ever crowd at a SOO game. 91,513 for those playing at home.
In March, naturally, the MCG hosted the women’s T20 World Cup Final, setting a new world record for the biggest women’s cricket crowd. Last year, when USA Basketball came down under to take on the Australian Boomers, of course Melbourne hosted the two games. Sydney, meantime, had home court advantage for Canada v NZ and USA Basketball v Canada.
Sydney rightly has a pep in its step with news the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is coming to town, the 2022 FIBA women’s basketball World Cup tipping off too.
But Melbourne already has a highlights reel of sporting events and try as it might, Sydney isn’t in our ballpark.
What next? Sydney will claim their coffee is better? Tell Gladys they’re dreaming.
Megan Hustwaite is a freelance sports writer and broadcaster
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