Matildas phenomenon scales new heights with tickets for China match at Adelaide Oval snapped up in record time
Australia’s Matildas popularity shows no sign of slowing down, with tickets for their match against China at the Adelaide Oval on May 31, already sold out.
Women's Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Matildas have sold out their 13th straight home game.
It’s a monumental achievement when you consider the average match attendance in 2019 was 10,000.
All 30,000 pre-sale tickets to the Matildas match against reigning AFC Women’s Cup champion China PR at Adelaide Oval sold out last week in four hours.
The remainder of the tickets to the 53,500-capacity stadium went on sale at noon on Tuesday and were snapped up in three hours.
The second game in the series against China in Sydney is expected to become the 14th straight sellout when tickets are released on Friday.
It’s a big shift in a relatively short time.
Flash back to 2017 when just 49,130 fans attended across four matches.
The Matildas played at home five times in 2019 – in front of just 54,530 spectators.
Last year, when significantly boosted by the home FIFA Women’s World Cup, 580,930 fans watched the Matildas play 14 games at an average of 41,495 per match.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said the huge surge in popularity of the Matildas meant ticket sales were now a viable revenue stream for the business.
“We are thrilled to witness the unprecedented demand for tickets to our national teams’ matches, which is a testament to the growing popularity and support for football in Australia,” Johnson said.
“The CommBank Matildas’ remarkable journey has captured the hearts of fans nationwide, leading to a series of sellout matches and a significant milestone as we approach the one-millionth spectator at home since 2017 in Adelaide on May 31 on the back of the 13th consecutive Matildas sellout.
“This surge in ticket sales not only showcases the love for the game but contributes to the financial health of the sport.
“Match-day revenue is now a significant revenue stream at Football Australia, enabling us to invest further in the game’s development.
“We are confident that the upcoming matches for both the CommBank Matildas and the Subway Socceroos will continue to draw full stadiums, reaffirming the strong connection between our teams and their supporters.”
The matches will be close to the final chance for fans to see their idols in action before the Paris Olympics.
For coach Tony Gustavsson, the games against China will be among the last opportunities for him to determine which 18 women will make the Olympic squad.
The Matildas will play China PR at Adelaide Oval on May 31 and again in Sydney on June 3.
More Coverage
Originally published as Matildas phenomenon scales new heights with tickets for China match at Adelaide Oval snapped up in record time
‘On track’: Matildas’ Asian Cup boost
The Matildas’ Asian Cup hopes have received a major boost with injured stars Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr both on track to return for the home tournament.
Disgraced drone-ban coach lands prominent A-League gig
The banned coach who took the brunt of the punishment for Canada’s drone scandal at the Paris Olympics is set to revive their career in the A-League.