Taylor Swift could ruin Matildas’ shot at MCG world record crowd
The Matildas and Taylor Swift have taken Australia by storm in 2023 but on an unlikely collision course that could cost Australia a world record.
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The Matildas captured the imagination of Australia in 2023, but even they may have met their match as they prepare for the final round of Olympic qualifying.
Sam Kerr and co. have left an indelible mark on the Australian sporting landscape with their semi-final run and ultimately fourth place finish at the Women’s World Cup.
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The Matildas’ heart-wrenching semi-final loss to England hit 11.15m viewers, making it the highest rated TV program since OzTam records had been kept in 2001.
It was even bigger than the reported 8.8 million that watched Cathy Freeman’s historic 400m gold medal run at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
But while the Matildas took Australia by storm, there was another female juggernaut that has made unprecedented mark on the world stage – Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour.
Swift’s ticket sales caused absolute pandemonium when they went on sale for the seven 2024 Australian shows at the MCG in February 16, 17 and 18, and Sydney’s Accor Stadium on February 23, 24, 25 and 26.
And now the two are set to collide over the use of the MCG.
The Asian Football Confederation has two representatives going to the Paris games, which will be decided in matches on February 24 and 28.
Australia are set to play Uzbekistan after they dismantled Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night, with the first leg away, before the February 28 match at home.
However, where that match will be played has yet to be decided.
Aussie star Steph Catley said on Tuesday that it would be “pretty incredible” to play the tie at the MCG.
“So James, if you’re listening – MCG,” Catley added.
The James in question is Football Australia CEO James Johnson, who told Nine’s Today that they’d be looking to book in the biggest stadium possible.
Asked about the MCG, Johnson said: “It would be exciting, wouldn’t it? And we fancy our chances of selling it out.”
The MCG has a capacity of 100,024, which would be the biggest women’s football crowd ever. The record is currently held by Barcelona and Wolfsburg at 91,648 at Camp Nou in Barcelona from April 2023.
The highest attendance at a women’s sporting event was set in August at a US college volleyball match with 92,003 turning out for a match between the University of Nebraska and Omaha.
The issue comes due to Swift booking out dates at both of Australia’s biggest stadiums around the same time as the Matildas.
Although Swift’s last show is February 18 at the MCG, the pack-up period for her elaborate show, coupled with required turf repair and the AFL season believed to be kicking off in Melbourne on March 14, it won’t leave much time to properly prepare the ground.
The next biggest stadium on the east coach is Accor Stadium, which will be hosting Swift concerts much closer to the date of the match against Uzbekistan.
The second biggest stadium in Melbourne is also out with Marvel Stadium hosting Pink on February 23 and 24.
Melbourne’s AAMI Park, which has a capacity of 30,000, has a Super Rugby match on February 23 and an A-League match on February 25.
Sydney’s other options are Allianz Stadium at Moore Park (45,500) capacity, or Commbank Stadium (30,000).
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host Pink on February 16 and 17, but hopes to have the ground ready for matches as of February 23, while there’s also a Super Rugby game on the field on February 24.
Suncorp Stadium has a capacity of 52,500 and hosted the Matildas’ quarterfinal win over France at the World Cup, as well as the third-place playoff against Sweden.
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