80,000 Fans To Attend Footy Blockbusters In Sydney Olympic Park This Saturday

Crystelle Cordero

AN Olympic-size crowd will turn out for two major sporting events in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct on Saturday – headlined by the opening Bledisloe Cup Test match between the Qantas Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks.

While the Wallabies and All Blacks will resume Trans-Tasman hostilities at Stadium Australia in front of an expected crowd of 70,000, the high-flying GWS Giants will take on Fremantle Dockers in a crucial AFL clash at neighbouring Spotless Stadium, with a crowd of around 12,000 anticipated.

A monster pre-event party is planned for the Sydney Olympic Park entertainment precinct between the two stadiums – with the famous Sydney Olympic Cauldron in Cathy Freeman Park to burn between 4pm-8pm as a mark of respect for Australia’s Olympians in Rio.

The Olympic action live from Rio will be shown on the big screens in Sydney Olympic Park throughout Saturday.

The Giants’ final regular-season home game of the year at Spotless Stadium will start at 4.35pm.

The pre-game party to the Bledisloe Cup Test starts in Sydney Olympic Park at 4pm. The Stadium Australia gates will open at 6pm, with an 8pm kickoff to the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup series, which doubles as the opening game of The Rugby Championship for 2017.

Fans are being urged to leave the car at home and take advantage of the fact public transport is included in all tickets to the rugby Test.

Stadium Australia Managing Director, Daryl Kerry, said the Sydney Olympic Park precinct was built for big crowds and urged fans to come out early and enjoy the festivities on a special day in Sydney sport.

“The Sydney Olympic Park precinct welcomes crowds in excess of 80,000 on multiple occasions each and every year,” Mr Kerry said.

“We encourage fans to travel smart and arrive early so they can relax and enjoy the festivities in the Park.

“Whether they are going to the AFL at Spotless Stadium or the Bledisloe Cup Test at Stadium Australia . . . this is an opportunity to get out a little early and enjoy a really special day of sport with family and friends.”

With live entertainment, visits from Wallabies legends, the Olympic Cauldron burning, and food and drinks flowing, there’ll be no better way to start a Bledisloe Cup game-day experience than Cathy Freeman Park, outside Stadium Australia.

Activities include:

• Monster marquee and 50m bar provided by Accor Brewery;
• Olympic Cauldron to be lit in Cathy Freeman Park (between Stadium Australia and Spotless Stadium) between 4pm-8pm;
• Family-friendly live entertainment;
• Interviews with current and classic Wallabies;
• Pop-up cafes serving internationally themed street food;
• Gold Brigade T-shirt collection from Light Tower 8, on Olympic Boulevard;
• Park and precinct bathed in gold light;
• Restaurants, cafes and bars open extended hours pre and post-game.

A post-game celebration is also planned for Giants Members and fans at Giants HQ at 1 Olympic Boulevard.

Transport Information

• All tickets to the Qantas Wallabies v All Blacks match at Stadium Australia include entry and return travel on Sydney Trains and Olympic Park Major Event Buses, so leave the car at home and take advantage of the additional and direct public transport services in place;
• Direct trains from Central to Olympic Park will run every 10 minutes from 4.30pm to 6pm and then every 5 minutes from 6pm until 10pm, stopping at Redfern and Strathfield;
• With a near full house expected and other events also taking place in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, fans should only drive if they have booked their parking at via the Sydney Olympic Park Authority website here. 
• Arrive early to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the pre-game party starting from 4pm in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct.