Crystelle Cordero
AN additional 496 seats have been installed at Stadium Australia as fans clamour to see English Premier League champions Chelsea in Sydney for the first time in 41 years.
And the good news is that the additional seats will be made available to fans from $49 for adults and $29 concession – and go on sale at 11am Tuesday 26 May.
With ticket allocations across all categories all but exhausted, Stadium Australia management has agreed to add additional seats to maximise attendance – ensuring capacity will be at 83,996 for the football blockbuster between Chelsea and A-League Grand Finalists Sydney FC on Tuesday 2 June.
The additional seats will be installed above the player tunnels on Level 1, on the eastern side of the ground, and at the front of Level 6 where advertising signage had been planned and would have restricted fans’ viewing.
“This is a game that looms as one of those unique ‘Where were you’ sporting moments and the clubs and the Stadium want to do everything we can to ensure as many fans as possible can come and see English Premier League champions Chelsea against Sydney FC on 2 June,” said Greg Sleigh, Stadium Australia’s General Manager Event & Business Development.
“There’s a perception that the last tickets sold are always toward the back of the stadium – on the contrary, this is the perfect case where some of the best seating for the event has just come back on sale.”
The match between Chelsea FC and Sydney FC was secured by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, in partnership with Stadium Australia. NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the game caps off a bumper week of major events in Sydney.
“It’s great to see so many people taking advantage of this once-in-a-generation visit by one of the world’s biggest football clubs, Chelsea FC. I’d encourage anyone who is yet to purchase a ticket to move fast, and also to plan a few extra days to check out the other big events on in Sydney over the next week- the State of Origin tomorrow night, Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and of course Vivid Sydney, which runs every night until 8 June,” said Minister Ayres.
With Members and corporate seating also in hot demand, a sell-out crowd of well over 83,000 is expected to witness Chelsea FC v Sydney FC. The Stadium Australia ground record in the current configuration is 83,833.
A powerful Chelsea squad will arrive in Sydney on Sunday morning in preparation for the game. The Stadium Australia gates will open at 6pm on Tuesday 2 June, with Event Activities kicking off at 7.15pm.
Appropriately themed game-day bars & eateries will be set up at either end of Stadium Australia, with The Shed End Bar opposite the Chelsea supporters’ zone, near Aisle 140 in the south, and The Cove Bar set up opposite Sydney FC’s supporters’ zone, near Aisle 120 in the north.
Fans are encouraged to take advantage of the fact all tickets include the cost of public transport. Fans intending to drive should pre-book their parking via Sydney Olympic Park website.
