Arthur Stanley and Joel Moss
THIS is your chance to see Australian sporting history unfold. But you will have to move fast if you want to be part of the biggest football event of 2014 – the potentially series-deciding Origin II at Stadium Australia on Wednesday 18 June.
The Blues were awesome in winning Origin I in Brisbane and will start favourites to break Queensland’s eight-series stranglehold on the State of Origin shield in Sydney.
Anticipating something special is in the rugby league wind, Blues fans rushed for tickets on the back of Origin I and the Stadium Australia event is well on the way to an 83,000-plus sellout. Get tickets here
Want to see Origin II in style from The Best Seats In The House? A small number of Centreline Seats, with access to Stadium Australia’s plush new Centreline Seats Bar & Lounge, are still available here
The best way to secure your seat not only for Origin II but for all the big events in Sydney this year – including Bledisloe Cup, the Juventus v A-League All Stars classic, key Waratahs and Swans games, NRL and AFL regular-season games finals, the NRL Grand Final and more – is to become an Stadium Australia Member. To enquire about Stadium Australia Membership, go here
Pre-game Origin party
A massive pre-Origin party is planned for Sydney Olympic Park, outside Stadium Australia, with the festivities kicking off at 4pm on Wednesday 18 June.
The focus of the party will be #TheSheds in Cathy Freeman Park, which will feature a monster marquee, live music, a 50m bar provided by Accor, visits by NSW Blues legends and the chance to win your way on to the field at halftime.
#TheSheds, sponsored by VB – chief sponsor of the NSW Blues – are open to all ticketholders but will double as the collection point for those electric blue wigs and T-shirts that are part and parcel of the NSW Blatchy’s Blues supporters’ match-day experience.
A Queensland supporters’ pre-game party will be held at Allphones Arena right next to Stadium Australia. The Maroon Crusade may be outnumbered but they will give their fair share of cheek. Join the Maroon Crusade here
Sydney Olympic Park’s bars, cafes and eateries will all embrace the Blues them on the night and will be pumping with energy. Good options are the The Brewery and The Lounge.
Stadium Australia itself will turn a brilliant blue at nightfall, as will Olympic Park Station.
Gates open at 5.45pm with a NSW v Queensland Under-18s preliminary game kicking off at 6pm. Additional bars will operate inside the Stadium.
The Origin II fan game plan is:
1) Get an early cut from work. Your State needs you at Stadium Australia, whether you are cheering for the mighty Blues or for reigning champions Queensland, who have to win to keep alive their hopes of a ninth straight series win.
2) Use free public transport. All tickets to Origin II include the cost of travel on Sydney Trains or Major Event Buses. If you insist on driving, please pre-book parking via the Sydney Olympic Park website.
3) Arrive at Sydney Olympic Park early to soak up the colour and atmosphere of Origin. Stadium Australia gates open from 5.45pm.
4) Be prepared for the noise and energy of Origin II. Wear Blues or Maroons colours and get into the spirit of this unforgettable sporting occasion.
First Origin in a Connected Stadium
Will this be the first time in history someone can tweet, “NSW have won the Origin series, because the technology boom since 2005 has changed the way we experience live sport.
It will certainly be the first time a State of Origin game has been played in a stadium offering a free Wi-Fi service to all fans in the venue. This will allow fans to make phone calls, send text messages, and engage on social media and via the big screen even in a capacity crowd.
So power up your smart phone or mobile tablet before arriving at the Stadium. Running low on battery? Be sure to look out for Stadium Australia’s Charge Bars, where you can power up and be ready to rejoin Tweet of Origin. You’ll find Charge Bars on Level 1 (near Aisle 124), on the Level 2 terraces and in the Centreline Seats Bar & Lounge, in many of the Level 3 Private Suites, and in the Members lounges on Levels 4 and 5 at Stadium Australia.
NRL blockbusters leading into Origin II
Get in the mood for Origin by attending two cracking games leading into Wednesday 18 June.
The Rabbitohs play the Tigers on Friday 13 June. Get your tickets here.
The Bulldogs host the Eels on a classic Sunday afternoon match on 15 June. Get your tickets here.
ORIGIN II – is it destined to be a “Where Were You” moment in Australian sport?
Be part of this unforgettable sporting experience.
