SYDNEY Football Stadium will host the A-League Grand Final, Football Federation Australia confirmed today.
This is the first time the Hyundai A-League Grand Final has not been played at the home ground of the first team to qualify for the showcase event at 5pm on February 24.
The Central Coast Mariners, who are based at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford, qualified for the A-League 2008 Grand Final last weekend and will meet either Newcastle Jets or Queensland Roar following their Preliminary Final on Sunday 17 February.
“We’ve opted for Sydney Football Stadium for two reasons,” FFA CEO Ben Buckley, said.
“First, the capacity of the Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford is around 20,000 and we believe more than 20,000 people will want to see the A-League Grand Final, based on experience in the two previous years as well as the Mariners’ terrific community support base.
“Second, we believe it’s time to take the game to the next step and establish the A-League Grand Final as the marquee event that it is. It is the biggest game of the year for the A-League and we want to showcase it and give it the status it deserves for the players, the clubs and, importantly, the fans.”
Sydney Football Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,500, hosted the inaugural A-League Grand Final between Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners in 2006.
Buckley said that FFA has received assurances from the SCG Trust that car park places will be available for football patrons on the day, despite the One Day International cricket match being held simultaneously at the SCG.
“The precinct will be busy but it will also be vibrant, and it’s a good opportunity for Sydney to show that it can cope with two significant sporting events in the same vicinity at the same time.”
Buckley said that NSW Transport will schedule additional train services from Gosford, as well as bus services from Central Station for patrons.
Full transport details will be announced shortly.
Tickets go on sale as follows:
• Members of Central Coast Mariners: 9.00am, Thursday 14 February to 12 noon, Friday 15 February
• My Football Family: 1.00pm, Friday 15 February to 9.00pm, Sunday 17 February
• Members of either Newcastle Jets or Queensland Roar: 9.00am (local time) Monday 18 February to 12 noon (local time) Tuesday 19 February
• General public: 1.00pm, Tuesday 19 February until sold out
The Central Coast Mariners, who are based at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford, qualified for the A-League 2008 Grand Final last weekend and will meet either Newcastle Jets or Queensland Roar following their Preliminary Final on Sunday 17 February.
“We’ve opted for Sydney Football Stadium for two reasons,” FFA CEO Ben Buckley, said.
“First, the capacity of the Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford is around 20,000 and we believe more than 20,000 people will want to see the A-League Grand Final, based on experience in the two previous years as well as the Mariners’ terrific community support base.
“Second, we believe it’s time to take the game to the next step and establish the A-League Grand Final as the marquee event that it is. It is the biggest game of the year for the A-League and we want to showcase it and give it the status it deserves for the players, the clubs and, importantly, the fans.”
Sydney Football Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,500, hosted the inaugural A-League Grand Final between Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners in 2006.
Buckley said that FFA has received assurances from the SCG Trust that car park places will be available for football patrons on the day, despite the One Day International cricket match being held simultaneously at the SCG.
“The precinct will be busy but it will also be vibrant, and it’s a good opportunity for Sydney to show that it can cope with two significant sporting events in the same vicinity at the same time.”
Buckley said that NSW Transport will schedule additional train services from Gosford, as well as bus services from Central Station for patrons.
Full transport details will be announced shortly.
Tickets go on sale as follows:
• Members of Central Coast Mariners: 9.00am, Thursday 14 February to 12 noon, Friday 15 February
• My Football Family: 1.00pm, Friday 15 February to 9.00pm, Sunday 17 February
• Members of either Newcastle Jets or Queensland Roar: 9.00am (local time) Monday 18 February to 12 noon (local time) Tuesday 19 February
• General public: 1.00pm, Tuesday 19 February until sold out
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