Football Friendlie$
‘Glamour Friendly’ isn’t a term a like throwing around, but it does seem appropriate when discussing the International Champions Cup (ICC). Well at least it did last year when Ronaldo and friends turned the Melbourne Cricket Ground into a winter wonderland.
Fast forward twelve months and the ICC circus have returned minus the stars but with the same exorbitant ticket prices. Even the inclusion of Melbourne’s biggest team in Victory couldn’t save the 2016 edition the tournament. Whilst Melbourne should welcome world class teams with open arms we shouldn’t be held to ransom.
Most stadiums would welcome 30,000 patrons thru turnstiles but the MCG isn’t your average stadium. Australia’s coliseum holds 100,000 people resembles that of a ghost town when at 30% capacity. Organisers have resorted to a 30% ticket discount to draw football fans to the MCG to see some of the world’s biggest teams, but it also doesn’t help when Tottenham, Juventus and Atletico Madrid have left their some of their stars at home after a gruelling month of Euro 16’ commitments.
For those who pre-purchased tickets, had free tickets thrown at them or are football fans who just can’t help themselves you should enjoy the quality of football on offer. Yes, some of the bigger names didn’t make the trip down under we should enjoy some of the world’s biggest footballers at our feet. Most of us cannot afford a return ticket to Europe at the drop of the hat and some of those cannot bring themselves to embrace the A-Leaugue, even after eleven seasons of improving quality so internationals aside this potentially could be the best football you will see live for a while.
We can bitch and moan about those who didn’t make the trip but you cannot say this was unexpected after a major Championships or we can just sit at home and ‘enjoy’ channel nine fumble their way through a football broadcast but at the end of the day we have to accept this competition for what it is.
Firstly the tournament is only early in its inception and last year Melbourne was blessed with an array of talent rarely seen on these shores. There weren’t any major tournaments last year and all players were available for selection. When we look back last year was a perfect storm for organisers and 2016 should only be looked at as a bump in the road.
Ticket pricing has been a major sticking point this year with the Australian market proving to vote with their wallets for the first two games. Prices have been judged far too high by the average football fan and Melbourne’s cold winter hasn’t helped the cause.
Let’s accept the ICC for what it is, a glorified preseason friendly ‘tournament’ and whilst we get the opportunity to see some football talent on show, you have to be willing to pay over the odds to see it; although it’s cheaper than a return fare to Europe.
If you choose to attend, enjoy the action but if you’re like the majority of fans you will be happily watching from your lounge room awaiting the 2016/17 European season and if it’s half as good as last year it’s going to be a cracker. You just might have to watch it using a few different methods this season.
PS. If anyone finds one of those Red AUDI jackets in XL I can forward you my details.
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