Ellis Park almost sold out
7 Sep 2006
Ellis Park Stadium will be packed to the rafters when the Springboks play the Wallabies in the final Vodacom Tri-Nations Test on Saturday.
Ellis Park management and the Golden Lions Rugby Union are preparing to put up the “Sold Out” signs soon. “There are about 2000 tickets still available as we speak. But as I look out of my office I can see a long queue at the ticket office,” Lions CEO Andy Turner told keo.co.za. “The response has been phenomenal and we are expecting it to be completely sold out by Saturday.”
It may even happen some time tomorrow.
Although the Boks win over the All Blacks last weekend has helped, the sales were going well before they played at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace. “We had sold about 47,000 tickets before the last Test anyway. In fact, sales are going better than normal. We usually have about 2000 walk-ins on match day, but I suspect we will be sold out before then.”
Although ticket prices range from a hefty R350 to an even heftier R400, it seems this has had little effect on the public turning up for a match the Boks are favourites to win, if for no other reason than the charm of the venue. “I think because Australia has not won here since 1963, and that is their only victory, the encounter is very popular because history shows the fans will witness a win,” said Turner.
Ellis Park has long been regarded as South Africa’s premier rugby ground. Apart from hosting the World Cup final in 1995 it has also been the venue for some memorable Springbok victories in the last few years.
Who will ever forget Werner Greeff’s try and conversion after the final hooter in 2002 that sealed a dramatic 33-31 win over the Wallabies? And last year Ellis Park rocked with Madiba as he celebrated his birthday and recorded a 33-20 win that erased the 12-30 defeat in Sydney earlier in the year. “The atmosphere for last year’s Test with Nelson Mandela was truly magnificent. Hopefully we will have a similar atmosphere on Saturday.”
Again the Boks are trying to reverse their fortunes (after losing 49-0 and 20-18) at Ellis Park this weekend. There will be no Madiba Magic this time, but the confidence boost and the fact they are playing at Ellis Park will be a major factor for Jake White’s team.
Springboks v Australia (At Ellis Park):
2005 won 33-20
2002 won 33-31
1998 won 29-15
1969 won 30-11
1963 lost 9-11
1961 won 28-3
1953 won 25-3
1933 won 12-3
By Andrew Hollely
52 Comments
7 Sep 2006, 16:25 pm
Good news
7 Sep 2006, 16:25 pm
Its gonna be big
7 Sep 2006, 16:29 pm
It is gonna be big, a big loss to Boks!
7 Sep 2006, 16:30 pm
Wallabie
?
Care to put your money where your mouth is
7 Sep 2006, 16:31 pm
On what basis are tests awared to the different venues? The richest unions (bar Rustenburg of course) get the most tests and keep getting richer. I doubt whether Saturday’s game would not have also sold out in Bloem, Kimberley, PE or East London.
7 Sep 2006, 16:32 pm
Boks 25 Oz 15
7 Sep 2006, 16:33 pm
Aussie 38 – 10 Boks
A lot of booing to be heard and gnashing of teeth.
7 Sep 2006, 16:34 pm
Just bantering goo for the health most times.
7 Sep 2006, 16:34 pm
goo = good
7 Sep 2006, 16:34 pm
Ellis park moet maar hoop hulle verkoop alles eant volgende jaar is daar nie s14 vir hulle nie!
7 Sep 2006, 16:35 pm
roughly how much money will the gate income be? not sure about how many season ticketholders and suits.
7 Sep 2006, 16:38 pm
DS,
Decided by the PC and also has a lot to do with money.
As an example, for a first tier nations (NZ, Aus, Eng, France) the union where the test is hosted, need to put forward R8-mil if I am not mistaken, for second tier nations, it is R4 or 5-mil.
So to get R8-mil, you need to be assured you are going to fill a stadium with about 45K plus people.
7 Sep 2006, 16:38 pm
Remember to boo your team as discussed last week as this will be support to the wallabies they may need it.
Some help from friends always goes a long way – can I count on the bulls supporters?
7 Sep 2006, 16:39 pm
7 Sep 2006, 16:41 pm
The ‘morgue’ full to the brim eh?
I’ve been in libraries with better atmospheres. Ellis Park is the sporting equivalent of valium. I trust both teams can get themselves up for the game because the crowd wont be?
Its time to strike this stadium off the SA ground roster.
7 Sep 2006, 16:42 pm
PA
As always you are a wealth of rugby knowledge.
7 Sep 2006, 16:49 pm
South African rugby supporters are definitely living on the edge…
what a difference ONE point makes…
(go bokke!!!)
7 Sep 2006, 16:50 pm
StM. not if you are a Bok supporter, saw NZ game there in 2004 it was brilliant!
Aussies to almost win.
7 Sep 2006, 16:50 pm
What happened to everyone banging those Jemba jemba drum thingies… Those things rocked kings park for the last tri nations..
7 Sep 2006, 16:50 pm
Erm St Michel, apart from “HQ” what decent rugby stadiums are there in England.
And no football/Wembley white elephant please.
7 Sep 2006, 16:54 pm
Wallabie…….ur a funny guy……..just remember with ur current quality of forwards or lack thereof the only ball ur backs will see is if all your forwards decide to scrum down with only g-strings on!!!
7 Sep 2006, 16:58 pm
Bokke 25
Wallabies 12
Man if the match: Jean de Villiers
7 Sep 2006, 17:09 pm
21
LOL
7 Sep 2006, 17:16 pm
Not much use being famous if there’s no S14 team to run out on the playing fields.
7 Sep 2006, 17:23 pm
Ellis Park is a dump, youve got drive through Beirute to get there and then its like park your car with gear lock and wheel clamp then try not get murderd on the way to the ground, f*ckin joke! An embarrasment an uter disgrace to the Lions RFU and and eye sore on SA rugby!
7 Sep 2006, 17:24 pm
#22 Chelsea
You’re a genius, hoe did you know?
My thoughts exactly. “Great minds think alike……, eh?
(OOOeeeeeeh, now for the rest of the proverb from those Aussie supporters, “…and fools never…..! I can just hear them.
7 Sep 2006, 17:30 pm
The ozzies are going to get whipped and whine afterwards
whine –verb (used without object) 1. to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc
2. to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way: He is always whining about his problems.
7 Sep 2006, 17:30 pm
# Fuzzybear
I know, but don’t blame rugby for that.
Our government is more concerned with ‘quotas’ than the security of those very same players.
Ai toggie!
7 Sep 2006, 17:31 pm
whining was the origins of the ozzie accent.
7 Sep 2006, 17:32 pm
The time has come the Walrus said.
7 Sep 2006, 17:36 pm
Pieterman wat dink jy gaan Sat gebeur?
7 Sep 2006, 17:44 pm
Sanity prevails , I for one hope rustenburg never happens again.
7 Sep 2006, 18:01 pm
Naas 31#
Ek is met # 26.
Ek dink ons gaan in die laaste 15 minute twee keer score wanneer dinge uitrafel, komplimente van JdeV, JF en JP.
Tot op daai stadium gaan dit ‘tight’ wees, totdat ons ‘loosies’ daai nommer 6 en 7 van die Wallabies uitgesorteer het.
Maar ons sal die laaste 20 minute moet tekkel dat dit vrek, moontlik met 14 man, want n geelkaarte gaan daar wees, beslis.
Gaan n moerse ‘game’ wees, die spanningsvolste van die reeks, en die Bokke gaan met 10 punte wen.
,
7 Sep 2006, 18:21 pm
anyone know what time this game is being shown on sky tv?
7 Sep 2006, 18:23 pm
3pm
7 Sep 2006, 18:23 pm
thanks. which channel though ? SS2 has a premiership game …. blech
7 Sep 2006, 18:36 pm
34
2pm on Sky Sports 2
7 Sep 2006, 18:36 pm
SS1 had premiership
7 Sep 2006, 18:39 pm
niknaks is lekker
7 Sep 2006, 18:44 pm
It’s also home to the best team in the world. LIONS!!!
7 Sep 2006, 18:54 pm
Excuse the **** out of me but are they AGAIN not showing the Lions game????!!!! That is the 3rd time this year! F#$K YOU Supersport, why have a gazzilion channels when you don’t plan to show the game. Who cares the Boks are playing, the new Currie Cup champs are playing the Valke this weekend!
7 Sep 2006, 19:39 pm
This just shows what a win does for players and supporters.
May the best team win…..Good Luck,
Patrick.
7 Sep 2006, 19:52 pm
Grrr , feel i with you , WP also had about 3 games not shown , really frustrating , I cannot see why they cant broadcast it on Supersport 5,6,7 or something , or even delayed , or maybe even sabc3.
7 Sep 2006, 19:54 pm
Patrick , I agree to a certain extent but I feel its more to do with the location of the match than the fact we beat the ABS. If last weeks game was played in Durbs , CT or JHB the stadium would have been sold out the week before.
7 Sep 2006, 19:56 pm
41.. Yup the Lions are back dude what did i tell you they will win the curri cup and then go on to win the super 14 next year.
and since i think you and me were the onoly AVID lions/cats supporters this last season the union owes us box tickets for every match
7 Sep 2006, 23:10 pm
AWESOME, this is gonna be one HECK of an atmosphere, Boks to burry Aussies
8 Sep 2006, 01:07 am
Now I expect all you nice South African supporters to politely applaud your favourite true blue fair dinkum aussie player’s like Rathbone, Vickerman and Gregan when they beat you on the weekend 35-25. You know you want to.
8 Sep 2006, 03:08 am
Can Jake and John Smit once again “take lots of positives” out of this game?
8 Sep 2006, 06:25 am
They will definitely take a lot more positives out of it than anyone ever will out of anything you have to offer Tackles.
Would you recognise a positive if it hit you in the nose??
Andrew, interesting title to the thread;
when Jade stadium and The Caketin had a couple of Thou tickets left a couple of days before the game the thread went along the lines of
“tickets still available for game…no-one wants to watch..etc”
8 Sep 2006, 07:25 am
What about a quota system regarding spectators – joking, easy boys!
8 Sep 2006, 12:05 pm
Not yet tackled ***…..
Wait till after the game….
8 Sep 2006, 12:07 pm
Aussies on Wrap from down under said that Ellis park has an aggressive atmosphere and says it is very difficult to win there…..
He says the Bokke always play their best rugby at Ellis park and puts it to the atmosphere….
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.