For those that prefer watching people get active to getting sweaty themselves, then Sydney is a bit of sporting paradise. It has plenty of world class stadiums, and big events to keep sports fans happy, and tickets are usually available for all but the most anticipated games.
Cricket in Sydney, Australia
Both state and international games are hosted at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Moore Park. The big occasion is the New Year Test, where Australia hosts whichever team is in the country on New Year’s Day. The Bankstown Oval further west also hosts a few state games, which usually have poor attendance and very cheap ticket prices.
Aussie Rules in Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Cricket Ground is also the home of the Sydney Swans. They are (currently) Sydney’s only representative in the nationwide AFL competition, and are becoming an increasingly popular draw in what has been traditionally rugby league territory. So much so, in fact, that they’ve recently started playing games the ANZ Stadium at Homebush Bay. This is the former Olympic stadium, and it holds over 80,000 spectators.
Rugby Union in Sydney, Australia
The big games (including the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final) are held at ANZ Stadium. This includes clashes with New Zealand and visiting teams from Europe. The local team, however, are the NSW Waratahs, and they play most of their Super 14 tournament games at the Sydney Football Stadium. This is right next to the cricket ground in Moore Park.
Football in Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Football Stadium is also home to Sydney FC. The team has been a qualified success since the Australians finally learned what football was a few years ago, and the A-League was launched. The proper form of football (you know, the one played with the feet) is rapidly gaining popularity, and some people have even stopped calling it “soccer”.
Rugby League in Sydney, Australia
Despite the pretences of the others, League is still king in Sydney, and ten of the NRL’s 16 teams are based in the Sydney area. The Bulldogs and the South Sydney Rabbitohs call the ANZ stadium home, while the Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons also play a few home games there. The Sydney Roosters play at the Sydney Football Stadium, while the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles call the Brookvale Oval on the North Shore home.
This article was originally written for Australia and New Zealand magazine.
Copyright David Whitley
