ACB reports record sales, but tickets still available
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today reported a $2.6 million dollar increase in Test match ticket sales from 1998-99, the last time England travelled to Australian shores.
Yet, despite around 30,000 more Test match tickets being sold than at the same stage four years ago, no grounds have sold out and thousands of seats remain at venues around the country for both the Orange Test Series and the VB Series.
More than 8500 tickets are still available for day one of January's Orange Test in Sydney, as well as 14,500 for day two. Over 7000 tickets remain for the opening match of the VB Series, to be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground between Australian and England on 13 December.
ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said that healthy ticket sales were one of several key indicators of cricket's appeal this summer.
"From a financial point of view, we have had an exceptional start to the summer. Record crowds in Brisbane for the first Orange Test were supported by increased television ratings, higher than expected sales of ACB licensed product and record numbers of people visiting the ACB's official internet site," Mr Sutherland said.
"These are obvious indicators of the health of the game in this country and the sheer enjoyment Australians receive from international cricket, in particular an Ashes series.
"People flocked to the Brisbane game and we hope this trend continues. Despite common perception, there are plenty of tickets left at all venues this season."
The Brisbane Test attracted a crowd of 81,277 across the four days, the best attendance figure at the Gabba since the 1932-33 Ashes series and an increase of 30,000 from 1998-99, when the match lasted five days.
The Nine Network's ratings rose to an average of 11.3 for the first Orange Test, up from 8.4 for the same game last season.
ACB licensed product sales increased 300 per cent on last year, with purchases exceeding the combined total of the first four Tests of season 2001-02.
Traffic to the ACB's official internet site, baggygreen.com.au, is up at least 20 per cent on last year. The site received a record 132,600 Australian visitors on day two and the average duration for a visit to the address was an exceptionally high 40 minutes.
The next Orange Test match begins in Adelaide on 21 November.
Ahead of that match, England takes on Australia A in a three-day match in Hobart beginning on Friday 15 November. The Nine Network will telecast this match live.
Tickets for the summer of cricket can be purchased from the following outlets:
New South Wales – Ticketek
Phone: 02 9266 4800 or www.ticketek.com
Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia - Ticketmaster7
Phone: 1300 136 122 or www.ticketmaster7.com
South Australia - Venue*Tix
Phone: 08 8225 8888 or www.venuetix.com.au
© 2002 Australian Cricket Board
| Teams | Australia. |
| Players/Umpires | James Sutherland. |
| Tours | England in Australia |
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