Lower ticket sales at Optus Stadium’s first five-day Test cricket match, in comparison to sales for the Big Bash League, are suggesting Perth prefers the sport’s T20 format.
The second Test, which kicks off tomorrow (Friday), has seen lower sales than expected, while the WACA is anticipating a complete sell-out for the Perth Scorchers’ first BBL home match, with more than 33,400 tickets sold so far.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, Cricket Australia has predicted that more than 70,000 to 80,000 fans will be in attendance for the Test at the 60,000-capacity stadium. The expected day-one turn out is reportedly sitting around 21,000.
The newspaper reports that West Australian cricket officials have said any Test with expected crowds in excess of 60,000 would be played at Optus Stadium instead of the at the WACA.
Therefore, it would be likely that Australian Tests against West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand are likely to be played at the WACA.
The lower-than-expected sales have been blamed on the timing of the Test, as it is in the lead-up to Christmas and coincides with the hot weather.
Earlier this month, it was reported that ticket sales had dwindled for the first Test cricket match between India and Australia at Adelaide Oval after the traveling team refused to play a day-night game.
Image: Evad37
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