Sport as a Spectacle

Last Friday night I attended the AFL NAB cup match at Manuka Oval which saw the Bombers and the Giants clash. It was the first time that Manuka had been lit up for an AFL match, and got plenty of people excited, including myself! This got me thinking about sport as a spectacle. Gone are the days of running around on a beaten up paddock, footy fields are now surrounded by massive structures to ensure that a maximum number of people can watch the matches.

Rather than buying a general admin ticket into the game, I bought tickets to a function that allowed me to gain entry, get a reserved seat in the Bradman Stand, which is the best seating, and a 4 hour food and drinks package and talks from politicians, AFL Canberra employees, and football superstars, such as Tom Harley, Jason Saddington, Craig Bolton and Kevin Sheedy. And the price I paid for all of these things? A measly $80. These entertainment packages are quickly becoming the most reasonably priced forms of viewing the footy, with ticket prices, in-ground food and drinks and the cost of parking, public transport, etc becoming more and more costly. These package deals enhance the experience of the supporters that buy tickets, and make the games seem even better. It safe to say that I incredibly enjoyed the night, not only because of the match itself, but because of all the ‘extra’s’. (My night was made even better by meeting some of the players after including Jobe Watson! :D)

However, do things like these package deals being offered take away from the actual game itself? Many people argue that these packages, combined with pre-game entertainment, half time entertainment and things happening around the ground detract from the actual game itself. I do not believe that this is the case! These things only enhance the game, and can even help to better it, by bringing others to the game that might not have come if it was purely the game. The game as a spectacle is a good thing for the growth of the game!