Federation Square bans World Cup action

Those of us  in Melbourne won't be watching the All Whites, or anyone else, at Fed Square on the big screens, like in 2006.

 

A news story for you (ahead of publication, don't ask me how I know)

 

MELBOURNE soccer fans are without a World Cup meeting place after Federation Square cancelled plans to run its ``live site'' because of fears of overcrowding.
More than 10,000 people packed the Square, and spilled into Birrarung Marr, during each of the Socceroos' clashes in 2006.
But this time around Federation Square management, which markets the iconic site as ``Melbourne's meeting place'', has shut fans out.
Australia's matches in South Africa _  the first is against triple World Cup holder Germany on June 13 _ will not be shown on the big screen.
``This time around, interest has grown so much in the soccer that we could not accommodate the expected numbers of people safely at Federation Square,'' venue spokesman Ron Smith said.
``We had more people than we could accommodate in the square (four years ago).''
The Football Federation of Australia and City of Melbourne are now looking for an alternative ``live site'' venue.

 

That new AAMI PARK stadium just down the road now looks PERFECT for this gig.

 

He thought he was straight off Underbelly, or in his case fatbelly.

 

 

 

DOCKLANDS is making a bid to be the Melbourne centre of this year's Soccer World Cup.
The Harbour Town mall in Waterfront City will be the only site in Melbourne to show all the games live, with two massive screens and full audio.
Replays will be played at the more family friendly time of 5.30pm.

 

 

I have no info yet as to whether the screens are accessible 24hrs i.e. for midnight games, 4am games.....but surely they must be. Worth a call....

 

(This goes alongside the new plans for big screen action being shifted from Fed Square to Birrarung Marr, but it seems pretty likely that venue will only show Socceroos/marquee games....)