Asian Cup 2015 Thread

Newcastle. I smallish city (really a big country town) a couple of hours drive north of Sydney. Has a mainly mining and industrial base but also has some very good wineries not too far away in the Hunter Valley if you like that sort of stuff. Train transport is also good from Sydney. If you like beaches there are some good ones in Newcastle. Personally I would stay in SYdney and travel to Newcastle for the game.

Canberra. The nations Capital. Hot and humid in January. Not that much to do and see. I would go there for the game and get out the same day. Fly in fly out is all its good for IMO.

Melbourne. Not a bad place for a short break. If you stay in the CBD or the inner suburbs there is a reasonably good transport and lots of good restaurants and bars. Don't gamble at the Casino. Its the only place i've been to where if the dealer draws 22 its a push (unless you've got 22 yourself, then you lose.)

I would recomend you stay in Sydney for the game in Newcastle, then travel to Melbourne for the game there and stay there whilst you fly up to Canberra for the day and go back to Melbourne after the game.

 

Agree on Newcastle, Canberra is just hot in Summer, not humid. There's a little bit to see, but as its January it will be pretty quiet most of the politicians and associated people will not be in town. The last flights out of Canberra are generally no later than 9pm, so you wouldn't make it after the game. Same with buses and trains back to sydney. Looks like you will be stuck in Canberra overnight.
There's a lot more to Melbourne than a casino and there's a lot more to gamble on than Black Jack Plus. You can even still play Standard Black Jack where 22 dealer busts, its just the Black Jack Plus tables where it has been changed, and the payouts have been adjusted accordingly anyway.

My opinion on an schedule would be. Arrive Sydney sometime before the 12th of Jan. Train to Newcastle on the 12th, back to Sydney on the 13th. Stay in Sydney then fly to Melbourne on the 16th Jan for the game. Stay In Melbourne until flying to Canberra on the 20th Jan for third game. Then bus or train or fly back to Sydney on the 21st. Fly out of Sydney when ever you like. Unlikely Palestine make it out of the group.
So that would be at least 4 nights in Sydney + more at either end.
1 night in Newcastle
4 nights in Melbourne
1 night in Canberra.

 

Got my ticket for Iran Bahrain game (Have to become football family member to be able to buy it). The prices seems very reasonable for venue packs as well.

http://www.afcasiancup.com/tickets/en/

 

I was surprised at the prices, great bargains for all games that Aust are not involved in. Tickets starting at $5 for Concession and $15 for Adults. I will definately go to ones that i think are worth the travel for those prices.

The WC ODI Cricket is on just after so it is sort of competing with the lead up to that and of course the hit and giggle T20 seems to draw good crowds here during the summer (i don't know why)

 

flashback

 

Just bought 2 category 1 tickets for the only local knockout match for me which is at AAMI Park here in Melbourne.. Concession prices were a steal and hopefully it will be either Korea or Australia to top group A should be good.

I'll probably head down for some other matches (Aus vs. Kuwait, DPRK vs. Saudi) pending time/funds.. and also the final if I'm back home in Sydney at the right time.

 

How the crowds looking for the games?

I live in WA, so unfortunately a little too far for me to make the trip across ... although parents still live in Sydney so would have cheap accommodation.

Got my Socceroos shirt ready for wearing during the tourney, and ready to cheer loudly for them. Have Australia ever lifted any meaningful trophy in soccer?

 

Depends on what you consider meaningful. We've won a few OFC Championships when we were in OFC. Apart from that, we've been runner up in a Confederations Cup and an Asian Cup.

 

Runner ups don't mean much (in the grand scheme) ... and OFC I wouldn't really class as meaningful (unless we talking about rugby).

So definitely a winners trophy in cabinet would take front and centre!!