Iconic Moments of Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Football Stadium

As a major hub for professional sport, Sydney is home to three of the ten largest stadiums in Australia. Among them, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and Allianz Stadium (formerly Sydney Football Stadium) have witnessed countless iconic sporting moments across a range of sports, cementing their place in history. These legendary venues are now home to GIS Sydney.

Part 1: Sydney Cricket Ground 

With four cricket teams and the Sydney Swans (AFL) calling it home, the SCG has hosted many historic moments.

Cricket was first played at the site in 1851, when British Army soldiers were granted permission to use the area for recreational sport. Over the years, the venue evolved, and in 1882, the first Sydney Test match took place, with Australia defeating England.

That same year, Australia won its first-ever Test match in England. The Sporting Times mockingly published an obituary for English cricket, giving rise to the Ashes, one of the greatest rivalries in sport. The decisive match of the inaugural Ashes series (1882-1883) was played at the SCG, where England emerged victorious.

Decades later, the SCG became synonymous with the legendary Sir Don Bradman, widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. Playing for New South Wales from 1927 to 1934, he consistently drew huge crowds to the stadium. Bradman retired with a remarkable Test batting average of 99.94, and the SCG honoured his legacy by naming a stand after him.

Bradman scored two international centuries at the SCG—first in 1931 against South Africa and again in 1946 against England, where he posted a score of 234.

Beyond cricket, the SCG has also been the stage for unforgettable Australian Rules Football moments. The Sydney Swans, the only AFL club reported to have over a million fans, play their home games here. In 1987, they became one of only two teams in AFL history to score over 200 points in consecutive games—posting 201 against the West Coast Eagles and 236 against Essendon the following week.

Part 2: Sydney Football Stadium 

Opened in 1988 next to the SCG, the original Sydney Football Stadium was built as the city’s premier rectangular field venue, primarily hosting rugby league, rugby union, and football.

From its very first year, the stadium was the backdrop for historic sporting moments. In 1988, it hosted the 100th rugby league Test match between England and Australia.

In 1993, football fans were treated to a special moment when Diego Maradona led Argentina onto the pitch for a World Cup qualifier against Australia. A crowd of over 43,000 witnessed a 1-1 draw, with Maradona playing alongside fellow Argentine greats Gabriel Batistuta and Fernando Redondo.

The stadium also played a key role in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, hosting five football matches, including a semi-final where Spain defeated the USA 3-1.

In 2006, it hosted the first-ever A-League Grand Final, where Sydney FC beat the Central Coast Mariners to claim the title. Eleven years later, in 2017, Sydney FC secured their third A-League championship at the venue, defeating Melbourne Victory.

The original stadium was demolished in 2019 and rebuilt, reopening in 2022 as the new Allianz Stadium. It now serves as the home ground for the Sydney Roosters (NRL), NSW Waratahs (Super Rugby), and Sydney FC (A-League).

The Roosters, one of the NRL’s most successful teams with 15 league titles, play all their home games at Allianz Stadium, averaging over 22,000 spectators per match. Their rivalry with the South Sydney Rabbitohs produced the stadium’s highest post-rebuild attendance, with 41,906 fans turning up for their clash.

In 2023, the stadium played a major role in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosting six matches with an average attendance of 37,506 per game.

Beyond sports, the venue has hosted unforgettable concerts since 1988, with performances by George Michael, Coldplay, and, just before its redevelopment, Michael Bublé.

With such a rich sporting history, the SCG and Allianz Stadium provide the perfect setting for GIS Sydney. These world-class venues offer an inspiring environment to study a degree in sport in Australia.

Article by Zak Anani