A large crowd watches the Brumbies play the British and Irish Lions at GIO Stadium. Photo: Tim Gavel.
I must admit there is a certain amount of trepidation every time Canberra hosts a major sports event.
Having covered sport in this city for the past 36 years I feel as though as soon as one issue relating to hosting large crowds is resolved, another arises.
The problems experienced by many battling to find their way home after the British and Irish Lions versus Brumbies game last Wednesday (9 July) shouldn’t have taken anybody by surprise.
There were complaints about the same issue when the Matildas played Argentina in front of more than 25,000 last month.
The complaints came thick and fast about what was perceived to be a lack of coordination in getting people to and from GIO Stadium. It wasn’t as if there was no prior warning given both the Matildas and Brumbies/Lions games were either sell-outs or close to it weeks before they took place.
It would appear anything above a crowd of 20,000 equals traffic chaos.
The Raiders playing the Dragons at GIO Stadium in July with a crowd of more than 15,000 watching on. Photo: Jennifer Andrew.
It is not the only issue annoying spectators and the media at GIO Stadium.
In the Lions/Brumbies game Wi-Fi issues created angst for the mass media travelling with the Lions.
Of course, there have also been issues with the ageing stadium with the sewerage system creating an unpleasant waft around the changerooms and the tunnel.
I have also received plenty of complaints about the music played during games in what has been described as at earsplitting levels.
Given my role as a commentator, I am not aware of many of the noise issues, as I usually have headphones on during games, but last Wednesday as a spectator for the first time at a Brumbies game, I understood how it could become annoying.
The problems of catering for big crowds at events in Canberra are not confined to GIO Stadium.
Although a picturesque venue, Manuka Oval facilities have been criticised, particularly when crowds are large. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Over the years I have had countless emails from fans going to Manuka for AFL and cricket, writing with anger about a number of issues, but the lack of toilet facilities seems to annoy many.
I have also had people contact me recently over the problems with transportation relating to GIO Stadium asking why there wasn’t a dedicated bus lane taking spectators to and from the venue.
Many have drawn a comparison with the ease in getting into and out of the MCG, and it houses five times the number of people going to games at GIO Stadium.
Often in the media we are oblivious to the issues facing fans going to GIO and Manuka as we are well looked after by the Brumbies, the Raiders and AFL. So the gravity of problems is often not fully comprehended until pointed out by those impacted.
The hope is that officials in charge of crowd management at games, as well as people movement to and from games, learn from the experiences over the past month.
Otherwise, people will simply opt to not go to GIO and stay at home, which will come at the expense of the sports involved.
