As I walked away from my local coffee shop this morning, one of the guys behind the counter turned to his co-worker and said: “Do you think Australia will win tonight?”
The fact he said “Australia” felt significant, like we were in this together, men and women, regardless of gender.
And it hit me – once again – how huge the Matildas’ path to glory has been for women’s sport.
Sydney mum Amanda Baddock, who coaches the under 7s soccer team her son Patrick is in, told Kidspot couldn’t believe what she heard at training this week.
One boy said to another, as they were kicking the ball around: “I’ll be Kerr, you be Raso.”
Amanda said: “It stopped me in my tracks. Look at how far women’s sport has come when we have young boys role playing the women’s soccer team.
“The idea of boys knowing the female players, their positions, discussing who should be where and doing what on the field – it’s a revolution for women’s sports.”
I’ve always felt a bit removed from the gender equality conversation because I’ve never felt being a woman held me back from my dreams. I wanted to work in women’s magazines and I did. End of story.
Sam Kerr recently confessed she pretended to be a boy when she was a kid so she could play football because there were no teams for girls. And she’s only 29 so it wasn’t that long ago.
And now we prepare for more than 7 million people to watch her team play tonight.
Suddenly I get why my daughter has been so angry about loving sport and being a woman, because that’s her dream and it’s not an equal playing field.
Despite record-breaking viewer numbers and crowd attendances, the Matildas are only set to receive prize money of $6.7 million if they win the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
That figure is barely 10 per cent of the amount awarded to Argentina, the winners of last year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup.
I didn’t get a chance to write a blog post today, so here’s the story I threw together for Drinks Digest:
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ has seen a $7.66billion rise in travel and retail spending in Australia, with a sizeable chunk of the windfall going to pubs, clubs and bars around the country.
According to financial infrastructure platform Airwallex, NSW businesses have reaped the biggest financial benefits from the tournament, at $2.98billion, followed by Victoria at $2.3billion, Queensland at $1.55billion, Western Australia at $663.2million and South Australia at $160.9million.
“In the current environment this has been a screamer of a goal for the Australian economy,” Airwallex ANZ general manager Luke Latham told The Australian.
“The world game is living up to its name with our tracker showing international visitors have so far spent an extra $4.53billion at Australian hotels and retailers.”
On Saturday, a record-breaking 8.25 million Aussies tuned-in to watch the Matildas make history, with hundreds of thousands of people gathering in stadiums, pubs and around outdoor screens.
Merivale told The Daily Telegraph that over 40,000 patrons attended its 21 venues that screened the game. The capacity crowds have led the hospitality group announced it will be offering patrons 49% off drinks across their pubs and participating bars this Wednesday, August 16 from 6-8pm in support of the Matildas’ semi-final clash against England.
“The Matildas incredible cliffhanger game on Saturday saw a phenomenal coming together of support from Australian’s all around the world. This Wednesday, we’re going to back that up and then some,” Merivale owner Justin Hemmes said.
Hospitality group Solotel also had record attendance on Saturday night across its venues.
CEO Elliot Solomon said: “The atmosphere has been absolutely electric. Preparations are underway for Wednesday and we’re expecting some of the biggest crowds yet.”
It’s equally atmospheric in rural Australia. Club manager of the ex-serviceman’s club in the tiny Riverina town of Lockhart, Bronwyn Anderson, told The Guardian the bar was “five deep” and often dead silent watching Saturday night’s match against France.
The club is setting aside its normal trivia night so the town’s population of 818 people can watch the game together.
Shenannigans Irish Bar & Restaurant in Darwin was packed to the rafters on Saturday night. It’s a similiar story at the Hotel Darwin, which posted on Facebook: “Quick update! We’re switching up our plans for tomorrow night. Instead of the pool competition, let’s get together to cheer on the amazing Matildas in their World Cup soccer match!”
Meanwhile, “I’d have had my b—s ripped out if I don’t show it,” manager Bryan Guppy said when asked if the Gayndah Grand Hotel was screening the match.
In South Australia, The Chronicle is reporting the Matildas versus England game is expected to spark the biggest midweek night in Adelaide’s pubs and clubs since COVID-19.
Go the Tillies!
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