It’s been a great weekend for Canberra. The weather is behaving itself after weeks of hot days and storms, and over in Manuka, cricket fans have been flocking to watch the first ever Test match at the historic oval.
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Tickets have been a near sell-out, and commentators and punters alike have complimented Canberra on the comparatively rustic charms of the Manuka oval, its smooth green grass and heritage surrounds.
So it’s a win all round for Canberra, especially in our campaign to bring more international sports events to the capital. Cricket Australia and the ACT government have almost completed negotiations for another four-year deal, and cementing the deal has always depended on how well-supported the Test match will be.
It could well be that Manuka Oval will beat out Hobart's Bellerive Oval to become Australia's premier No. 6 venue, with the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, Perth Stadium, Adelaide Oval and The Gabba ahead in the pecking order.
But even if we are, will this be enough?
We’re not normally associated with high-profile sporting events, but the Manuka Oval has long been a stellar venue for large-scale cricket matches, traditionally the Prime Minister’s XI and more recently the Big Bash.
And as Cricket ACT chief executive James Allsopp said last week, the boutique size of the venue is an advantage.
"We really want to pride ourselves on those games that may not fill the MCG or the SCG or the bigger stadiums,” he said.
“What better to place to play it than Manuka Oval, where 10-15,000 are going to be at capacity and it’s going to have a real sense of atmosphere where people feel close to the ground.
"It really creates that feeling in a packed house that can add value to any kind of cricket game."
That’s what punters would have felt this weekend. But Canberrans are getting a taste for bigger and better things, and it shows.
The most recent Prime Minister’s XI match attracted just 2000 people, a historic low. With the Test around the corner, the prestige had lessened. Does this herald a new era for sports in Canberra? Will we be content for a range of different calibre of events, or is it too late to go backwards? Chief Minister Andrew Barr has made his appetite for larger sporting events in the capital clear, and it could well be that those in Canberra and its surrounds are catching on.
Meanwhile, on the micro level, those fretting about possible designs on Manuka, and the prospect of unnecessary oval expansions of megalomaniacal proportions need not worry for the moment. Manuka’s size and boutique status are its biggest drawcard.
Just last week, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon waxed lyrical about the Test venue.
"The ground looks an absolute picture...it looks unbelievable. The outfield is probably one of the best in the country if not the world, so it should be a good game,” he said.
It seems that enough punters this weekend - both locals and visitors to Canberra - agreed with him. It’s a great win for Canberra. But will it keep us happy for long?
