Koalas, a roaring crowd and now an incredible light display – Sydney is really putting on a show for visiting soccer champions, Chelsea FC.
The English Premier League champions arrived in Sydney on the weekend for a special match against our very own Sydney FC held last night at ANZ Stadium.
Although our boys played well, Chelsea proved to be too strong for Sydney, defeating us by 1-0.
Their visit is part of Destination NSW’s goal to showcase the city as a world leading sports destination and has already attracted over 80,000 spectators to the mid-week clash.
Additionally, Destination NSW expects the game to have provided an $8 million boost to the NSW economy with visitors from Australia and around the world travelling to the city to watch the match.
“Chelsea FC is one of the world’s biggest football clubs and to have them here in Sydney off the back of their English Premier League win is a real honour.”
Sandra Chipchase, Destination NSW CEO
Over the weekend, Sydney FC players welcomed the team to Australia with a private gathering on the Harbour, and on Monday the team’s Football Manager, José Mourinho and other coaching staff enjoyed a cruise aboard a luxury super yacht.
But last night was the true welcome, as the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas – Vivid – transformed for the players.
The city’s iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, skyscrapers and Vivid Sydney installations at Dawes Point were switched to the legendary team’s colours ahead of the game.
From 6.00pm for one hour, the interactive mass skyscraper illumination, Paint the Town, saw the city skyline painted blue while the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was switched to blue and white.
Vivid light installations were also turned blue in honour of the team’s Sydney exclusive visit including Arclight, an impressive collection of structural illuminated branches.
In addition to last night’s game, Sydney and NSW has already played host to the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing at Manly Beach, the AFC Asian Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup, State of Origin and Tottenham Hotspur’s friendly clash with Sydney FC.
