Australian (Open) Tennis and COVID-19

[drron]

Foreign workers have already been arriving in Australia for agricultural work.Tassie has had a couple of charter flights.
I missed a great show when fruit pickers put on a show in Launceston for northern FOMA.They sang from the back of a ferry to the audience on the Seaport deck.

 

[Anna]

Potential superspreader event or not, I've got a ticket to the evening session of the Adelaide event.

Now I have to wait until probably the day before to find out who I get to see play. Hopefully Rafa, but if not him then hopefully Djokovic. Not fussed which of the women I get to see. Any of Osaka, Halep or Serena would be good.

I would have been prepared to spend more money if I knew for sure who was supposed to be playing when (subject to illness/injury, obvs), so I'm not sure it's a great strategy to withhold the player info, but the event will no doubt sell out anyway.

Masks will be compulsory except when sitting in your reserved seat. Tickets are only to be displayed on your mobile phone 'for contact tracing purposes'. No paper tix will be accepted. Too bad for anyone who doesn't have a mobile (I still know some such people).

 

[SydneySwan]

I believe that the SA Govt paid $40 million to have the tennis players camp out here. Heard from two sources.

So SA Govt pay $40m to TA who then pay $40m to Vic Govt for the cost of HQ in Vic?

 

[Anna]

I'll happily believe SA paid something for the opportunity to host the world's top players but if it is really $40 million then that is ludicrous by a factor of 10 at least.

 

[Pushka]

I'll happily believe SA paid something for the opportunity to host the world's top players but if it is really $40 million then that is ludicrous by a factor of 10 at least.

I'm trying to verify but both brother and MrP heard independently of that amount. They also paid for Ash Barty to now come for the demo matches.

Actually, have now confirmed and SA paid $44 million. Merde.

 

[SydneySwan]

I'm trying to verify but both brother and MrP heard independently of that amount. They also paid for Ash Barty to now come for the demo matches.

I don't think Ash's appearance fee is circa $36m!

 

[Pushka]

I don't think Ash's appearance fee is circa $36m!

SA paid for all their quarantine and then some.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Oh so the taxpayer has paid after all

We're all being taken for a hell of a ride by the states

 

[Pushka]

Oh so the taxpayer has paid after all

We're all being taken for a hell of a ride by the states

Well, damned SA tax payers are paying - through the nose. Today the tickets went on sale - all 8000 of them, and very disgruntled people on FB who logged on well before time, were say 1000 in the queue, and still couldn't get a seat.

$44 fricken million for the likes of Djokovic to whinge and complain.

 

[Anna]

Today the tickets went on sale - all 8000 of them, and very disgruntled people on FB who logged on well before time, were say 1000 in the queue, and still couldn't get a seat.

I joined the queue 8.5 minutes before sales started, there were 367 people ahead of me when sales opened at 11.30am and I had a platinum ticket to the evening session by 11.33am. I hadn't no idea about the queue system beforehand so I was a total novice at it and it still worked for me.

Then I went back to look for a $30 ticket to the afternoon session and by then all the $30 tix were gone but I could still have got a gold $70 ticket or higher, including even a baseline box for $275, but decided not to because I may not be able to get away from work in time to go to that session at all.

It's going to be on tv anyway.

 

[Pushka]

I joined the queue 8.5 minutes before sales started, there were 367 people ahead of me when sales opened at 11.30am and I had a platinum ticket to the evening session by 11.33am. I hadn't no idea about the queue system beforehand so I was a total novice at it and it still worked for me.

Then I went back to look for a $30 ticket to the afternoon session and by then all the $30 tix were gone but I could still have got a gold $70 ticket or higher, including even a baseline box for $275, but decided not to because I may not be able to get away from work in time to go to that session at all.

It's going to be on tv anyway.

I'm sick of the TV replacement thing. Sick of the virtual pageant. Sick of virtual meetings. I read they had all sold out within 20 minutes.

 

[Lynda2475]

I believe that the SA Govt paid $40 million to have the tennis players camp out here. Heard from two sources.

So basically they are funding the Vic HQ then, since media saying HQ bill for the 3 Vic premises is expected to be $40m.

No wonder AO chief got confused and thought Vic Govt was contributing, he'd forgotten it was actually the SA govt covering the cost!

 

[kamchatsky]

Well, damned SA tax payers are paying - through the nose. Today the tickets went on sale - all 8000 of them, and very disgruntled people on FB who logged on well before time, were say 1000 in the queue, and still couldn't get a seat.

$44 fricken million for the likes of Djokovic to whinge and complain.

Hmmm, make that NSW taxpayer also, via GST redistribution ....... And they cannot even attend the exhibition!

 

[Lynda2475]

It is really Australia's event as well,

Very much viewed as a Melborune event from Sydney - doesnt really get pitched as a Australian thing, all the advertising is Melbounre centric.

In other years where there are lead up events like Hopman cup in Perth and whatever the Sydney one is called, players coming for the AO may come early to do those lead up events and acclimtise to the heat after northern winters. But this year except for the demo event SA just paid $40m for, those other events arent happening and so other states arent benefitting financially in any way.

The decision to go ahead is solely for Victoria;s benefit. 1.5M people in Sydney are still in fake Red zones so couldnt spend $ to support the event even if they cared to. Plus moving it to Feb, outside of school holidays means less people in a position to travel down for AO even if their borders are open.

People I know who go to AO every year arent going this year, because they were forced to take their leave in Dec and Jan and have buckleys of getting more leave in Feb - which is the busiest month for work in the first quarter with everyone back.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm sick of the TV replacement thing. Sick of the virtual pageant. Sick of virtual meetings. I read they had all sold out within 20 minutes.

Me too, and not just for leisure.

After what will be almost a year I am getting to actually operate and deliver a real face to face project in Qld in Feb. Feels very good to working properly again and I am very much looking forward to it. Though LOL it meant for the first time since I commenced full time work post university 4 decades ago that I had to actually work through the Christmas period!

 

[Lynda2475]

he Harry Potter Stage Show is having live audiences again now in Vic

Hardly unusual, live theatre been happening in Sydney for ages - smaller stages production since October, and flagship ones like Pippin in Nov and Frozen since start of Dec. Plus events like VangGogh Alive were happening from late August. Just had to QR check in and wear a mask.

Melbournians arent be treated to thinkgs that other states arent, Vic has super small limits on office workers still (irrespective of square meter rule) where people have been back in offices in Sydney since September.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hardly unusual, live theatre been happening in Sydney for ages - smaller stages production since October, and flagship ones like Pippin in Nov and Frozen since start of Dec. Plus events like VangGogh Alive were happening from late August. Just had to QR check in and wear a mask.

Melbournians arent be treated to thinkgs that other states arent, Vic has super small limits on office workers still (irrespective of square meter rule) where people have been back in offices in Sydney since September.

Yes Hamilton starts in March in Sydney. And with some international cast members.

Personally I am in favour, but I do find it puzzling that for shows like that it is evidently considered ok to bring in internationals, but for someone holding a racquet it is a no no. I assume you must boycott all such shows with internationals in them?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Yes Hamilton starts in March in Sydney. And with some international cast members.

Personally I am in favour, but I do find it puzzling that for shows like that it is evidently considered ok to bring in internationals, but for someone holding a racquet it is a no no. I assume you must boycott all such shows with internationals in them?

I'm not sure why it's so hard to understand the difference between a very small contingent of cast members who are here for at least 6 months (if not more) compared to 1,200 tennis players here for a few weeks. Especially when the latter is fully funded by the likes of you, me, and all other taxpayers.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yes Hamilton starts in March in Sydney. And with some international cast members.

There are a couple of Kiwis in the cast (no issues there is a bubble) and a few people of pacific islander and filipino descent but they are names I recognise from other local productions so think you will find they already live in Australia. As far as I can see only 1 American in the cast, who has been here for months already - the video footage of him in the cast annoucnement before Christmas clearly showed him in Sydney

Unfortunately there are no plans for Lin Manuel Miranda to come out. Costumes and sets arebeing made locally, I read an article last week how they are struggling to get some of the materials they need with import shortages.

A friend is in orchestra, so I know all the musicians are local.

You cant reasonably compare 1 american and 2-3 kiwis in Hamilton (all already in country and here long term, as Hamilton has already sold over 5 months of tickets) to 1200 AO people flying in for a few weeks.

Its not like Hamilton is a touring production form the USA. Like the London production, they cast local people, unlike London we dotn get Lin Manual Miranda for the first month.

Also Hamilton will run in Sydney for at least 6 months, then got to other states, which means many many more Australians will watch Hamilton than go to a AO game, and more of that money will stay onshore, as licensing fees go off shore, but cast live and pay taxes here in Australia.

Edited --> Because I know how much lovetravellingoz loves a fact ceck looking at the main roles in Hamilton:

• Jason Arrow – Hamilton - Australian
• Çhloe Zuel – Eliza – Australian
• Lyndon Watts – Aaron Burr – Australian
• Akina Edmonds - Angelica – New Zealander
• Matu Ngaropo – Washington – New Zealander
• Vctory Ndukwe – Jefferson/Lafeyette – Australian
• Shaka Cook - Hercules Mulligan/James Madison – Australian
• Marty Alix – Laurent/Phillip – Australian
• Elandrah Eramiha – Peggy/Maria Reynolds – Australian (but has worked in USA touring production)
• Brent Hill – King George - Australian

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Especially when the latter is fully funded by the likes of you, me, and all other taxpayers.

Now we all know that taxpayers do not fully fund the AO.

And the Arts and Film Industry receive all sorts of incentives, grants etc. Some just due to Covid, and some that happen anyway.

ie but one example

PM pledges $400m to film industry in bid to bring blockbusters to Australian shores

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit the Gold Coast today to pledge $400 million in a bid to attract overseas investors but Screen Producers Australia say the focus should be on Australian productions.

www.abc.net.au

Tom Hanks etc seem to flit in and out of the country.



And again to me this is a good thing.