The Swans are hoping to break that record this season, and as they are highly likely to have a home game for finals in September, that is a real possibility.
The Swans recently celebrated hitting 70,000 members and they face unprecedented demand for memberships that secure entry into the SCG. Fans are being advised to call the club directly if they are still interested in purchasing one this season.
After being asked whether the club would consider moving to the 80,000-capacity Accor Stadium to manage the increased demand from fans, Pridham replied: “No, I can categorically say we won’t look at Accor (stadium). The SCG is our home ground.”
Speaking at the Swans’ 150th birthday celebrations last week at the club’s headquarters, chief executive Tom Harley poured cold water on the idea that the SCG had become too small for the club, given the increased demand for tickets.
“We want to make sure that we provide access to all of our members and our membership team have been able to facilitate that and triage that on match day,” Harley said.
“If there came a time where we needed a larger stadium that’d be great, but right now, we are very comfortable playing and packing out the SCG.
“It’s just a really good fit and we feel like we’re a significant part of the sporting landscape in Sydney.“
Homegrown stars like Errol Gulden have driven the Swans to the top of the AFL ladder Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Liz Whiffin, of Ourimbah on the Central Coast, travels to every home game to co-ordinate the Swans cheer squad behind the goals with banners and flags.
Whiffin has been a member of the Swans for the past seven years and believes a combination of the family-friendly atmosphere at the SCG and homegrown NSW players like Errol Gulden and Isaac Heeney have helped to drive the crowd numbers alongside the on-field success.
“There’s something going on with the team that people are also seeing and reacting to that they don’t see in other teams,” Whiffin said.
“It’s got that real family feel (at the SCG) and people who want to come to the AFL can come down, especially in the (Swans) cheer squad, we say to people, who say ‘I’ve got to go to the game by myself’, well, we say ‘no, come down and sit with us, you’ll always be welcome’.
“I get goosebumps about this (year), that’s the best way to describe it. I look at this team, and every week I get nervous because I think when is this beautiful dream going to end?”
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