Cricket fans slam new MSG seating as ‘yuppified’ and call for Bay 13 to be brought back

From beer snakes and bogans to hospitality and hipsters: The famous Bay 13 at the MCG is destroyed and replaced with  ‘yuppified’ $195-a-head seating as rich fans replace the larrikins

  • Tickets give fans access to ‘The Deck’ and private bar with ‘premium views’
  • The event is for people 18 years and over, with a ‘smart casual’ dress code 
  • It replaces the Bay 13, an atmospheric section of fan seating behind the batsman
  • Fans called out the replacement as a ‘yuppified’ and ‘unAustralian’ ‘monstrosity’ 

Cricket fans have slammed the ‘yuppified’ and ‘unAustralian’ seating at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after the legendary Bay 13 was replaced by a ritzy hospitality area. 

For $195-a-head, tickets give fans access to ‘Boundary Social’ which includes a private bar that offers ‘premium beverages and gourmet grazing menu to purchase’ with ‘premium views’.

‘The Boundary Social is the new place to be this summer,’ the Cricket Australia website reads.

‘It’s classy, fun and the perfect spot to spend time with friends and watch Test Match cricket.’ 

The MCG’s notorious Bay 13 has been replaced with a $195-a-head ‘private bar (pictured) that offers premium beverages and gourmet grazing menu to purchase’ with ‘premium views’

'The Boundary Social is the new place to be this summer,' the Cricket Australia website reads

‘The Boundary Social is the new place to be this summer,’ the Cricket Australia website reads

But cricket fans aren't happy with the 'monstrosity' that is the swanky new bar, and called for the Bay 13 to make a comeback.

But cricket fans aren’t happy with the ‘monstrosity’ that is the swanky new bar, and called for the Bay 13 to make a comeback.

Fans took to Twitter to slam the MCG for replacing the atmospheric Bay 13 with the new bar

Fans took to Twitter to slam the MCG for replacing the atmospheric Bay 13 with the new bar

The event is for people 18 years and over, with a ‘smart casual’ dress code, and gives attendees to access the Boxing Day Test Match.

But cricket fans aren’t happy with the ‘monstrosity’ that is the swanky new bar, and called for the Bay 13 to make a comeback.

The Bay 13 is a section of tiered seating at the MCG behind the slips for a right-handed batsman. 

It’s seen as an important part of the cricket ground’s atmosphere and environment, where fans take part in beer snakes, chanting and sideline entertainment.

‘I wonder what Warnie thinks of the Bay 13 monstrosity,’ a disgruntled fan tweeted. 

Bay 13 is seen as an important part of the cricket ground's atmosphere and environment, where fans take part in beer snakes, chanting and sideline entertainment

Bay 13 is seen as an important part of the cricket ground’s atmosphere and environment, where fans take part in beer snakes, chanting and sideline entertainment

The Bay 13 is a section of tiered seating at the MCG behind the slips for a right-handed batsman. Pictured: The third Test match between Australia and England at Melbourne in December 1974

The Bay 13 is a section of tiered seating at the MCG behind the slips for a right-handed batsman. Pictured: The third Test match between Australia and England at Melbourne in December 1974

‘Look at this corporate spivvery in what was Bay 13. Country has gone to the dogs,’ said another.

‘Big call to shun Bay 13 at the #BoxingDayTest opting for some corporate tickets over the only bay to single-handedly add atmosphere to every cricket match without fail,’ another person wrote.

Other die-hard fans said it was once a right of passage to spend a day at Bay 13 watching the match with friends, but the tradition has now been abolished for ‘neo-liberalism’.

‘So Bay 13 was toxic in many ways but the *Birdcage at the cricket* on this real estate is an example of how neo-liberalism destroys working class institutions (good and bad.) From blokes miming Merv Hughes to spivs paying $300 for bottomless Aperol Spritzes. 

The event is for people 18 years and over, with a 'smart casual' dress code, and gives attendees to access the Boxing Day Test Match

The event is for people 18 years and over, with a ‘smart casual’ dress code, and gives attendees to access the Boxing Day Test Match

Bay 13 is known for beer snakes, chanting and rowdy sideline entertainment

Bay 13 is known for beer snakes, chanting and rowdy sideline entertainment

Some fanatics even called for ‘whoever installed a corporate area in Bay 13 of the MCG’ to be fired.

But the replacement of Bay 13 didn’t stop fans from making a ‘beer snake’ out of plastic cups, only for them to be escorted out of the MCG by police shortly after. 

Their removal from the stadium was met with boos and jeers from the unimpressed crowd.

A spectator said the beer snake was simply a bit of harmless fun among fans.   

‘They were getting so high, over six foot tall,’ he told the Herald Sun.  

‘The second level were cheering loud and then security came and ushered them out which was met with a whole lot of boos.

‘No one likes a nanny state and no one wants to see people over-policing when there’s just a bit of fun.’ 

Merv Hughes of Australia does his warm up exercises in front of a following crowd at the B&H World Series Cricket 1st Final against the West Indies in January 1989

Merv Hughes of Australia does his warm up exercises in front of a following crowd at the B&H World Series Cricket 1st Final against the West Indies in January 1989

 

 

 

 

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