On Friday, 31 May 2024, 56,522 fans packed Optus Stadium to witness AS Roma’s historic 5-2 victory over AC Milan in an Australian-first friendly match. The atmosphere rivalled that of any game played on Italian soil, with fans treated to a showcase of top-tier football including high scoring, individual brilliance, and quality competition between the two teams.
The game was broadcast internationally and nationally via the Seven Network, amassing over half a million viewers, highlighting the global appeal of Serie A football and the growing passion for soccer in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Events like the AS Roma vs. AC Mila match are not just about the game: they are about bringing communities together. The week-long celebration of Italian football was a testament to this, featuring open training sessions where fans could interact with their idols, fan zones that brought the vibrant Italian culture to life, and official club parties that united fans from all walks of life.
Ticketmaster’s Sports Content Alliance co-promoted the event with VenuesLive, delivering a seamless ticketing experience with digital ticketing, TicketTransfer, and Resale technologies. Fans could easily access, transfer, resell, and scan their tickets from their mobile devices, ensuring a stress-free experience.
Our partnership with the WA Government helped deliver on their objectives to boost tourism in Western Australia, attracting thousands of interstate and international visitors and creating a buzz and themed week of Italian celebrations.
Gavin Taylor, Ticketmaster Australia’s Managing Director, praised the event’s success and the electric atmosphere created by the teams and the fans, showcasing the global passion for Serie A football.
“The overwhelming success of the AC Milan vs. AS Roma match in Perth has been truly inspiring. We enjoyed collaborating and partnering with the WA Government and Optus Stadium to deliver a week-long series of events showcasing the best of Serie A football, festivities and fun.”
“The match not only highlights Perth’s capacity to host world-class sporting events but also strengthens the bond between Serie A and it’s international audience. We look forward to hopefully bringing more exciting sports content to Australia in the future,” concluded Taylor.
Western Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Rita Saffioti said it was an incredible week that not only brought thousands of visitors to Perth but created a wonderful atmosphere and buzz throughout the city and local community.
“We’re so proud to have brought these two giants of Italian football to Australia to showcase our beautiful State and of course, create an unforgettable week for local and travelling football fans.
“With the fantastic events and activities, we had in the lead up to the big match and the Little Italy Festival we put on the day after, we really made it a worthwhile experience for travelling fans, meaning they were more likely to extend their stay and pump more valuable tourism dollars into our State. To us, that’s what being an events destination is about – not just the event itself, but the surrounding activities for everyone to enjoy.”
We want to thank all of our partners who helped bring this event together – Tourism WA, VenuesLive, Optus Stadium, Tribal Sports, WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, and her team at the WA Government.
Ticketmaster’s Sports Content Alliance is focused on delivering world-class sporting events and experiences, with other major events already in the pipeline.
