While we may not be able to attend games in the thousands this year, we can catch them on the big screen. Here’s where to watch them.
It’s the sportiest time of the year, with everything from footy to fighting to horse racing heading for finals over the next two months. Ordinarily, you’d be packing your Esky to take to the game or be out shopping for fascinators, but because of COVID-imposed crowd limitations, your best bet for a front row seat in 2020 is probably the pub. With that in mind, we’ve wrapped up the major game days and the accompanying special offers across our three sports bars so you can plan your finals season accordingly.
October 24: AFL Grand Final
If you’re a Queenslander, you may have been lucky enough to score tickets to this year’s AFL Grand Final, which is being held at the Gabba for the first time in the game’s 124-year history. If you’re not, or you haven’t, the game will be broadcast on the big screen at 24/7 Sports Bar in Sydney, at LiveWire Sports Bar in Brisbane and at Sports Bar at The Star Gold Coast.
October 25: NRL Grand Final
Prefer NRL to AFL? Fortunately for you, this year’s NRL Grand Final comes hot on the heels of the AFL, offering choice for those firmly in one camp or a joyful football finals-packed weekend for those who love both. Sports Bar at The Star Gold Coast is offering a ‘Footy Feast’ until November 30, with 1-kilogram of chicken wings for just $12.50 or the ultimate chicken parmigiana on offer for just $9. Makes it worth catching the semi-finals there, too.
October 25: UFC 254
If footy isn’t your thing, the NRL Grand Final is sharing its day of days with the UFC 254, a mixed martial arts event by the Ultimate Fighting Championship happening at the Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card event is a showdown between lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov from Russia and America’s Justin Gaethje, but all you’ll need to worry about is choosing which $6 beer, wine or house spirit you’ll order alongside your $15 burger and fries special at Sydney’s 24/7 Sports Bar.
November 3: Melbourne Cup
While the race that stops a nation might find the nation already at a bit of a standstill this year, the biggest day on the Australian horse racing calendar is still slated to go ahead, with or without spectators. Hedge your bets and head to any one of our sports bars to watch the race – it’ll be the last day to catch LiveWire’s ‘reef and beef pizza’ special for $9.90. If you’re in Sydney, 24/7 Sports Bar’s daily special is a barramundi fillet with fries.
November 4, 11 & 18: State of Origin
The 40th anniversary of this best-of-three rugby league match between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons is set to take place at Adelaide Oval, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium over three consecutive Wednesdays from early to mid-November and will be broadcast across all three venues’ sports bars. Paired with a cold beer and one of the daily specials, it’s the perfect way to do hump day.
