Hobart soccer fans have packed the Hanging Garden precinct this afternoon to watch the Socceroos take on Paraguay in their final World Cup group match.
Organisers say the event’s roaring success proves the city needs more public spaces for big community gatherings.
Up to 1,500 people were able to watch the game across two venues, with a large screen at the Odeon and a seven metre screen set up in the Cathedral.
Doors opened from 11am for the midday kick-off.
DarkLab’s Leigh Carmichael said the atmosphere was electric.
“It’s great to see the community united behind the Socceroos,” he told Pulse.
“[It is] Good for Hobart.”
Carmichael said the screening was a trial run and he wished they had more capacity.
He said it was important for the city to look at what spaces were available for large events.
“[It is] really important for a city to be able to get the community together to celebrate sport, art, festivals, whatever it might be,” he said.
Free tickets for last Saturday’s Socceroos screening at the Odeon sold out in around 40 minutes for the 5am match between Australia and the United States. Today’s screening was run without tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.
The events were made possible with help from ABC Radio Hobart and the City of Hobart, allowing organisers to live stream the match across both venues.
ABC Radio Hobart breakfast presenter Ryk Goddard, who helped drive the idea, said it came together in about two weeks.
“Everyone is just beaming back at me because they’re just so happy to be here and just be together,” he told Pulse.
He said the success of the event was down to community support.
“This community has such incredibly goodwill and it’s great to have fun,” Goddard said.
“Fun is important as well, it brings us together.”
The score was locked at 0-0 at half time.
