Photo: Kelly Pilgrim-Byrnes
Camera IconPhoto: Kelly Pilgrim-Byrnes Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Six Big Bash League hacks for the big game tomorrow

Staff WriterSouthern Gazette

They’ve bowled over the competition to get within striking distance of the final, and if you’re a Big Bash League fan we bet there’s nowhere you’d rather be tomorrow than cheering on the Perth Scorchers with 55,000 other fans at Optus Stadium.

But first you gotta get there. And then you’ve gotta get home. And not planning that ahead of time? It’s just not cricket, mate.

Fear not, fans, these six sweet hacks will guarantee you hit the day for six.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

HACK ONE – DUDE, FREE FOOD

If you’re one of the first 15,000 through the gates you get a $10 voucher to spend on tasty foodstuffs. And if you think you’re too cool for free food you need to re-evaluate your priorities. Get there early and get a burger, son!

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

HACK TWO – MORE TIME FOR BEER

You know what really grinds my gears? You’re having a great night, maybe your local cricket team has won the BBL semi-final and is now preparing to smash the competition in the grand final on Sunday, and you want just one more cheeky beverage to round out the night.

But everything’s closed. You can hear the shutters going down before the final ball, and just like that, your night’s done.

EXCEPT IT’S NOT. Three Stadium bars and some food outlets will be open after Thursday’s match, and there will be a jazzy light show to wrap things up, so there’s plenty of time to celebrate or commiserate (responsibly) with your pals before heading home.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

HACK THREE – CATCH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Yeah yeah, we get it, this one’s a bit more boring than free food.

Except turns out this is also kind of more free stuff! The cost of public transport is included in your ticket, so if you’re keen to save your pennies, have a squiz at the Transperth Journey Planner and dedicated BBL semi-final page to see just how easy it is to get there. Extra services will be running to get you to and from the match so it’s a no-brainer, really. You don’t even need to tag on – just show your BBL ticket to staff at the train station or the bus driver and jump on board.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

HACK FOUR – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT TRAINS

You may not have caught a bus since you were in primary school, but surprise, those big green and silver things you see tootling around the streets carry more than just grumpy teenagers in school uniform. You can catch one too!

It’s actually really easy, especially if you don’t live or work in an area near a train line. Regular timetabled buses will be running before and after the match and super speedy special event services that only stop at certain bus stops (look out for the black and white Stadium topper) will be on hand to take you home. Some of our buses even have USB chargers, so bring your cord and nick our electricity so your phone doesn’t cark it mid-match selfie. Because they can run every few minutes and carry less people, they are often less crowded than the train too.

And if you’re a Midland or Fremantle train passenger, why not stretch the legs? Don’t bother heading into the city and fighting the crowds, just hop off at East Perth and enjoy the easy 20-minute walk across the Windan Bridge. If you’re feeling super limber, you can walk back this way too.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

HACK FIVE – GO EARLY

This one goes hand-in-hand with the free food (did we mention the free food?), if you show up early, not only will you miss the rush and get your chance at a $10 voucher, there’s some other sweet loot on offer. Four Scorchers Prize Packs will be hidden within the stadium, giving you the chance to score four diamond tickets to the next Perth Scorchers home match, a signed BBL|07 replica Scorchers playing shirt and some more food and bev vouchers.

If you arrive before 3pm you can also win a post-match on-ground experience and get to see the drop-in wickets up close! So cash in that arvo off the boss has been promising you for a year!

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

HACK SIX – KEEP THE YOOF HAPPY

If a family day out is on the agenda, boy do we have the goods for you. Optus Stadium boundary tours will run between 12pm and 3pm for the first 1,000 people through the gates, and Little Belle will take to the stage for a family-friendly concert at 3pm. The Scorchers Fan Zone will keep big and little kids entertained, with Perth Scorchers inflatable net and bus, cricket skill sessions, airbrush tattoos, DJ and appearance from players, and mascots Blaze and Amber.

We have it on good authority that the Chevron Parkland Kwondong Playground outside is pretty sweet for the littlies too.

Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

So there you have it, free food, free-flowing beer, free memes, and a little free advice on getting to Optus Stadium tomorrow night. GO PERTH SCORCHERS!