How time flies – It was 3 years ago today that the long-awaited new stadium in Perth had its maiden official sporting event, the final ODI between Australia and England, so I figured I’d dive back through the Cloud and go through some of the photos I took that day:

First, the walk-up to the gate from the train, after several decades of enduring stadiums that were 20 years past their expiry date, and my instant impression was that they should’ve advertised the stadium as ‘The Big Craypot’ with that exterior.

Of course, the Matagarup Foot Bridge was still some 6 months away from completion, so overcrowding on public transport was an early problem with regular crowds beyond 50,000 – That day it was officially 53,781, breaking a record for the highest attended sporting event in WA that had stood since the 1979 WAFL Grand Final.

It was good fun for Perth’s claustrophobic community, especially when there were massive delays boarding trains after the game due to the sheer number of people using them.

Moving on, here’s a look at the national anthems and the official photo for the players & umpires to stick on their mantle pieces, so they can say to everyone “I was involved in the first official game at Optus Stadium”:

The most memorable event of the day – The ceremonial first streak at Optus Stadium, as a bloke with a worrying tan line around his trunk burst through 3 security guards like he was David Campese putting on a goose step, before he gave himself up and got dragged down in a headlock.

Let me tell you, it was a full moon that Sunday night.

Up next, a historic shot of the first beer snakes at Optus Stadium – The first from the Belmont side of the ground:

And the other that popped up minutes later from the City End:

I saw better snakes at the WACA.

And last but not least, here was the aftermath of the final wicket – Tim Paine getting clean bowled by Tom Curran for 34, as England won by 12 runs defending 259, and Curran was named Player of the Match for his 5-35 after a spell of top notch reverse swing bowling, also taking the vital catch of Marcus Stoinis for 87.

Another odd fact – This match was the last One Day International that Channel 9 broadcast in Australia.