China's national football team is gearing up for a crucial World Cup Asian qualifier against Australia on March 25 in Hangzhou, a match that is not only pivotal for the team's World Cup aspirations but also expected to generate significant economic benefits for the host city.

Data shows that all tickets were sold out within 15 minutes after going on sale on March 7. 

According to Xinhua News Agency, the match is expected to attract approximately 67,000 fans, potentially setting a new attendance record for domestic football matches. Around 60 percent of the tickets were purchased by fans from outside the city, Hangzhou TV reported.

Ticket revenue for the match is projected to exceed 50 million yuan ($7.2 million). Beyond the sold-out stadium, the game has also driven a surge in flight and hotel bookings.

Data from travel platform Qunar shows that as of March 14, flight bookings to Hangzhou for March 23 to 25 increased by 1.2 times compared to the previous week. 

Meanwhile, hotel bookings in the city for March 25 to 27 surged by over 100 percent year on year, according to Ctrip. 

Qunar also reported that hotel reservations in Hangzhou for March 23 to 27 nearly doubled week on week, with the area around the match venue, Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, emerging as one of the top three most-booked commercial districts, experiencing a two-time increase in bookings compared to the previous week.

Li Wengang, a football fan who has followed the national team for over 40 years, said that a single match often draws tens of thousands of fans to travel to another city. Their spending on food, accommodation, and transportation will significantly boost local consumption.

Luo Xi recalled the night in 2001 when China qualified for the World Cup, describing how cities across the country turned "sleepless," with many restaurants running out of beer and food. If China defeats Australia in the match, it could further stimulate Hangzhou's catering and tourism consumption, he said.

The city has rolled out an array of preferential policies to improve fans' experience and boost consumption, including 50 percent off tickets to Hangzhou Amusement Park and 20 percent discounts on Xianghu Lake boat rides and sightseeing buses. 

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that in 2023, the total output of China's sports industry reached 3.67 trillion yuan, contributing 1.15 percent to the country's GDP. 

This year's government work report emphasized the need to "unleash the consumption potential in culture, tourism, and sports industries."

Yi Jiandong, a sports scholar and professor at Wenzhou University, noted that China's football market has enormous potential and Chinese fans have a sustained passion for the sport, therefore, meeting their demands is essential for growing and strengthening the industry.