Victorian clubs and venues fear only members will have access to most AFL games this year due to ongoing COVID restrictionsUnless the AFL is given the all-clear from the State Government, the Victorian general public could be locked out of most games this year. Here’s why.
Jon Ralph
HeraldSun
February 4, 2021 - 4:20PMVictorian clubs and venues fear only members will be able to gain access to most AFL games this year unless grounds are able to raise capacity to 75 per cent early in the season.
The AFL is adamant it will be guided by health advice from the Victorian government over crowd capacities for major sport, which is currently at 50 per cent in Melbourne.
South Australia and New South Wales have this week increased crowd capacities to 75 per cent, but the first Victorian community transmission in a month puts local hopes on hold.
Carlton and Richmond will split the gate takings from a Round 1 season opener that would normally see them bring home $1 million in combined profit from that game alone.
But the difference between playing with only 50 per cent capacity and 75 per cent capacity is significant.
If only 50,000 fans are allowed for marquee games at the MCG, 23,000 of those tickets will go to MCC and AFL members, even when those groups are only being handed half their normal capacity.
Around 2000 corporates would also be allowed into areas that generate lucrative revenue for the competition.
That would leave around 20,000 club members, who have reserved seats, for the home team, with as few as 5000 away club members having the chance to purchase reserved seats.
It is increasingly likely all Melbourne venues will have to be fully ticketed for contact tracing purposes with general admission walk-up fans not possible in 2021.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will liaise with the state government in the weeks leading into the season and is expected to push for three-quarter capacity if the current community transmission can be restricted.
The AFL runs Marvel Stadium, and will hope the MCC’s direct experience with a COVID-positive patron at the Boxing Day Test gives the state government comfort it can allow 75 per cent of patrons.
During what amounted to a test case, it was discovered 10 days later that a COVID-positive person had visited a day of the Boxing Day test.
The MCC was able to get the list of 8000 people who had been in the area to Victorian health authorities within 10 minutes, with no further spread.
Increasing Melbourne venue capacities to 75 per cent would pose more of a risk for queues into arenas and around food and beverage outlets than in the stands, where gaps could still be put in place between groups of friends and family.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/afl-remains-optimistic-the-season-will-kickoff-as-planned-on-march-18/news-story/77e1b301930a57a62afca42f1b14e2c2
