Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium has staggered exits for fans after every NRL and rugby union match last year and this year, with the seating area divided into zones. When the final siren sounds, fans from randomly chosen zones will be called up to leave the stadium, usually 4-5 at a time.
Perhaps the MCG could follow suit?
Tonight on Footy Classified, Eddie McGuire unveiled an ambitious plan to have 100,000 fans at this year’s AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
- All fans, staff, players, coaches and club officials tested for COVID with a standard PCR test on the Wednesday before the Grand Final
- A second test – this time a Rapid Antigen Test – required on arrival at the ground on the Saturday at one of 200 testing stations around the ground. Rapid Antigen Test provides results of those individuals with high viral levels within 10 minutes
- A ‘Ring of Steel’ put up around the MCG precinct, providing a ‘safety net’ for fans, providing ample room for social distancing and a carnival-type atmosphere including food trucks, entertainment and open spaces.
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Good way for Victoria to try and break that NSW testing record…
That said, you’d really need to do it in reverse - rapid tests on the day, then treat the whole MCG as something between Tier 1 and Tier 2 - everyone goes home afterwards and has to isolate, test, then only released once all tests are returned.
Any positives and you deem the section of the ground they were in as Tier 1.
You’d also have to dedicate some public transport services as ‘red zone’ trains/trams/buses - so that people who don’t attend the game aren’t caught up in it.
Of course, that all assumes we’re in a high risk setting at that point. I’d hope this is just wasted planning and we could get a good crowd in without too much extra work.
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That means no celebrations or commiserations immediately after the big match. Could be a small price to pay for fans who get the privilege to be there.
I fear though we might see big clog ups at entry points anyway especially if they need to wait for 10 minutes for their test to come back?
I think its a great idea and the AFL really need to pitch this to the Victorian government. We simply need to have spectators at the AFL finals this year.
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I really like the premise of this idea, especially if you’re opening the gates early like 9-10am and giving people something to do around the grounds (like every ticket has access to a Grand Final Breakfast or Brunch. Doesn’t have to be over the top expensive, but a nice meal, some drinks and a guest speaker in a marquee.
Well I assume on people’s tickets they would be given an entry time. So if it says you show up 9-9.15, that’s when you show up. Miss the window, miss the game. No other way to stop overcrowding. Again waiting to see the fine print before I go all in, but the messaging so far has been good.
I agree. They could even do it for MCG finals too as a practice run.
Personally I see the week 1+2 finals being capacity limited to 50k, week 3 to 75k and the GF being 85k to 100k
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The AFL today confirmed the Round 20 fixture for this weekend. Gold Coast v Melbourne will be held at Metricon Stadium this Saturday afternoon. GWS v Port Adelaide on Sunday will also take place at Metricon Stadium.
The Gold Coast-Melbourne clash was originally set for Darwin, but it looks the Top End may not get any AFL matches this season, despite the NT Government reopening its borders to Victoria yesterday.
Both Melbourne and Brisbane (who play Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday) will fly to Perth on charter flight directly after their matches this weekend, and spend a week in quarantine, before facing West Coast and Fremantle respectively in Round 21.
Apparently the Melbourne vs Adelaide game is going to be relocated to NT.
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Herald Sun reports today that this year’s AFL Grand Final Parade could be a ticketed event to be held inside Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, with up to 20,000 fans expected to be allowed to attend. The premiership cup and both competing teams will be presented inside the stadium. The report says a formal proposal for the event has not yet been submitted to the Victorian Government.
In March this year, Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade was successfully held at the SCG in front of 36,000 people.
That is a great idea
The Age is reporting that four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will leave Hawthorn at the end of this season, rather than serving out the remainder of his contract which expires at the end of 2022.
Article says full payout. If so, very costly handover for the club, particularly if Mitchell fails in the next 2-3 years to get the club back on an incline.
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The plan was never going to work - it cannot be a surprise that Clarko is leaving now
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I wanted the succession plan to work, so I was a bit surprised that Clarko had chosen to leave the Hawks at the end of this season. Even though he told Collingwood he would not apply for the role of senior coach, could other clubs be interested in his service?
What was surprising was they were adamant he was going to stay for next year. That’s what I dislike.
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The whole way the arrangement came to light should have rung alarm bells with everyone - the whole thing was shaky from day one
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Essendon/Worsfold all over again.
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The way Hawthorn treated Clarkson was shocking. He deserved another shot. I am sure Carlton will come knocking. Could you imagine what he could do with that team.
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He only said that when he was still under contract. That was his reason as well for declining an interview. He is still in the mix for the top job at the Holden Centre.