‘Twas a joke.
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I think it is important to continue to support the entertainment industry with these events. For some of the Melbourne based performers this might be one of their only big gigs for 2020. It can be done safely with smaller or no crowds.
If approved by the Victorian Government, the VRC could see 1,000 owners and connections on course for each day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Given restrictions have eased, I think it’s a right step forward to welcoming crowds back and getting to that COVID normal. Understandable, there was an uproar last week over the Government’s decision to allow 500 owners and connections for the Cox Plate Carnival, which was later overturned in a matter of hours.
Bad news for the VRC.
That leaves the Zipping Classic at Sandown Racecourse on November 14 as the last major event of the spring racing carnival which could allow the public and the horse owners in.
Better news for the cricket though, with Sports Minister Martin Pakula saying a small crowd would be allowed into the MCG for the Boxing Day test against India. Around 25,000 could attend each day’s play.
The owner of the pub which has been ordered to shut, Nichole Scott, asked:
“Why is it okay to pack thousands of people into a stadium, why is it ok to allow hundreds of people through shopping centre doors … and none of their details are collected?”
For the first part of her question, people now need to buy tickets to sporting events in advance, and enter at different gates at staggered times, to allow for reliable tracing.
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And while I understand the owner’s frustration, aren’t the stadiums in question open air too?
However Premier League matches will continue during the lockdown.
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I’m keen to see what happens with Aus Open and what capacity they go to with tickets. Definitely keen to snatch up tickets as soon as they go on sale. It’s my fave time of the year in Melbourne.
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The 2021 Tour Down Under event has been cancelled.
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It really does beg the question how the Australian Open is going to work in Melbourne mid January?
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No ground passes, allocated seating at a small fraction. Then find a resort somewhere with tennis courts that can have players be driven to and from while being isolated.
The time gap between the AO and other majors makes a quarantine arrangement more viable.
Something like the F1 I’d give no chance.
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Actually, this will be the hardest of all the international events. I can’t see most teams quarantining for 2 weeks in March, unless they do the Melbourne race first.
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Yeah so you’d book seats in all of the courts essentially rather than move around all day on a ground pass. Which in many ways I’d prefer. I’m guessing most stadiums will get somewhere between 25-50% capacity.
I’m wondering if there might be some outdoor dining / bar / seated areas too near screens that you can maybe book for the day?
Either way whatever it is I want to be there.
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The 2021 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race was cancelled minutes later.
With the Herald Sun Tour already postponed to 2022, that’s nearly half of next summer’s cycling events gone. The Bay Cycling Classic and the National Road Championships have to be in doubt now.
Ok, take two.
From Saturday, a limited amount of owners will be allowed at Metropolitan Melbourne racetracks.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced that from 4pm Tuesday open-air stadiums will be able to operate at 100 per cent capacity. Therefore, next week’s State of Origin decider will be played at a full capacity Suncorp Stadium so that up to 52,000 could attend.
Good news for sporting fans in Queensland. It also means that The Gabba can operate at 100% capacity for BBL and the fourth and final test against India on January 15-19 next year, ditto for A-League and Super Rugby matches at Suncorp Stadium this summer.
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