AFL 2021: Crowd numbers for opening round revealed
Footy fans will face a ticket scramble to get to the AFL’s marquee clashes, with one in every six Carlton and Richmond club members able to get to the season opener.
But 50,000 fans will be able to flood into the MCG on March 18 as Richmond confirmed it would unfurl its past two premiership flags after a deal was brokered for 50 per cent capacity at Melbourne venues.
Under the deal announced on Friday, the MCG can host 50,000 fans and Marvel Stadium 28,961 supporters, with Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium set to be allowed 18,000 fans at a 50 per cent ratio when a deal is finalised in coming weeks.
Home teams will take the vast majority of the seats allocated, with Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale telling the Herald Sun he would meet with Carlton to discuss the ticket carve-up.
The Herald Sun understands clubs may only allocate around 1000 tickets or less to opposition members, meaning rival members will effectively be shut out of high-drawing away games.
A packed MCG for the season opener in 2019. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.
The sight of near-empty stadiums that was a regular feature of the 2020 season is a thing of the past, with social distancing measures to ensure fan safety.
But the MCG’s tenant arrangement means even under a 50 per cent ratio 11,000 tickets will go to MCC members, 10,000 to AFL members and less than 1000 to corporates.
It means around 27,500 club members will be allowed into the Carlton-Richmond Round 1 contest, with the league allowing clubs to decide how they divide those tickets.
Last year Richmond had 100,420 members and Carlton had 67,035 paid-up fans for a total of 167,455 members.
Gale confirmed the Tigers would operate a ballot system
The Blues host Collingwood on the Friday of Round 2 so Carlton members would have to wait until that clash to see their club in the flesh for the first time in a year.
Collingwood and Western Bulldogs will play on the Friday night of Round 1 at the MCG with membership totals that, last year, tallied 115,738 competing for around 27,500 tickets.
Clubs including Geelong say only 50 per cent capacity will force them to lose money on the season, with Cats president Craig Drummond saying it would not lead to a great financial result.
Crowds will be back at the MCG in Round 1. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said 50 per cent capacity would see most clubs breaking even on gate takings given most patrons will be members who have already signed up.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale confirmed the flag unfurling, with fears in recent weeks of a crowd as small as 10,000 fans.
“It’s wonderful. We have been up and down a bit and two or three weeks ago it wasn’t looking so good at all and we wouldn’t have gone ahead if we didn’t have a big crowd. The Tiger Army will come along and it will be a very proud moment for us all. There was a suggestion not long ago we might have only had 10,000 people there and we would have kept our powder dry.
“We are pushing towards 100,000 members again and we have got a lot of member categories and it’s important we be fair and equitable so we will use a ballot. We will sit down with Carlton and come to some agreement.”
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said fans would be thrilled to be readmitted, even if it meant tough decision by clubs on splitting up tickets.
“The first thing I would say is if you look at Round 1 Richmond Carlton last year we had no one going to that game. This time last week we (were allowed) 10,000. And now we can look forward to 50,000. In terms of the process, the clubs will own that process and I have a commitment from them they will prioritise their members.”
Around 50,000 fans will be able to watch the season opener between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG.
Fans returning to the MCG for the AFL season will be split into five strict zones and not allowed to visit different parts of the ground.
The MCC has confirmed zones that separated fans during the Boxing Day Test to enhance contact tracing will be used for the AFL season.
The MCG will also be a cashless and ticketless venue for the footy season, with fans required to enter their personal details via QR code before being granted entry.
And it is not yet known if fans will be able to drink at bars or eat in dining areas, with authorities yet to decide whether food and drinks have to be consumed at your seat under a takeaway only model.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox told the Herald Sun a COVID-safe plan had been drawn up to keep fans safe at the footy.
“These measures include the MCG being sectioned into five zones, the introduction of digital tickets which will replace paper tickets and cashless transactions at all of the Ground’s outlets,’’ he said.
Ticket on sale dates have not yet been announced but should be finalised in coming days.
Mr Fox said the return of footy fans to the MCG should put a spring in the step of Victorians.
“We’re so pleased to be able to welcome back footy fans - 50,000 of them - to the MCG in round one for the first time since the 2019 AFL Grand Final,’’ he said.
“Considering where we’ve come from over the last twelve months, being able to host 50,000 footy fans at the MCG will be a truly special moment, not only for Victorians but for our passionate staff who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.’’
Fans in each MCG zone will have access to toilets, parent’s rooms, first aid, merchandise, food and beverage outlets, mobile phone charging units, prayer rooms and water refill stations.
The MCC Members’ Reserve will be one of the MCG’s five zones, operating at 50 per cent capacity.
No cloaking facilities will be available at the MCG.
The AFL said home club members would receive priority ticket access, but it was up to clubs how they split those between their membership categories.
Away club members will also receive priority after the home club members, and if there’s any tickets left, the general public will be given access.
While 50 per cent is not what clubs were hoping for it’s better than the ‘crowd’ that attended the match between Richmond and Carlton in March 2020. Picture: Michael Klein
“On behalf of the AFL I would like to thank the Victorian State Government, specifically Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula and Minister for Health Martin Foley for working with us in allowing fans to get back to the footy,” AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said.
“Footy fans in Victoria have been excited about getting back to matches and we have seen that with great numbers across the opening rounds of the AFLW season.
“We haven’t had footy crowds this big in Victoria since the match to support Bushfire Relief in February last year, so today’s announcement provides a big boost for our players and fans in the leadup to the season.
“Our team has been working extensively behind the scenes planning for multiple scenarios and all our venues will be ready to welcome fans back into the stands come next month.”
The AFL has been in consultation with the state government for many weeks over crowd figures and in an ideal world might have hoped for a 75 per cent capacity.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan had been keen to get as many fans into grounds as possible given South Australia, NSW and Queensland venues have 75 per cent or more capacity.
But the recent five-day lockdown and Friday’s two cases of transmission highlight the importance of following safety protocols and will ensure crowds of 50,000 at the MCG and around 25,000 at Marvel Stadium.
Footy fans will face a ticket scramble to get to the AFL’s marquee clashes, with one in every six Carlton and Richmond club members able to get to the season opener.
But 50,000 fans will be able to flood into the MCG on March 18 as Richmond confirmed it would unfurl its past two premiership flags after a deal was brokered for 50 per cent capacity at Melbourne venues.
Under the deal announced on Friday, the MCG can host 50,000 fans and Marvel Stadium 28,961 supporters, with Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium set to be allowed 18,000 fans at a 50 per cent ratio when a deal is finalised in coming weeks.
Home teams will take the vast majority of the seats allocated, with Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale telling the Herald Sun he would meet with Carlton to discuss the ticket carve-up.
The Herald Sun understands clubs may only allocate around 1000 tickets or less to opposition members, meaning rival members will effectively be shut out of high-drawing away games.
A packed MCG for the season opener in 2019. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.
The sight of near-empty stadiums that was a regular feature of the 2020 season is a thing of the past, with social distancing measures to ensure fan safety.
But the MCG’s tenant arrangement means even under a 50 per cent ratio 11,000 tickets will go to MCC members, 10,000 to AFL members and less than 1000 to corporates.
It means around 27,500 club members will be allowed into the Carlton-Richmond Round 1 contest, with the league allowing clubs to decide how they divide those tickets.
Last year Richmond had 100,420 members and Carlton had 67,035 paid-up fans for a total of 167,455 members.
Gale confirmed the Tigers would operate a ballot system
The Blues host Collingwood on the Friday of Round 2 so Carlton members would have to wait until that clash to see their club in the flesh for the first time in a year.
Collingwood and Western Bulldogs will play on the Friday night of Round 1 at the MCG with membership totals that, last year, tallied 115,738 competing for around 27,500 tickets.
Clubs including Geelong say only 50 per cent capacity will force them to lose money on the season, with Cats president Craig Drummond saying it would not lead to a great financial result.
Crowds will be back at the MCG in Round 1. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said 50 per cent capacity would see most clubs breaking even on gate takings given most patrons will be members who have already signed up.
Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale confirmed the flag unfurling, with fears in recent weeks of a crowd as small as 10,000 fans.
“It’s wonderful. We have been up and down a bit and two or three weeks ago it wasn’t looking so good at all and we wouldn’t have gone ahead if we didn’t have a big crowd. The Tiger Army will come along and it will be a very proud moment for us all. There was a suggestion not long ago we might have only had 10,000 people there and we would have kept our powder dry.
“We are pushing towards 100,000 members again and we have got a lot of member categories and it’s important we be fair and equitable so we will use a ballot. We will sit down with Carlton and come to some agreement.”
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said fans would be thrilled to be readmitted, even if it meant tough decision by clubs on splitting up tickets.
“The first thing I would say is if you look at Round 1 Richmond Carlton last year we had no one going to that game. This time last week we (were allowed) 10,000. And now we can look forward to 50,000. In terms of the process, the clubs will own that process and I have a commitment from them they will prioritise their members.”
Around 50,000 fans will be able to watch the season opener between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG.
Fans returning to the MCG for the AFL season will be split into five strict zones and not allowed to visit different parts of the ground.
The MCC has confirmed zones that separated fans during the Boxing Day Test to enhance contact tracing will be used for the AFL season.
The MCG will also be a cashless and ticketless venue for the footy season, with fans required to enter their personal details via QR code before being granted entry.
And it is not yet known if fans will be able to drink at bars or eat in dining areas, with authorities yet to decide whether food and drinks have to be consumed at your seat under a takeaway only model.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox told the Herald Sun a COVID-safe plan had been drawn up to keep fans safe at the footy.
“These measures include the MCG being sectioned into five zones, the introduction of digital tickets which will replace paper tickets and cashless transactions at all of the Ground’s outlets,’’ he said.
Ticket on sale dates have not yet been announced but should be finalised in coming days.
Mr Fox said the return of footy fans to the MCG should put a spring in the step of Victorians.
“We’re so pleased to be able to welcome back footy fans - 50,000 of them - to the MCG in round one for the first time since the 2019 AFL Grand Final,’’ he said.
“Considering where we’ve come from over the last twelve months, being able to host 50,000 footy fans at the MCG will be a truly special moment, not only for Victorians but for our passionate staff who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.’’
Fans in each MCG zone will have access to toilets, parent’s rooms, first aid, merchandise, food and beverage outlets, mobile phone charging units, prayer rooms and water refill stations.
The MCC Members’ Reserve will be one of the MCG’s five zones, operating at 50 per cent capacity.
No cloaking facilities will be available at the MCG.
The AFL said home club members would receive priority ticket access, but it was up to clubs how they split those between their membership categories.
Away club members will also receive priority after the home club members, and if there’s any tickets left, the general public will be given access.
While 50 per cent is not what clubs were hoping for it’s better than the ‘crowd’ that attended the match between Richmond and Carlton in March 2020. Picture: Michael Klein
“On behalf of the AFL I would like to thank the Victorian State Government, specifically Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula and Minister for Health Martin Foley for working with us in allowing fans to get back to the footy,” AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said.
“Footy fans in Victoria have been excited about getting back to matches and we have seen that with great numbers across the opening rounds of the AFLW season.
“We haven’t had footy crowds this big in Victoria since the match to support Bushfire Relief in February last year, so today’s announcement provides a big boost for our players and fans in the leadup to the season.
“Our team has been working extensively behind the scenes planning for multiple scenarios and all our venues will be ready to welcome fans back into the stands come next month.”
The AFL has been in consultation with the state government for many weeks over crowd figures and in an ideal world might have hoped for a 75 per cent capacity.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan had been keen to get as many fans into grounds as possible given South Australia, NSW and Queensland venues have 75 per cent or more capacity.
But the recent five-day lockdown and Friday’s two cases of transmission highlight the importance of following safety protocols and will ensure crowds of 50,000 at the MCG and around 25,000 at Marvel Stadium.
