Up to 50,000 fans will be welcomed back to the MCG in time for Round 1 of the 2021 AFL Premiership Season, following the announcement of a 50 per cent venue capacity being confirmed by the Victorian Government, AFL and the Melbourne Cricket Club, manager of the MCG.
The season-opening match between Richmond and Carlton on Thursday, March 18 will see fans attending an AFL football game at the MCG for the first time in 537 days.
It will be the first AFL match at the venue since July 5 last year, when Melbourne played Richmond in Round 5 of the 2020 season, before the competition was moved outside Victoria.
The new venue capacity is an increase from the 30,000 fans who attended the 2020 Boxing Day Test and 15,000 fans allowed in for the Big Bash League matches in January.
“We’re so pleased to be able to welcome back footy fans - 50,000 of them - to the MCG in Round 1 for the first time since the 2019 AFL Grand Final,” MCC Chief Executive, Stuart Fox 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.
“Our COVIDSafe Event plan has been endorsed which outlines a number of measures to assist us in capacity management, contact tracing and supporting good hygiene practices. 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.
“Following today’s announcement, the MCC and AFL will work together to announce plans for ticketing arrangements and on-sale dates in the coming weeks.”
Arrangements first seen at the 2020 Boxing Day Test will remain in place for the 2021 AFL Premiership Season. These include:
- The MCG being sectioned into five zones to assist in capacity management and contact tracing.
- Each zone will have access to toilet facilities, parents rooms, first aid, merchandise, food and beverage outlets (including those with Halal and vegetarian options), mobile charging units, prayer rooms and water refill stations.
- All AFL and AFL Club members will need to pre-book and obtain a ticket through Ticketek for every game. Ticket holders will need to present their Ticketek issued digital ticket on a smart device for access to the MCG.
- Cashless transactions across all outlets.
- The MCG’s Official Hygiene Partner, Dettol, has installed 275 Dettol Instant Hand Sanitisation Stations throughout the ground to ensure players, staff and fans can easily access the trusted germ protection of Dettol.
- There will be signage displayed outside and inside the Ground to encourage physical distancing and the wearing of fitted face masks in congested areas.
- Attendees will be required to check into the MCG by utilising the Service Victoria app to scan the displayed QR codes and follow the prompts to check in.
- No cloaking facilities will be available at the MCG for the 2021 AFL Premiership Season.
The 2021 AFL Premiership Season fixture will be released in stages due to the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AFL have released the dates and timings of matches to Round 6, while also outlining the venues and teams for the further 17 rounds of the home and away fixture.
Click here for more details and to view the fixture.
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