Adelaide footy clubs weigh mask mandates to boost crowds

The masked-up crowd at Coopers stadium could provide a glimpse of what the future will look like for AFL fans.

Power supporter Lewie Elliott and Crows supporter Will Cowling outside Adelaide Oval. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Adelaide’s two AFL clubs have not ruled out asking fans to mask up on their way into and out of Adelaide Oval if it means getting more bums on seats for the coming football season.

Hindmarsh Stadium this week announced it was increasing its capacity from 50 to 75 per cent for Adelaide United’s clash with Melbourne City today – on the proviso fans wore masks when entering and leaving the arena and while moving about to buy food or drink.

Punters can remove their masks while sitting in their allocated seats.

Both Adelaide boss Andrew Fagan and Port Adelaide chief Matthew Rich­ardson said their clubs would be happy to look at any measures that would allow more fans to cheer on their teams.

However, both stressed that crowd levels were ultimately decided by health officials working with the Stadium Management Auth­­ority and that crowd safety was paramount.

Mr Fagan said the Crows first game was still almost three months away and it was impossible to predict what the world would look like from a COVID-19 perspective.

He said the club would work with health and stadium authorities, which were watching the current cricket season unfold.

“Through that, we’ll get to a position that will be the safest possible model for anyone attending, but also will allow maximum attendances,” he said.

“I do think we’re all becoming more familiar with wearing face masks, but if there’s one thing we’ve learnt through this though is that it’s difficult to predict anything three months out.”

Passionate Port Adelaide diehard Lewie Elliott said he was happy to wear a mask if it meant more people could cheer on the Power at Adelaide Oval.

“I can’t get wait to get back to the footy, and if wearing a mask while walking around allows more people in to generate the atmosphere that everyone loves, then it’s a compromise I’m more than happy to make,” he said.

Mr Fagan said the Crows would be behind any scheme that allowed more fans to watch their club play.

“When you saw the players last season playing without the noise of the fans, the stark reality that the fans make the sport became obvious,” he said.

Mr Richardson said the club would be “keen to look at” options to boost crowd numbers.

“We’ll work with SA Health and the State Government on anything that helps get people back to the game,” he said.

A Stadium Management Authority spokesman said it was “too early to speculate” about footy games.