Adelaide Oval Showdown crowd a test case for big events
The crowd will be under a bigger microscope than the players as health officials keep close watch on its social distancing performance.
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The historic Showdown clash at Adelaide Oval tomorrow will be used as a test case to decide future spectator numbers at the 53,000-capacity venue.
In an AFL first, a crowd of 2240 will watch Port Adelaide battle the Crows in Showdown 48 after the State Government relaxed pandemic restrictions.
Authorities, led by chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, will attend the match and take “extensive notes” about how the stadium was able to adhere to strict social distancing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison today granted stadiums under 40,000 capacity to have 10,000 fans socially distanced from next month.
National Cabinet signed off on the rules that allow stadiums with up to 40,000 seats to have a maximum crowd of 25 per cent of their capacity.
But Adelaide Oval’s large capacity is too big to benefit.
Oval bosses will now hold talks with the State Government and SA Health on whether it could boost its capacity.
Mr Morrison declined to say if bigger stadiums such as Adelaide Oval or the Melbourne Cricket Ground would be allowed 10,000 spectators, because there were issues with exits, access and “public transport crushes”.
It would be a decision for each state’s public health chiefs and the relevant venue.
But crowds for all stadiums would still be limited until July.
Stadium Management Authority chief executive Andrew Daniels said last night his team had worked “enormously hard” to cater for crowds.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge, and to learning from the experience to help accelerate the process of bringing more fans back to the footy,” he said.
In her first public appearance with Premier Steven Marshall in more than three weeks, Prof Spurrier said she had been left “impressed” by the Oval’s plans.
She said issues over crowd management and public transport would be considered.
“I’ll be there with my team … because we see this has a fantastic learning opportunity for our state how to do this sort of thing right,” she said.
“The other states are very interested to know how we go.”
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Police Commissioner Grant Steven said authorities would use the game as a “test case to see how that is conducted”.
With South Australia’s border to reopen on July 20, Port Adelaide and the Crows could play fly-in, fly-out football from Round 8.
The teams might stay in the Gold Coast hub for two extra weeks then allow Oval games from July 23.
While the majority of Port Adelaide supporters can’t attend tomorrow’s game, the club is ensuring its 60,000-odd members are with the players in spirit.
The names of every Power member for the 2020 season – more than 60,0000 of them – had been printed on a large special banner, which was proudly placed behind the goals by members of the cheer squad.
Amanda has special room with a Port view
Passionate Port Adelaide fan Amanda Taylor says if she has to spend a Showdown in a hospital room, at least it’s one with a view of Adelaide Oval.
The Showdown is “always a big day” for the 44-year-old, her Power-supporting children Chloe, 15, and Riley, 12, and her Crows-loving husband, Bradley, 41.
“While I would rather be at home with my family, I’m excited to watch from my hospital room knowing the game is happening just behind me,” says Ms Taylor, who is in the Royal Adelaide Hospital undergoing her second round of treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia.
She is expecting to be able to see the stadium lights and hear some noise from the modest oval crowd while she watches the game on TV in her room. She says her whole family would normally dress up in their teams’ colours on a Showdown day and enjoy the game together – with lots of friendly banter aimed at Dad.
“The Showdown is always a big day at our house,” she says.