Vax mandate for Adelaide Oval, Entertainment Centre, Convention Centre and Coopers Stadium

Want to watch cricket, soccer or basketball this summer? You’ll need to prove you’re fully vaccinated as major Adelaide venues follow the Oval’s lead in mandating jabs.

Spectators at cricket, soccer and basketball – along with visitors to major concerts and conventions – will need to be fully vaccinated from next week.

The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority introduced the vaccine mandate on Thursday, affecting all patrons aged 12 and over.

Adelaide Venue Management (AVM), which runs the Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Coopers Stadium, followed with a similar double-vax policy affecting those aged 16 and over.

The new rules will affect spectators at major events including the Ashes Test series, Adelaide United and NBL games, as well as concerts.

Crowds enjoying the last Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval in 2017. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

For Adelaide Oval, the madate applies to game day patrons, all function and events guests, all visitors to the stadium, all RoofClimb and Adelaide Oval Tour participants, as well as all suppliers and contractors.

Anyone found to have entered Adelaide Oval without a vaccination will be removed and will face a three-year ban.

Venue bans will also be applied for unvaccinated attendees through the AVM.

All oval staff and volunteers must be vaccinated by December 9, while staff at AVM venues must be double-jabbed by November 23.

Adelaide Oval CEO Andrew Daniels said the requirements were necessary for patron safety.

“We are making this announcement now to provide everyone attending Adelaide Oval with maximum confidence that they are entering a very Covid-safe environment,” he said.

Fans watch the second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval in 2017. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Mr Daniels also announced on Thursday that crowds of up to 35,000 would be able to attend this summer’s cricket events following an update to the oval’s Covid Management Plan.

Patrons will still be required to wear a mask at all times other than when eating or drinking.

The BBL competition starts at Adelaide Oval from December 9 and the second Ashes Test is set to kick off a week later on December 16.

People who want to go to the oval but are not yet vaccinated will need to move quickly – they must secure their first jab by early next week in order to complete their two vaccinations before the Ashes begin.

Patrons at all venues will be asked to display their Covid-19 digital vaccination certificate prior to entry, or to bring a printed statement along with proof of identification, or they will be denied entry.

Spectators at Adelaide United games will also have to be double jabeed. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

And so will anyone attending the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Picture Dean Martin

Those with an official medical exemption will need to show their documentation and provide a negative Covid test result within 72 hours of attending.

The only exception will be for Oval Hotel guests – they do not have to provide double-jab proof at this stage, but will not be able to enter the stadium.

Mr Daniels said he expected very few of the more than 1500 Adelaide Oval staff members to refuse vaccination.

“If at the end of the day they decide not to (get vaccinated), first they will be put on annual leave, if that runs out they will be put on leave without pay, and then ultimately, we will need to have the discussion one-on-one with them about whether or not this is an appropriate place for them to work,” he said.

Mr Daniels said staff would conduct random checks of patron’s vaccination status during events.

He hoped restrictions would ease on crowd numbers when the state’s Covid vaccination rate reached 90 per cent.