TIO Stadium will be at full capacity for the first time since COVID-19

TIO Stadium will be at 100 per cent capacity at this Friday night’s NRL clash for the first time since the global coronavirus outbreak.

TIO Stadium will be at 100 per cent capacity at this Friday night’s NRL clash for the first time since the global coronavirus outbreak.

It comes after approvals from NT Health granted a further 3500 tickets to the Eels v Broncos blockbuster, raising it from 71 per cent capacity. If ticket sales are any indication, the match will be the first major event of what will be one of the best dry seasons the Territory will ever see.

NT Major Events chief executive Tim Watsford said it would bring the capacity from about 9000 seats to its full capacity of 12,215.

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“The good thing with that venue overnight, we’re allowed to go to 100 per cent capacity now whereas up until then we’d been operating to about 75 per cent ­capacity to COVID restrictions,” he said.

“Thank you to NT Health for letting us go to 100 per cent; now we’ll pin the ears back and move those (3000 odd tickets left) because we can now.”

The match had been expected to be sold out on Tuesday prior to the increase in capacity, with 9000 tickets already sold.

Parramatta Eels captain Clint Gutherson said the annual trip to Darwin was one of the club’s favourite games of the season.

“We’re really enjoying our footy this season and can’t wait to play in front of the locals for a very special Anzac round,” he said.

“We’re hoping to see as many NT fans as possible show up at our home away from home on Friday night.”

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The Eels will take part in the Anzac Day wreath laying ceremony on Sunday.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the Anzac round clash was one of the biggest NRL events of the year and given the Top End’s World War II history, it made sense for the Territory to host this game.

“The eyes of NRL fans across the country will be on Darwin this week, and we are expecting interstate visitors to enjoy everything the Territory has to offer while they are in town.”

Parramatta v Brisbane kicks off at 7.25pm at TIO Stadium this Friday

Originally published as TIO Stadium will be at full capacity for the first time since COVID-19