Footy fans not flocking back to Adelaide Oval as State Government prepares to cut capacity back to 10,000
Footy fans waited four long months to get back to Adelaide Oval. However, since the resumption of the AFL season, crowd numbers have not reached the maximum and capacity at the ground is about to be cut in half.
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SA footy fans waited four months to go back to the footy but haven’t maxed out capacity as the State Government prepares to halve it from 20,000 to 10,000 from this weekend.
The Stadium Management Authority (SMA) would not release attendance figures for games at Adelaide Oval this season but both Adelaide and Port Adelaide reported crowds of around 15,000 for their last home games against Essendon last weekend and the Western Bulldogs on Monday night.
Adelaide Oval was allowed to host crowds of up to 25,000 people last month and 20,000 on Monday night and Port’s attendance was listed at 14,169. The SMA said capacity did not include Oval or club staff and media.
The Power on Tuesday announced that all 10,000 tickets to its game against Richmond this Saturday were gone.
“We’ve had an incredible response for tickets from our members this morning, with almost half of the member allocation snapped up in the first 15 minutes,” the club’s executive manager Matthew Richardson said.
“With the reduction in Adelaide Oval capacity to 10,000 and the short turnaround in home games, we used the same priority groupings as the previous two home games.
“Unfortunately with such high demand, some of our members have been unable to secure a ticket to this game which is disappointing.
“At the same time, we appreciate what a precarious position our State is in when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic and our State Government has done a wonderful job in ensuring the health and safety of all South Australians. We all have to play our role to ensure we remain in this position.”
But prior to that, when the Oval capacity was 20,000, despite both SA clubs reporting a strong member retention rate for this season which was suspended in March, they had not exhausted their allocation of member tickets and sold some as general admission in recent weeks.
Despite both SA clubs reporting a strong member retention rate for this season which was suspended in March, they have not exhausted their allocation of member tickets and sold some as general admission in recent weeks.
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The Advertiser has been told by some supporters of both clubs that their elderly parents who would usually attend every home game are choosing to watch it from home this year amid concerns over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, winter cold and flu season and public transport.
“I think across the league attendances haven’t quite reached capacity levels that have been made available at venues,” Adelaide chief executive Andrew Fagan said.
“And I think they’re being impacted by a range of things – short lead times, the timeslots including midweek games, the protocols at the venues including seating arrangements, concerns about Covid more broadly and obviously team performance always plays its part.
“Our members were amazing in supporting the club through the pledge campaign so they were obviously prioritised, but where following if there is still some availability then we will make some general admission tickets available for purchase.
“The stadium and SANFL are also wanting to maximise attendance where possible given the business model that they operate under, and where we can help them out we obviously will as well.”
The majority of football this season is being played in Queensland where crowds are allowed into the Gabba and Metricon Stadium but the attendance for last Thursday’s clash between Melbourne and Port Adelaide at the Gabba was just 323.
Venues are understood to have increased staff overhead costs involved with Covid protocols to ensure football fans adhere to rules allowing them back at the footy.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide are paying the balance of stadium costs to Adelaide Oval after a contribution from the AFL this year.