Players hit phones as Crows apologise for seating changes to 4500 members at upcoming Adelaide Oval game

Crows players have hit the phones to cope with the increased demand from members worried about their seating allocations, after COVID rules forced them from their regular seats.

The Adelaide Football Club has put players on the phones to cope with the increased demand from members asking about their seating allocations, after COVID rules forced them from their regular seats at the club’s first home game.

Crows chairman John Olsen has also apologised to more than 4000 Crows members who will have to move seats on Saturday, saying call centre hours had been extended to cope with the extra inquiries.

COVID-19 management means Adelaide Oval’s capacity has been reduced from around 53,000 to around 40,000 for the Crows’ opener against Geelong.

Fans will be seated in pods of 120 people. The reduced capacity means 15 per cent of Adelaide’s reserved seat members will lose their regular spot.

Crows defender Tom Doedee thanked members for their patience.

“It has been all hands on deck at Adelaide, with the club continuing to respond to members impacted by new seat allocations stemming from restrictions at Adelaide Oval which have reduced the venue’s capacity,” Doedee said on the Crows’ official website.

The reduced capacity means 15 per cent of Adelaide’s reserved seat members will lose their regular spot. Rory Laird hits the phones. Picture: Adelaide Crows/Twitter

Crows players Reilly O’Brien and Darcy Fogarty take to the phones to call affected ticket holders. Picture: Adelaide Crows/Twitter

“We’ve had some of the boys calling up the members, just trying to preach patience and thank them for their support.

“We’ve got so many people working overtime, we’ve got queues at the moment, we’ve got extra people on just to try and figure it out.

“We’ve got players helping out, staff are doing all they can and we thank the patience of all the members, we know it’s pretty difficult and pretty frustrating.”

Mr Olsen said a computer problem was to blame.

“Eighty-five per cent of our members are not impacted but for the 15 per cent, or the 4500 or thereabouts, we apologise for the inconvenience and anxiety that has been caused by this,’’ Mr Olsen said.

He said they were working evenings and weekends to try to address the issue.

There was a flood of calls after news more than 4000 Crows members who will have to move seats. Picture: Adelaide Crows/Twitter

We’re all hands on deck to contact Members before Round One. Thanks again for your patience, Crows fans! 📞👏#weflyasonepic.twitter.com/8umSyB4mdy

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) March 15, 2021