Monday Buzz: Sydney fans will need vaccination passports to watch live sport in 2022

Sporting administrators are taking a no-nonsense approach to getting fans back into venues to watch NRL, AFL, cricket or any big events at Sydney’s major stadiums and suburban grounds.

If you want to cheer for your rugby league team or attend any major sport in Sydney next year you will need to get your Covid jabs.

Vaccination passports will be a requirement to buy tickets for rugby league, AFL, cricket or any big events at major stadiums and suburban grounds.

Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd says there is no other way to bring fans safely back to footy and will seek government approval for the plan in coming weeks.

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Fans will need the Covid jab if they want to pack stadiums again. Picture: Damian Shaw

Sydney has already lost the NRL finals series, the grand final in October and State of Origin III – events that attract lucrative tourism and hospitality dollars for the state.

The 16 NRL clubs are also losing millions of dollars without their weekly home gates.

The nine Sydney based clubs cannot possibly survive long-term without bums on seats and the revenue created from ticketing and membership.

Shepherd says sporting fans deserve a reasonable time frame to get their injections but then there’s no arguments – no jab, no entry.

“The rollout has been slow so this can’t be introduced until everyone has had a fair opportunity to be vaccinated,” Shepherd said.

“However it’s then a case of, if you haven’t been vaccinated, you can’t come.

“If you choose not to have the jab that is your civil right in a free country but the Delta strain is extremely transmissible and we need to do something to reopen our stadiums.

“The venues will have to say you can’t attend. Simple as that. Getting crowds back to sport is important but we can’t put fans at risk.

“It will be a tremendous incentive for people to get vaccinated.”

SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd.

No jab, no entry for Sydney sports fans.

A similar plan for sporting and all major events is being discussed and considered by the Victorian government.

Fans who refuse to get vaccinated could be denied entry to AFL, possibly the Boxing Day Ashes Test, the Spring Melbourne Cup Racing Carnival and even The Australian Open tennis tournament.

These international events are worth tens of millions to the government economy.

Independent commission boss Peter V’landys is supportive of Shepherd’s comments.

“No sport can survive without crowds and Covid is not going away,” V’landys said, “Crowds are such a major part of our revenue along with memberships.

“Having fans at games helps merchandise sales and getting fans back to the licensed clubs on game day. Plus you need atmosphere and you need tribalism.”

Sydney has some huge sporting events to host in the next few years.

The new Sydney Football Stadium (45,000 seats) will open in July next year.

Sporting clubs are missing the tribalism their fans bring. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Women’s soccer World Cup – and the final at Stadium Australia – is here in 2023.

In Europe there have been similar requirements put on fans to attend major events.

At the recent Euros football tournament, fans needed proof of vaccination. There were also temperature checks and rapid testing on entry. They had staggered entry, with 30 minute intervals for fans to enter.

It’s what we have to look forward to.

But anything will be worth it to get us back to the footy.