Kickstart Victoria: How MCG plans to get fans back to the cricket
The MCG plans to bring fans back to the cricket – including the Boxing Day test – from December in what would be a win for the morale of a state suffering through a stifling lockdown. Here’s how it will work.
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Every seat will be ticketed and fans asked to enter different gates at staggered times to allow spectators to return to the MCG this summer.
In a bid to ensure fans can return for the Boxing Day Test – in a win for state spirits – no tickets will be sold at the ground, to avoid queues and allow reliable contact tracing through pre-purchases.
Plans are advanced to bring crowds back safely to the home of Australian sport for the summer of cricket, with hopes more can pack stands for the Australian Open tennis, Grand Prix and Big Bash cricket.
It comes as chiefs of Victoria’s biggest sporting showpieces said major events should be used to help kickstart the state’s economy and confidence.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox told the Herald Sun changes would be introduced to allow the staggered return of crowds at the MCG in December.
“If we could be the start of rebuilding the confidence in Victorians, that would be a great,’’ he said.
“But we need to do it obviously in a Covid safe manner, which we’re confident we can.’’
Fans will be spread out in different bays, with families and singles sitting together and empty rows separating different groups.
Socially distanced crowds of up to 30,000 may be able to attend each day of the Test between Australia and India, with fans carefully ushered in and out of seven entry and exit gates.
Strict social distancing rules would be in place in seats and at bars, cafes and toilets, to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Large corporate events were unlikely at the MCG and Yarra Park would be used to ensure big queues did not form outside the stadium.
“Anywhere between 25 and 35,000 people would be a really good starting point and if any venue in the country could achieve a COVID safe environment it would be the G because of sheer scale,’’ Mr Fox said.
He called on the State Government to allow the Australian Sports Museum, MCG tours and cafes at the ground to re-open before the Test to save jobs and allow a safe test run of the new rules.
Cricket Australia executive Anthony Everard said a similar ticket model would apply to Victorian Big Bash matches as the code tried to get crowds back to matches.
“There will be no walk up tickets, every ticket will be pre-sold,’’ he said.
“So we’re going to know who is in the stadium, where they are sitting and have the ability to contact them in the lead up to and after the event, which is such an important part of managing the outbreak.’’
Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said a seat and site map would be used to socially distance fans at Melbourne Park with restrictions on who can sit together.
“If you come from the same house you will be together, but if you don’t, you can’t,’’ he said.
“Everyone that comes to the Australian Open is going to be very comfortable because previously if you were sitting next to someone, you’re not going to be now.’’
He called on leaders “to do everything they possibly can’’ to get safe, outdoor events including arts and music festivals restarted.
“Starting now, we should show the world how it can be done while remaining safe,’’ he said.
“If the governments and decision makers can put that as an uncontested priority it would be a massive win for our psyche and our economic impact.’’
Victoria Racing Club chairman Amanda Elliott said major events were “in the DNA of Melbourne” and generated “a tremendous amount of economic activity for a large range of diverse businesses’’.
“Last year visitors to Victoria from interstate and overseas for Melbourne Cup Week, spent over $117 million – much of that in the retail, hospitality and tourism sectors that have been hit so hard by this pandemic,’’ she said.
“The sooner we can adapt and start to welcome people back – not just to our sporting
events, but to all of the events that contribute to our rich culture – the sooner we will see those economic wheels turn.’’
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