Rolling coverage: Cricket fans rejoice as Boxing Day Test crowd cap increased

The number of fans allowed to attend the Boxing Day Test has been boosted but remains significantly smaller than crowds allowed in Sydney stadiums.

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Crowd numbers at the Boxing Day Test have ­received a much-needed boost, but tens of thousands of cricket fans are still set to miss one of the biggest days of the sporting calendar.

The state government on Thursday confirmed 30,000 fans daily would be allowed to attend the MCG for this year’s Test against India — 5000 more than originally ­expected.

It is now expected confirmation of next year’s Australian Open tennis tournament is just days away.

More than 10,000 tickets to the Test were sold as part of a presale on Thursday, ahead of general release tickets going on sale at 3pm today.

Some Australian Cricket Family subscribers faced technical problems and ­delays as they tried to snap up their tickets early, reporting their access codes failed to work. They faced lengthy waits on the website or were able to book only two tickets instead of the six they were told they could buy.

A 30,000 capacity crowd would be the smallest ­attendance at the first day of the Boxing Day Test since 1993 when heavy rain meant only 15,604 headed to the MCG.

Last year more than 80,000 turned out to see Australia battle New Zealand. In the last decade there hasn’t been a crowd lower than 50,000 for the first day of play.

Despite more than 40 days of no new coronavirus cases, Victoria’s cap on outdoor stadium crowds remains among the strictest in the country.

We’re so excited to be able to welcome so many fans to the MCG in what’s been such a challenging year for Victorians! 🏟 #AUSvIND

All public tickets are available from 3pm AEDT tomorrow afternoon: https://t.co/yhYqPqaGFD pic.twitter.com/WApbNHWyH4

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 10, 2020

Williamstown Colts Cricket Club president and MCC member Steve Willis is ­resigned to being unable to watch the match from the stands for the first time in years.

“I’ve got three sons who are now adults; we’ve traditionally gone every year but this year we may not go, as it’s all balloted now,” he said.

“It’s going to be hot luck to get in the draw. I don’t hold much hope.”

Fans India founder Rajul Sharma, who follows the Test series around Australia every year, said he was concerned some fans “who live and breathe cricket” would miss out.

“Thirty thousand is nothing compared to what we have seen in past years,” he said.

As well as concerns about celebrations being subdued due to a ban on playing musical instruments, he was also worried about scalpers ripping off “disappointed” fans.

The Test will also be without The Richies — a fan group who follow the series dressed as cricket legend ­Richie Benaud — with the club calling off the Melbourne leg of its tour due to COVID-19 uncertainty. Head Richie Michael Hennessy said that ­although it was sad the group wouldn’t be there, he was pleased to see the event go ahead.

Calling for capacity limits to be increased, Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said the crowd cap left Victoria trailing other states.

The crowd cap was boosted after Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton endorsed a COVID-safe event plan submitted by Melbourne Cricket Club and Cricket Australia.

Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said Melbourne remained the home of Australia’s biggest and most-loved sporting events.

“It’s testament to the hard work of all Victorians in fighting the virus that Cricket Australia and the MCC have been able to put together a plan that allows for more supporters than had been originally planned,” Mr Pakula said.

Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said he could not wait to see 30,000 fans each day.

“It will be the first time fans have been able to attend a sporting event at the MCG since the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final, and we’re so excited to be able to welcome so many fans in what’s been such a challenging year for Victorians,” Mr Hockley said.

Australia will play India in a four-match Test series, with Melbourne hosting the second of the Test matches.

TRAVEL VOUCHERS TO BE ROLLED OUT

Victorians are being urged to get online on Friday with 40,000 tourism vouchers up for grabs on a first-come-first-served basis.

In the bid to kickstart the state’s tourism sector, the first of three rounds of regional vouchers will be rolled out in Victoria from December 12, with online application opening 10am Friday.

Valued at $200 each, families will be able to redeem the incentive up until January 22.

Pre-booked holidays are also eligible for the voucher.

A second round will be available between January 27 and April 1.

A third will apply between 6 April and May 31.

It applies in regional Victoria as well as the wine hotspots of Mornington and Yarra Valley.

Click here for details on how to apply for your $200 travel voucher, and how you can spend it.

“For the first round, I would expect demand to potentially outstrip supply,” said Tourism Minister Martin Pakula.

“That’s why we have put out 120,000 vouchers … (if people) miss out on the first round. They’ll obviously be eligible to apply for the second and third tranche.”

People will need to spend $400 or more on accommodation or tours and can use the voucher for tours and accommodation.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief Felicia Mariani welcomed the detailed announcement.

Ms Mariani said releasing the vouchers in tranches would continue to stimulate the sector in the off peak season when it was most needed.

“That’s when these types of incentives are needed in regional Victoria,” she said.

“Also to expand beyond the accommodation sector to include attractions and tours is great because that’s another piece that’s been missing from other programs.

“So it spreads the net wider to hopefully encourage greater spend.”

Ms Mariani said the state government now had to address the emerging two-speed economy that was splitting regional Victoria and Melbourne.

“We really need to focus on getting Melbourne firing because the reality is, the recovery of Victoria is not going to happen without Melbourne firing,” she said.

Meanwhile, the state has recorded another day of zeros, with no new coronavirus cases for the 41st consecutive day.

Coco, 6, and Yumi, 4, with their suitcases packed. Picture: Jason Edwards

MELBOURNE TOURISM TO SLUMP WITHOUT MAJOR EVENTS

Victoria must get its major events back on track or risk further damage to the local tourism industry, the state’s peak tourism body has warned.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief Felicia Mariani said many city tourism businesses were continuing to run on a skeleton staff and feared opening up without certainty around major events, including the Australian Open.

“If we can get major events up and running then there will be national support,” Ms Mariani said.

Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday work was underway to boost crowd numbers above the 25 per cent capacity first outlined for this year’s Boxing Day test.

“If we can do better than 25,000 that would be a fantastic outcome,” he said.

“It would be unwise to assume that it is double 25,000.

“But even at 25,000 it’s a great symbol for every Victorian … We can have events again.”

City tourism will remain low unless Victorian events return, industry experts warn. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said Cricket Australia were keen to release tickets within the next couple of days.

“That becomes a de facto deadline in that they wanna know how many tickets they can release.

“Ultimately it (the crowd size) will be in the hands of the chief health officer.”

Ms Mariani said a $24 million travel voucher system to boost tourism to regional Victoria was a fantastic initiative to help the regional tourism sector recover.

However she warned it risked creating a two-speed recovery in Victoria’s visitor economy.

“We’re booming in the regions while Melbourne languishes,” Ms Mariani said.

“We have only 25 per cent occupancy in the 37,500 rooms across Greater Melbourne, at a time of year when we are usually 75-80 per cent full.

“That’s a dire situation and we need to be focused on business events, business travel and activities that will bring people back into town.”

Confusion reigns over the voucher program, announced last month, with details of how the program will operate yet to be revealed.

Frustrated tourism operators say the confusion has disrupted end-of-year bookings.

Tourism in regional Victoria is booming.

Under the program Victorians will be able to apply for a $200 voucher as long as they spend at least $400 on accommodation, attractions or tours in regional Victoria.

Bonnie Doon Lakeside Leisure Resort owner Alan McReynolds said some customers were withholding fees in lieu of the vouchers.

“We want to work with our customers, and think the vouchers are a great idea, but nobody knows how they’re supposed to work,” he said.

Shadow Tourism Minister, Cindy McLeish, said Victorian tourism operators were desperate to get back to business.

“All Daniel Andrews has to offer tourism operators are empty promises,” she said.

“Victorians are keen to spend money in our local communities but have been given no detail as to how it will work.”

Victoria could suffer from a tourism slump over summer. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images.

HOSPITALS URGED TO INCREASE VISITOR NUMBERS

Victorian hospitals are being urged to relax restrictions and give patients some “Christmas cheer” ahead of the festive season if the state continues its COVID-free run.

The city’s biggest hospitals have remained cautious and continued to cap visitor numbers, despite the government lifting the official restrictions.

The move, which has seen hospitals and clinics implement their own rules, was made in a bid to protect families if cases were to flare again.

But after 40 days without a coronavirus case in Victoria, hospitals including the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH), The Alfred and the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), are being asked to reconsider — within reason — if deemed safe.

“The reason these restrictions are important is that it’s safety first,” Australian Patients Association chief executive Stephen Mason said.

“(But) we’ve been saying for some time that restrictions should be sensibly eased on a case-by-case basis.”

Currently, visitors at most hospitals in Melbourne are limited to two people within certain times.

At The Alfred, two visitors are permitted for a maximum of one hour or a single visitor for two hours.

The RCH, where some of the state’s sickest kids are treated, is allowing two parents or carers in for an unlimited time and an additional sibling or other household member is permitted for two hours in the evening.

Meanwhile the RMH has limited visitors to two people at a time, except on compassionate grounds.

A spokesman for the RMH said the rules were constantly under review but also necessary to meet the government’s density requirements.

“We are always looking and reviewing our guidelines as restrictions become eased,” the spokesman said.

Mr Mason said a commonsense approach should apply with masks, social distancing and temperature checks good precautions to keep in place.

“I think we can increase the (visitor) numbers from two to up to four, and return visiting hours to normal,” he said.

“And I think they should do it in the next fortnight, it would be a nice Christmas present for patients who are going to be in there over the Christmas period.”

Mr Mason praised the Victorian community for their understanding of the need for restrictions in challenging settings such as hospitals and care facilities.

He urged people visiting family and friends to remain careful and respect both patient and staff safety.

“Please be sensible and wear your face mask, social distance and don’t see loved ones if ill,” he said.

– Alanah Frost