Richmond AFLW games to be transferred from Punt Road Oval to Ikon Park

Excitement surrounds Richmond’s first AFLW season but fans have been forced out of Punt Road by an unprecedented fixture shift on the eve of the season.

Punt Road Oval will not host AFL Women’s games in 2020.

In an unprecedented fixture shift on the eve of the AFLW season, Richmond’s plans to return top flight football to its spiritual home in its inaugural season in the competition have been put on ice due to crowd and logistics issues.

Just four weeks before the AFLW season is set to begin, the Tigers’ Round 3 and Round 7 clashes with the Kangaroos and Brisbane have been moved to Ikon Park to maximise attendance after it was deemed that the capacity of Punt Road would simply be too low.

Richmond confirmed the upheaval to the Herald Sun yesterday and club chief executive Brendon Gale said that while club wanted “nothing more than to host AFLW games at Punt Road in 2020”, the call had to be made.

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Richmond's two games at Punt Rd have been moved. Picture: Jay Town

“Given our enormous membership base and the large crowds we’re expecting, our facility isn’t suitable right now to host AFLW matches,” he said.

“We want our AFLW games to be more than just a football match. The club is planning family friendly activities and activations, and at present, we just don’t have the space for everything we want to do.

“We’ll now focus on creating a Richmond-like atmosphere at Ikon Park for our fans to enjoy.”

The starting time of the two matches will remain the same.

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Punt Road Oval holds 5000 supporters at its highest capacity but recent construction and portable buildings erected after the club’s men’s premiership in September — in place at the northern end of the ground to house increasing numbers of staff — along with match-day compliance and broadcasting space had resulted in further hits to crowd capacity.

The powerhouse club notched more than 103,000 members in 2019, many of whom have signed up for the club’s AFLW membership.

When it announced the 2020 fixture in October, the AFL flagged the prospect of selling tickets to games at the ground for “operational purposes” in an effort to “make sure that people don’t miss out”.

Tiger fans will be forced to go to Ikon Park to watch their side. Picture Jay Town

The league said yesterday that as the season had grown closer, it had become evident that the response from Tigers fans combined with the construction works had resulted in the decision.

It was determined that it was better to make the call now to ensure adequate planning time for both football and other departments rather than have to rush any eleventh hour changes if required.

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The AFL worked closely with Richmond and local council in reviewing the requirements for hosting AFLW games in recent months, with the hope being to play matches at the ground in coming years.

The club is planning a $60 million redevelopment of Punt Road Oval, which would include upgraded women’s facilities and spectator amenities.

Originally published as Richmond AFLW games to be transferred from Punt Road Oval to Ikon Park