Peter V’landys wants full crowds back by August 1

Peter V’landys wants to end the NRL’s crowd lockout from August under plans for full access to all stadiums

ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys wants fans back at NRL by August 1 Picture: Nikki Short

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys wants to end the NRL’s crowd lockout from August under plans for full access to all stadiums, including more than 30,000 fans for Broncos games at Suncorp Stadium.

But fans may not be able to grab a beer at the game, as authorities grapple with how to ensure food and drinks are served safely at the stadium.

V’landys will table a proposal to the Queensland government “immediately” as part of a staggered crowd-return plan that would see gates opened to all rugby league fans from August 1.

The NRL will allow 50 corporate fans to attend games this weekend with a view to having all restrictions removed for full crowds in August.

V’landys confirmed his plan to unlock the gates at NRL venues in the coming months, saying the NRL would conduct temperature checks for every fan at the entrance and have sanitisation points throughout the venues if crowds were allowed to return.

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“There’s no reason not to have crowds if we have the right data on infections rates,” V’landys said. “At the moment, crowds will be capped but gradually our plan is to have it eased off and hopefully by August it will be totally unrestricted and we open the doors to all league fans. In New Zealand, they have removed all the measures (around COVID-19 self-isolation protocols), it’s unrestricted, so their first match for rugby union will have a full crowd.

“We have to start getting to that point ourselves. We will speak to the Queensland government about this. If they are looking at capped crowds in the short-term, we will make an application immediately.”

As part of its return to competition a fortnight ago, the NRL’s 16 teams are playing in six, COVID-compliant venues. They are Suncorp Stadium, Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Sydney’s Bankwest and Campbelltown Stadiums, Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium and Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

It’s understood crowds of just 1000 people may be welcome back to Suncorp Stadium initially, potentially as early as the round six clash between the Gold Coast Titans and St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday, June 20.

Among Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young’s considerations are how “discreet groups” are seated — which would allow groups of friends to attend together.

It’s understood families could sit together, socially distanced from other groups and be told which bathrooms they have to use. Staggered arrival and exit times are a possibility as a way to thin crowds funnelling into and out of stands.

But it’s not yet been decided whether supporters will be able to grab a burger and beer, with decisions being made about whether food and beverages can be served.

Fans would only be allowed to pre-purchase tickets online, and authorities are considering how they can be discouraged from congregating before and after games.

The NSW government has allowed pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants to have up to 50 customers at a venue. The NRL is using that social-distancing metric to allow corporate sponsors to attend games this week – starting with the Broncos-Manly clash at Gosford on Thursday night.

V’landys says the sight of 25,000-plus fans at venues such as Suncorp, Bankwest and Queensland Country Bank Stadium would be a morale booster after the dark months of COVID-19.

The Courier-Mail