Battle of the Huon won’t have increased capacity as restrictions hit hard
The SFL has made a last-ditch plea to increase capacity and avoid thousands of disappointed fans ahead of the all-Huon grand final this weekend.
AFL
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THE SFL’s bid to increase its grand final crowd has been knocked back for the league’s first all Huon decider.
Cygnet and Huonville will meet in Saturday’s grand final — The Port’s first senior grand final in 15 years — that has the region buzzing with excitement, a clash SFL president Russell Young said both clubs believed would have attracted a crowd of 6000-8000 passionate fans without COVID restrictions.
But restrictions means just 1000 people – including players, coaches, medical staff, volunteers, catering staff, gate attendees and spectators – can attend the mouth-watering clash at North Hobart Oval.
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By contrast the TSL can host 3250 at its grand final at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium for the North Launceston v Launceston showdown.
Young said he approached the Tasmanian government about increasing attendance to 25 per cent of North Hobart’s seating capacity, only to be knocked back.
“They (the government) are trialling it up in Launceston, but the answer for North Hobart Oval was ‘no’,” Young said.
“I understand the environment we are in, but I’m disappointed.
“I would have liked to get 25 per cent.
“I did an exercise last night and there are 231 people involved in the two games, which includes the coaches, the players, the umpires, medical staff, team managers, catering people and so forth.
“Once you take that off your 1000, there are not many tickets left for spectators.”
The SFL has split the finals to help cover costs, with the women’s grand final to be played on Friday night at North Hobart, the Colts at Claremont’s Abbostfield Park Saturday morning and only the reserves and seniors to be at North Hobart Oval on the Saturday afternoon.
Young said if all four games had been held at North Hobart Oval on Saturday, the SFL would not have been able to cover the costs.
Of the 1000-person capacity, Huonville – with a team in the seniors and reserves grand finals – has been allocated 350 tickets, Cygnet 300, Dodges Ferry (in the reserves grand final) 150, each other club 10, stand-alone women’s clubs five with the rest going to catering staff, media, security, marshals, timekeepers, scoreboard operators and other officials.
Cygnet president David O’Neill said the club had been inundated with ticket requests.
“The players are first and then members and sponsors and volunteers, and that will be about it,” O”Neill said.
“Obviously we get a lot of requests so it is going to be a painful few days.”
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