TSL club North Hobart has called for the limit of 500 at outdoor events to be lifted

The State Government’s coronavirus restrictions are costing TSL clubs income and North Hobart took a massive direct hit to its bottom line on Saturday. SEE HOW MUCH THEY LOST >>

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NORTH Hobart is calling for crowd limits at TSL games to be lifted from 500 to 25 per cent of venue capacity after a lock-out for its game against Lauderdale last Saturday cost it an estimated $15,000 in lost revenue.

The State Government’s restriction of 500 people for outdoor events has caused State League clubs to pre-sell tickets their home games, for the first time in competition history.

All games for the first three rounds have been sell-outs, with tickets disappearing in as fast as 30 minutes.

Demons president Craig Martin said with players, support staff and officials included in the 500 limit before supporters came through the gate, it was time to boost the numbers.

“The State Government and Public Health have done a fantastic job in the way they have handled this pandemic and the way we have gotten us to the point now where there is no community transmission,” Martin said.

“Given there is no community transmission of the illness here in Tasmania, and there has been only one case in 70 days, and that was a Victorian who was already in isolation, it is time to lift the restrictions on crowds, particularly at venues like North Hobart Oval and other grounds that would easily qualify as stadiums.”

Football. Tasmanian State League. North Hobart V Lauderdale. Tyler Martin Lauderdale and Jack Sandric North Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

North Hobart Oval holds the record for the biggest crowd at a Tasmanian football match – 24,968 at the 1979 TSL grand final between Clarence and Glenorchy.

“Capacity at North Hobart now is about 13,000 to 14,000, so if it was raised to a quarter of that, it would be fantastic,” Martin said.

“We would have gotten 2000 people here at the game on Saturday, but there were only about 30 Lauderdale supporters able to come because we gave first preference to our members.

“We had lots of other people wanting to come but they couldn’t because of the 500 ceiling.

“Given the interest in local footy and that people want to get out and enjoy their footy, we could have gotten 2000 people here, and that would have been an extra $15,000 for the club.

“At the best of times it is hard to make ends meet at sporting clubs, but in the circumstances we are in at the moment, it is really tough.

“An extra $15,000 would have been an absolute Godsend.”

AFL Tasmania CEO Trish Squires said she would leave crowd numbers in the hands of authorities.

“It is a public health decision and we will be guided by them,” she said.