The MCG could be set to break the record for the largest crowd attendance at a sporting event worldwide since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, following the decision to permit a further 10,000 fans to the venue’s two Round 6 AFL Premiership Season ANZAC matches this weekend.
The Melbourne Cricket Club welcomes the Victorian Government and AFL’s announcement to raise the venue capacity at the MCG to 85 per cent of its standard capacity, in time for this weekend’s blockbuster ANZAC Eve and ANZAC Day games.
Additional tickets went on sale today to MCC Members, AFL Members and the General Public via Ticketek from 1.00pm AEST.
View: AFL Rounds 9 and 10 fixture confirmed
MCC Chief Executive, Stuart Fox said all football fans who have attended opening rounds of the 2021 AFL Premiership Season at the MCG deserved to be praised for adapting to the frameworks put in place to date in which major events, such as AFL matches, can operate.
“We’re very excited to welcome even more fans back to the MCG, especially ahead of marquee matches like ANZAC Eve and ANZAC Day,” Fox said.
“To have 85,000 fans at the MCG means further great seats are available for this weekend’s blockbuster matches. It is another great step in returning to some normality, and bringing large groups of people into a space in line with restrictions.
“We owe a massive amount of gratitude to all patrons who have attended matches at the MCG so far in 2021, as well as the broader Melbourne and Victorian community for continually adhering to advice.
“While we welcome the increase, we will still be operating under our COVIDSafe framework and many measures will need to remain in place to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of the community remains paramount and confidence among fans in returning to major events increases.
“We ask all members and fans to keep checking in with our website and social media channels for all the latest information and arrangements patrons will need to know when attending events at the MCG.”
In light of the 85 per cent venue capacity announcement, the following arrangements for MCG matches will be in place:
Round 6 AFL Matches
• An additional 10,000 tickets will be released across MCC Members, AFL and Club Members and General Public (if not already exhausted).• However fans who have already purchased a ticket to Round 6 AFL will unfortunately not be able to change or upgrade their tickets.
• The ticket transaction limit will remain at six tickets per purchase for Round 6. This will increase to 10 tickets per transaction from Round 7.
Ticketing
• All patrons are still required to pre-purchase a ticket through Ticketek and enter the contact details of all attendees. Ticket holders will need to download and present their Ticketek issued digital ticket on a smart device for access to the MCG.• The MCG will continue to be sectioned into five zones to assist in capacity management and contact tracing, patrons will NOT be permitted to move between zones within the MCG.
• Additional tickets for Round 6 matches this weekend will be available for purchase via Ticketek from 1.00pm AEST today. On-sale dates for tickets to all MCG matches will remain in the week of each Round for the foreseeable future.
• Standing Room tickets will not be available.
Access information into the MCG
• Patrons will still be required to check into the MCG on arrival, by utilising the Service Victoria app to scan the displayed QR codes and follow the prompts to check in.• Cloaking facilities will remain unavailable at the MCG for the 2021 AFL Premiership Season. Patrons are asked to ensure bags brought into the MCG are kept to a size that can easily fit underneath their seats.
• The MCG and all food, beverage and merchandise outlets will remain cashless transactions.
Staying COVIDSafe
Patrons are reminded to follow these simple directions to remain COVIDSafe when visiting the MCG:• Clean hands. Please remember to wash or sanitise your hands regularly.
• Know when it’s time to bow out. Feel unwell or have cold symptoms? Then please stay at home.
• Protect the head. Please wear a fitted face mask when in congested areas (for example in food & beverage outlets, toilets and entering and exiting the venue).
• Stay at least a couple of cricket bat’s length apart. For good measure, please stay 1.5 metres from one another.
The 2021 AFL Premiership Season fixture will continue to be released in stages due to the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AFL have released the dates and timings of matches to Round 10, while also outlining the venues and teams for the further 13 rounds of the home and away fixture.
Click here for more details and to view the fixture.
