AusLeisure

The ACT Government has confirmed the capacity at GIO Stadium for next week’s Super Rugby AU Grand Final will be doubled.

Set to be the first Super Rugby Grand Final in Canberra for 16 years, next Saturday’s game between the Brumbies and either the Reds or the Rebels, will be played in front of 6,000 people, plus corporate hospitality areas, at the 25,000-capacity stadium.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman has granted an exemption after the increase to a 25% capacity stadium was endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee in June.

In addition, the ACT has not recorded a new COVID-19 case in more than eight weeks.

Tickets will be released in stages so officials can scale the attendance back if restrictions tighten.

Commenting on the expansion, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr told the Canberra Times “given the capacity of the venue, you can have 6000 physically distant people who can enjoy the game. It’ll give a greater atmosphere to the venue, not quite the same as Canberra Stadium full, but must be better than playing in front of hundreds or no crowd at all.”

500 Brumbies Chief Executive Phil Thomson, added “the Plus500 Brumbies would like to thank the ACT Government and the Chief Health Officer for this … decision.

"It's very rare to be able to host a Grand Final and to allow as many people from our region to be there and be a part of it next Saturday night is something we're really excited about."

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