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Event infrastructure and crowd management provider, eps Australia, have collaborated on a new and approved social distancing solution for NRL fans attending games at Queensland's Sunshine Coast Stadium.

After significant concerns were raised over a lack of socially distant crowds that almost led to games played without spectators, the games can still take place now due to the approved social distancing concept which was developed by eps Australia in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Stadium, the Sunshine Coast City Council, and the relevant Authorities.

A week before the Melbourne Storm's game against the Canterbury Bulldogs on 8th August, Health Authorities expressed concern that the crowd management of the stadium, which had previously been reduced to half, would not be sufficient moving forward. This mainly affected the stadium's eastern and southern hills.

Within only two days, eps developed a new socially distant COVID-19 solution. The company designed a seating plan with zoning areas and installed temporary seating for more than 2,500 fans. The seating layout, specifically designed for social distancing purposes, was arranged in banks of two upwards of six, so families could sit together.

eps australia Managing Director, Andrew Stone advises "we are delighted to have found a solution that meets the health authority guidelines and ensures the fans socially distance. With more than 25 years of experience in planning concerts and sporting events, we were able to react very quickly to meet the Venue's needs and rely on our vast inventory in warehouses across the country."

Stone adds "the events industry is in severe pain right now, and there are teams of people working behind the scenes to not only get back to work but patrons back to events. We are proud to have played a part in still having fans at games and, more importantly, found traction in working with Venues, Promoters, and, most importantly, the Authorities to get people back to events safely."

The next NRL matches in the Sunshine Coast Stadium will take place on 30th August, then 13th and 19th of September. A full-time draftsman and an associated team from eps are still on hand to help with the new stringent COVID-safe measures.

eps is a global company - with offices in Australia, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, North and South America - with the resources to satisfy clients' needs just about anywhere.

Click here to contact eps Australia via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.  

Image of Sunshine Coast Stadium NRL crowd. Questions were asked about an apparent lack of social distancing within the crowd in parts of the Sunshine Coast Stadium during the NRL clash between the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights in early August.

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