Victorian Government to allow stadium crowd limits to increase to 75% capacity

March 23, 2021

In a move that will see crowds of up to 75,000 at the MCG, the Victorian Government has lifted stadium crowd limits from 50% to 75% capacity.

With venues in the state having to operate at 50% capacity for AFL Round One, Victorian acting Premier James Merlino today advised that from Thursday’s match between the Carlton FC and Collingwood FC at the MCG, stadiums would be able to fill to 75% as part of the latest easing of Coronavirus restrictions.

Thanking the Victorian Government for their assistance in getting fans back to stadiums, AFL Chief Executive, Gillon McLachlan “as men's footy returned across the weekend you could really feel the excitement in the air throughout Melbourne. It felt like the rhythm of the city had returned and the announcement today should only amplify this.

"In round one, to have the biggest crowd at a sporting event in Australia since the COVID pandemic is a testament to the passion and support of footy fans and I know we will only build on that number in the coming weeks."

If attendance for Thursday night’s game is close to capacity, it will comfortably be the biggest sports crowd in Australia since 86,174 fans attended the MCG for the Women’s T20 World Cup final on 8th March 2020 - days before Coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.

Last week, the MCG played host to the biggest crowd in the southern hemisphere since the beginning of the pandemic, with 49,218 fans attending the season opener between Richmond and Carlton.

The AFL confirmed ticket allocations would increase in line with the bolstered venue capacity - with club and AFL members prioritised, while general public tickets will also be available.

Marvel Stadium’s capacity has been lifted to 43,440 fans, while up to 27,819 people are permitted at Friday night’s game between Geelong and Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium. St Kilda play Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

On Sunday Hawthorn host Richmond at the MCG while the Western Bulldogs will play West Coast at Marvel Stadium. Meanwhile, Ballarat’s Mars Stadium can now host 8,335 fans.

The AFL is hopeful crowd capacity at venues will continue to increase in the rounds to come. Before the season opener, McLachlan said he hoped to see a full capacity crowd permitted for the traditional Anzac Day clash.

17th March 2021 - Marvel Stadium to sell $2 pies during AFL season Rounds One and Two

16th March 2021 - Quayclean prepares venues for 2021 AFL season with comprehensive hygiene regimes

11th March 2021 - AFL aims for 2021 grand final to return as a full capacity daytime fixture at the MCG

26th February 2021 - MCG set to welcome 50,000 fans for AFL season opener

23rd February 2021 - 2021 State of Origin series opener to be played at the MCG

15th December 2020 - Collingwood President Eddie McGuire to step down at end of 2021 AFL season

28th October 2020 - MCG confirmed as venue for next three Boxing Day Tests

2nd September 2020 - MCG secures AFL Grand Final contract extension

17th February 2021 - Year of ‘sacrifices’ sees AFL report $22.8 million loss

9th February 2021 - Naming rights for Perth’s Optus Stadium emerges as Western Australian election issue

27th December 2020 - Telstra looks to make Marvel Stadium one of the world’s most connected sporting venues

25th August 2020 - AFL restructuring sees integration of management at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium

9th November 2020 - Victorian Government announces funding for completion of Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium as a 40,000 seat venue

18th January 2021 - Comment invited on plans for final stage upgrades to Geelong’s Kardinia Park Stadium

1st March 2021 - Cisco and WaitTime announce partnership to deliver crowd intelligence solution

23rd February 2021 - Reduced crowd numbers sees Australian Open anticipating $99 million loss

13th January 2021 - Big Bash League to cap Melbourne crowds at 15,000 fans

4th January 2021 - NSW Government reduce SCG’s crowd capacity to 25% for Australia v India Test

6th August 2020 - World Health Organization says large crowds for sporting events are unrealistic this year

12th June 2020 - Australian Prime Minister moves forward relaxation of Coronavirus rules to allow crowds to return to sport and entertainment

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