NRL keen for Sunday derby
Bold vision for 15,000 fans
NRL chairman Peter V’landys is in talks to create a Sunday afternoon ANZ Stadium derby between South Sydney and Canterbury for 15,000 fans — with the Round 8 event likely to see both clubs share the proceeds of what would be the biggest live sports crowd postCOVID-19.
Not content with getting small groups of fans back to rugby league this weekend, the NRL is already working on a blueprint to potentially move the July 5 match between Souths and Bulldogs, which coincides with the start of NSW school holidays, to a Sunday afternoon.
Currently, the game is slated for Bankwest Stadium at 6.30pm. However, in a bid to create what would be the biggest professional sports crowd since the coronavirus pandemic first broke, there has been discussion about the match being played as a 2pm clash at ANZ Stadium instead.
The proposal is still being discussed, and yet to be signed off by the NSW Government, but would involve detailed biosecurity measures, including the enforcement of strict social distancing both inside the Olympic Park venue and on public transport systems delivering fans to and from the game.
V’landys’ bold plan to get fans back to the footy kicks off this weekend, with up to 1000 supporters expected across three games at Bankwest Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Under current government regulations, fans are only allowed to attend Bankwest Stadium in corporate areas.
As part of strict biosecurity protocols, there will be separate entry and exit points, sanitiser stations and a team of cleaners employed to continually disinfect what have been identified as “high touch” points.
However with further easing of rules expected by July, the NRL has already begun drawing up a blueprint to have 15,000 fans at the July 5 match between the Bunnies and Bulldogs. Given crowds were not expected back so soon when the revamped draw was created, the second Sunday game has been given the later 6.30pm timeslot because it suited broadcasters.
But with V’landys now pushing to have a crowd inside the Olympic Park precinct for the July match, there has been talk around moving kick-off forward to 2pm.
While Canterbury is the designated home team in Round 8, it is highly likely the two clubs will co-promote the event.