Crowds on NRL’s radar

THE NRL will meet with state governments to find out from when next month they can accept crowds of up to 10,000 in stadiums.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed national cabinet plans yesterday for stadiums of up to 40,000 to be able to operate at 25 per cent capacity from July. The move will allow crowds of between 5000 to 7500 at most NRL venues.

The fate of ANZ Stadium, the SCG and Suncorp are still to be determined. State and territory governments will determine when they will implement the new rules, with the NRL desperate to step up their plans.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys had previously indicated he wanted capped crowds of around 25 per cent capacity in stadiums by July 1.

He will now meet with the Victorian, ACT, NSW and Queensland governments to find the likely reopening date, as NSW and Queensland plan for bigger stadiums.

The NRL and venues such as Bankwest Stadium had been working with the NSW Government on the planned reopening for months.

Under those discussed plans, it’s believed groups who purchase tickets together will be able to sit together with distancing between them and other fans. There will be strict protocols regarding the flow of people at the stadiums, with entrance and exit aisles.

There would also be rules around the purchasing of foods and beverages, not allowing people to stand around bars after purchasing drinks.

Additional cleaning would also be included before, during and after events on high-touch surfaces, including on rails, in lifts and on doors.

The NRL has also spoken about thermal monitoring of fans as they enter grounds, along with all personnel including players, media and the limited corporates currently checked under biosecurity guidelines.

There could, however, be some challenges for the league and clubs on how to prioritise who gets in.

Clubs are hopeful of returning to home grounds from round 10 in mid-July, and ticket systems that enforce social distancing on hills would seem near impossible.

The distancing would also mean that entire parts of stadiums will need to be open. For instance, if ANZ Stadium is eventually reopened at 25 per cent capacity that would require the top tiers to be in operation at an extra security cost to go with cleaners and stores.