Club wants full stadium
COWBOYS CEO Jeff Reibel is hopeful the era of same-day charter flights are over, and that North Queensland fans will be back in full capacity inside Queensland Country Bank Stadium next season.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 NRL campaign was one like no other, as clubs were forced to fly to and from matches on the same day in front of limited spectators to adhere to health protocols.
However upon the recent relaxing of domestic travel guidelines for Sydney and Melbourne into Queensland, there were signs 2021 may represent some sense of normality.
“We’re still working with the NRL. Initial indications are that what we would like to do come March next year is everything be back to a sort of normal, where our travel itinerary goes away from those charter flights,” Reibel said.
“Our advice so far from Queensland Health and from Stadiums Queensland is we may be able to welcome back 100 per cent worth of crowds next year.
“There’s still a little bit to go between now and then and of course we have to pivot and roll with any of the conditions that may change.
“At present we still need to work out what can we do on the precinct, is the field going to be a clean zone or not?
“I think what we’ve learnt this year is things change daily, they change weekly and certainly it will all come down to the borders being open and what type of pass or other
wise you need to get between states.”
The NRL has released the draw for the 2021 campaign, with the Townsville-based side travelling out of the state just once in the opening month.
They will take on the reigning minor premiers the Penrith Panthers away in Round 1, in what Reibel described as an ideal test for what position the squad was in after their preseason efforts.
Following that they will
play back-to-back home fixtures against the Dragons and Titans, before saddling up for a Sunshine Coast clash with the Cronulla Sharks in Round 4.
While the Cowboys typically have to endure a more extensive travel itinerary each they will only have one five day turnaround between games – the rest all six days or more.
That turnaround will occur from Round 10’s Magic Round contest against the
Roosters in Suncorp Stadium’s Magic Round, before they play at home against Newcastle on May 20.
The latter will be North Queensland’s only Thursday night game at QCB Stadium, and Reibel said there was good and bad to come out of this.
“When you look at 30 per cent of our crowd travels an hour to get to the game, 10 per cent of the crowd travels around four hours to get to the game,” he said.
“Thursday night’s your highest rating from a television perspective, so to get a balance being able to get on the TV to get that rating, but also have 11 other home games outside of that, I think that’s a good balance.”