SANFL welcomes 5000 footy fans each day to historic first round matches this weekend

SANFL has welcomed the State Government’s approval to allow 5000 spectators at this weekend’s SANFL Statewide Super League opening round at Adelaide Oval – Australia’s biggest crowd at a sporting event since the coronavirus shutdown.

Premier Steven Marshall announced today that following the success of a crowd of 2000 at the recent AFL Showdown, SA Health and SAPOL had approved SANFL’s request for 5000 people to attend each day of its Round 1 double headers, Saturday June 27 and Sunday June 28.

SANFL Chief Executive Officer Jake Parkinson thanked the State Government and the people of South Australia for their support and said this was great win for South Australia and local footy supporters.

“We are incredibly excited to think that there will be 5000 supporters cheering on from the Adelaide Oval grandstands on Saturday and a further 5000 coming along on Sunday,” Mr Parkinson said.

“This is a great reward for our SANFL football clubs and their staff, players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and passionate supporters. As with so many organisations, they are going through one of the most challenging times in their rich and proud history.”

“We thank the South Australian Government, SA Health and SAPOL for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and leading the way in its containment which has allowed us this tremendous opportunity to put South Australia in the world spotlight.”

The 2020 Statewide Super League season kicks off with two weekends of double-headers played at the iconic Adelaide Oval – the home of Australian Rules football in South Australia – across the next two weekends (June 27-28 and July 4-5), before moving back to suburban venues.

Mr Parkinson said tickets would be allocated for the match day, with the 5000 ticket holders able to attend both games on the day.

A ballot for ticket allocation opened yesterday morning and closes at 5pm today, with successful members advised tomorrow.

Mr Parkinson said that if the ballot is undersubscribed for the 5000 tickets for each match day, pre-purchased tickets would be available to the public for sale from Thursday.

There will be no ticket sales on match days.

Mr Parkinson said that as per social distancing requirements, two seats and one row will be left vacant between issued tickets.

Spectators will be issued with a contactless electronic, non-transferable QR coded ticket, to be scanned from their mobile phone upon entry at Adelaide Oval on match day.

All attendees also are required to sign a COVID-19 health declaration that they will adhere to hygiene and social distancing protocols at the game.

Mr Parkinson said it was vital for every attendee to do the right thing and that SANFL and the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority would be strictly enforcing protocols at the matches to mitigate the risk of a virus outbreak.

“This is not time to be complacent, we have to take heed of SA Health’s advice and  the various protocols that will be in place to ensure we do everything possible with a crowd of this size to stop a second wave of COVID-19,” he said.

Club season and home match ticketed members not at games this weekend have been offered free access to the SANFL Digital Pass live stream for season 2020, while all proceeds from subscriptions go back to SANFL Clubs.

Channel 7 will also broadcast the blockbuster clash between Glenelg and Norwood at 3:05pm on Sunday, June 28.