The MCG could host the biggest sports crowd in the world since the Covid-19 pandemic began with up to 75, 000 fans at the MCG for Thursday night’s AFL clash between Carlton and Collingwood.
Crowds in Victoria were limited to 50% capacity for round one, but acting premier James Merlino said on Tuesday that from Thursday’s match between the Blues and the Magpies, stadiums would be able to fill to 75% as part of the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions in the state.
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“That [the world’s biggest crowd since Covid-19] an exciting prospect, ” AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said. “I know in round one, we had the biggest crowd at a sporting event in Australia since the pandemic hit us.
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“So that’s a big moment in this country, and to increase that further this weekend with a couple of really big games starting this Thursday night will be a wonderful achievement for the people of Melbourne and more broadly for this country.
“... [The] 75, 000 [capacity] certainly gives us the capacity to have the largest crowd at a sporting event since Covid has hit.”
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 8 March 2020 – days before coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.
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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.
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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, chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he hoped to see a full capacity crowd permitted for the traditional Anzac Day clash.Canny fixturing and high hopes among AFL fans of many teams for the season ahead are set to underpin a new benchmark for crowds across a single round.
The Western Bulldogs return to the MCG for the first time since their Grand Final triumph on Friday night against Collingwood, with 65, 000 expected.
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The biggest match of the weekend is a full-strength Essendon taking on heated rivals Hawthorn on Saturday night, for which stadium management predict at least 80, 000 in the stands.
By Sunday evening, when a near sold-out Domain Stadium hosts Fremantle against Geelong, more than 400, 000 people could have attended an AFL match over the weekend.
That should smash the current record of 371, 212 people set across round 15 in 2013, when two MCG matches - Carlton against Collingwood and Hawthorn versus Geelong - both attracted huge crowds.
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Within a mere 48-hour period we are expecting upwards of 230, 000 people to pass through the gates, providing a great start to the 2017 season, she said.
Given the large crowds forecast we are strongly urging fans to plan their journey, arrive early and where possible use public transport to ensure they don't miss a minute of the action.
The record tilt will also depend on near capacity crowds in Adelaide and Sydney, and strong showings at two Etihad Stadium fixtures.
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St Kilda v Melbourne hasn't set turnstiles spinning in recent years, but fans of both sides hopeful of breakthrough seasons could push the attendance well above 30, 000 at the Docklands venue, while North Melbourne against West Coast should draw at least 25, 000.
The low watermark will come at Metricon Stadium for the QClash between Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions, which averages less than 15, 000.
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