Rugby league boss Peter V’landys has set another ambitious target for the game ahead of the NRL’s resumption, saying he wants crowds in stadiums from 1 July. With his goal of getting the NRL back underway by 28 May set to be realised on Thursday when Brisbane host Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium, the ARL Commission chairman is hoping to get fans at grounds in just over a month.
“You are allowed so many people so we will start looking at that with the biosecurity measures in the coming weeks,” V’landys told News Corp Australia. “And I am not saying capacity crowds. I have to stress capped crowds. That is one way you can reward the members that have stuck firm.”
V’landys says getting crowds at games is the “last puzzle” in managing the competition during the Covid-19 pandemic. Potential attendances would depend on the size of venues, with V’landys conceding social distancing regulations will play a role in just how many people will be allowed in.
“In ANZ you might be able to get 20,000 with social distancing, whereas somewhere like Kogarah you might get 5,000,” he said. “I am only guessing these figures, but it is absolutely on the radar. That is the next challenge.”
The AFL, which will recommence on 11 June, is also reportedly putting into place strategies to welcome back fans should crowds be allowed back for the second half of the revised season.
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The Herald Sun reported crowd numbers could be gradually increased, with as many as 30,000 able to watch the grand final at the MCG on 24 October, if certain measures – such as socially distant seating plans, temperature screening, and staggered entry and exit – are employed.