PORT ADELAIDE Chief Executive Keith Thomas has admitted he knew there were discussions being had about having supporters in the stands for Saturday night’s Showdown at Adelaide Oval last week, but says he thought it wasn’t going to happen when he hadn’t heard anything from the authorities this morning.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall on Tuesday afternoon announced that 2000 club Members and 240 corporate clients will be able to attend the Power’s home Round 2 clash against the Crows.
It was a welcome announcement for Thomas, who will now work through who gets to attend.
“Not so much surprised - we knew that the discussion was being had,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“The fact that I didn’t hear anything across the weekend, I probably came to work this morning thinking that it wouldn’t happen but we’re really pleased that it did.
“It feels really important. It’s only 2000 people in a pretty big stadium but it says progress.
“I think every opportunity we get to celebrate that in this sort of year I think we should take, so the opportunity to talk to 2000 supporters of South Australian footy and invite them to this game and for us to enjoy with them is a great day.”
Mr Thomas confirmed the split of tickets is a 1475 allocation to Port Adelaide Football Club Members, 475 to Adelaide Football Club Members and the remaining 50 to Adelaide Oval Members
240 corporate clients will also be allowed access to private indoor suites.
“As the host of the Showdown it’s fantastic to get as many of our supporters and members into the game as we possibly can,” the CEO said.
“The situation is slightly different given that it’s the only Showdown of the season because of the circumstances so I think the allocation reflects that.
“It would probably more heavily skewed Port’s way in a normal year but we think it’s a fair allocation.”
A ballot process will take place to determine who gets to attend.
Mr Thomas explained how the process will take place.
“It’s going to be a ticket of significance,” he said. “I think as we look back on this game and this year, it’s going to be one that you’ll want to keep. It’s always a game of significance but this one’s even bigger I think.
“The way we’re going to do it is that all of our eleven-game access members who have committed to 2020 – that’s about 90% of them – will go into a ballot and we will select the allocation out of that group.
“And then going forward, we don’t know how the season is going to pan out from here but the idea is that those people who can go to the game this week will go out of the ballot and then we’ll give other people the opportunity at the next game.
“That’s how we intend to play it but we have to stay nimble as we have all year.”
He also confirmed while it might sound “relatively sparse” in the 53,000 seater stadium with just 2000 people in attendance, there was no doubt the iconic Never Tear Us Apart anthem will ring out across Adelaide Oval just prior to the first bounce, as is customary at all Port Adelaide home games.
