FRIDAY night’s AFL Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval will be the venue’s biggest event for the year, with the iconic grass hill in front of the historic scoreboard to host patrons for the first time since Summer.
The Stadium Management Authority (SMA) on Friday urged those attending the match to arrive early, without bags if possible and to have their digital tickets ready to present at the gates to ensure a smooth entry.
The venue unveiled the special crowd pods that will be used to manage the crowds on the hill in keeping with COVID-19 protocols and to allow contact tracing.
Port Adelaide Executive General Manager, Matthew Richardson was on hand to witness the pods being set up, and said he was excited to see a crowd in excess of 25,000 in attendance on Friday night.
“It’s a really exciting time and thanks to the team at Adelaide Oval,” he said.
“They’ve been fantastic all year to provide our members the opportunity to come and support the team.
“To have a home Preliminary Final and to have the Adelaide Oval hill, I’ve never seen it looking so magnificent, it’s just really exciting for our members and fans to come and support the team on Friday night.
“Being a big night, Friday night, we ask all of our people to plan ahead, be organised, just to ensure they get here into the stadium with plenty of time for not only the start of the game but the iconic Never Tear Us Apart and all of the energy that’s going to be inside the stadium.”
SMA Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Daniels said it seemed like a very long time since the hill had been open to the public, and since the Oval had hosted such a big crowd.
“For tomorrow night’s game we are expecting the biggest crowd since the Queen concert back on the 26th of February,” he explained.
“We will have 26 pods built on the hill, each for 20 people to enjoy the game.
“There’ll be extra security and admission requirements for each of those lucky people.
“All the pods are sold out and it will really add to the atmosphere of what will be an absolutely incredible game.”
Mr Daniels reiterated Mr Richardson’s remarks about supporters arriving early and prepared for the increased crowd.
He also revealed the Victor Richardson gates on the Oval’s south-east would be open for the first time this season to help get people into the venue quicker.
“With the number of people coming to the event, we do ask you come early, please ensure that we maintain all our COVID protocols at all times and keep everyone safe,” Mr Daniels said.
“The earlier people get here; the smoother entries can be.
“We also ask you not to bring a bag if you don’t need one and have your ticket ready and open on your mobile phone.”
Gates open at Adelaide Oval at 5:30pm with first bounce at 7:20pm.
