The cost of moving broadcast equipment to Canberra for a standalone game at "closed" Manuka Oval could force ACT government and GWS Giants officials to reconsider their capital schedule.
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The global coronavirus pandemic is forcing sports to overhaul their schedules, with the AFL to play all matches behind closed doors indefinitely.
The decision was made after Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised any non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from Monday.
The Giants are due to play against the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval on April 3, which will be the first of three games in Canberra this season.
But the fact fans won't be allowed to attend, which will reduce an economic impact in Canberra, and television equipment will need to be moved from Sydney or Melbourne could prompt a rethink of whether the game is still played in the city.
There are no immediate plans to change the game, but Giants officials will likely speak to the AFL and ACT government this week.
The government and the Giants are locked in negotiations about extending their 10-year partnership beyond 2021.
The Giants have already cancelled one match in Canberra this year, moving a pre-season game away from Manuka Oval because the venue was booked for the women's Twenty20 Cricket World Cup.
The government is hoping to strike another long-term deal to keep AFL content in Canberra for the coming years.
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
