Rugby Australia's hopes of doubling Canberra Stadium's crowd limit for the Super Rugby AU grand final hinge on the outcome of an NRL showdown, with thousands of fans already hunting tickets to the decider.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has joined the chorus of people hoping the crowd cap, which sits at 3000, can be lifted to at least 6000 for the domestic rugby union decider on September 19.
But officials expect the number is unlikely to rise much higher than that, which is about 25 per cent of the venue's capacity, for what will be Canberra Stadium's first Super Rugby grand final since 2004.
ACT Health officials will assess the Canberra Raiders' looming clash with the Sydney Roosters before making a final call on increasing the crowd limit, with risk assessments to be made in a bid to combat any potential COVID-19 outbreaks.
Brumbies members will be given the first chance to secure seats on Monday, with thousands of non-members already on a wait list in the hope of salvaging what is left when tickets go on sale to the general public.
MORE BRUMBIES NEWS
- The loudmouth and the kid: Meet the ACT's new odd couple
- 'They don't come around often': Brumbies push for final crowd boost
- Tevita Kuridrani faces Jordan Petaia in a Wallabies audition
- Nic White set to make his first Brumbies start in five years
- Dan McKellar calls on 'one of the best in the world' for Reds clash
The ACT has gone two months without a new COVID-19 infection, with territory chief health officer Kerryn Coleman set to make the final call on crowd numbers.
A "very confident" Coleman has provided a further exemption for a bigger crowd this week, after the Brumbies and Raiders both welcomed crowds of about 3000 a week prior.
"I'm very confident. Things went very well last weekend, so we've got one final trial of 3000 this weekend," Coleman said.
"If all goes well, we will be looking at the results of that trial next week, and I think we will be able to step up to the next level which is up to 25 per cent."
Exemption requests for events at Canberra Stadium are considered in line with the public health situation at the time, as well as taking into consideration risk assessments taken from each event that has already taken place.
Brumbies officials hope to have clarity surrounding their ability to welcome more fans into the stands on Monday after Coleman has reviewed the Raiders' NRL clash.
"It's the fun of a COVID landscape that we've got to reverse engineer, just in case things get wound back to 1500 or 3000," Brumbies manager of commercial operations Gavin Hunt said.
"Basically you've got to sell in blocks of 1500, 3000, and then hopefully 6000. The first 1500 are guaranteed seats if it does get wound back at any time due to additional COVID restrictions.
"We'll be on sale to members from Wednesday, and we've got a couple of thousand people on a wait list for non-members that would like tickets. Those on the wait list will be given priority over general public sales.
"Wait list sales will start on Monday the 14th, and general sales on Tuesday the 15th, if there's anything left."
SUPER RUGBY AU ROUND 10
Saturday: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies in Brisbane, 7.20pm.
Brumbies squad: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Darcy Swain, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Nic White, 10. Bayley Kuenzle, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Lachlan McCaffrey, 21. Ryan Lonergan, 22. Len Ikitau, 23. Solomone Kata.
Reds squad: 1. Harry Hoopert, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15. Jock Campbell. Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. JP Smith, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Hunter Paisami.