Some Canberra's sporting venues are poised to throw open the doors and return to full capacity by the end of the month in a major coup for summer codes.
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The Canberra Times can reveal sports venues in the city will be allowed to operate tiered and fixed seating at 100 per cent capacity pending ACT Health advice in a boost for the Canberra Capitals, Canberra United, and Cricket Australia.
Capitals games at the National Convention Centre and any matches at Canberra Stadium will be able to operate at full capacity, but Manuka Oval and Viking Park will have density limits placed on their general admission grass areas.
Thoroughbred Park will on Tuesday host Canberra's biggest event since the ACT went into lockdown, welcoming 1000 people through the gates for the capital's first horse racing event since August to coincide with Melbourne Cup Day.
Capitals general manager Lucille Bailie says the club has received word areas with fixed and tiered seating within venues will operate at 100 per cent capacity from November 26.
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It means the Capitals will be granted the chance to host a full house at the National Convention Centre in their first home game since clinching back-to-back WNBL championships in March 2020. Canberra basketball fans have been starved of live action after the last season was played entirely within a north Queensland hub.
But Manuka Oval and Viking Park will likely begin their summers at a reduced capacity given they both have grassed areas to complement grandstands.
"From November 26 onwards, areas with fixed and tiered seating, which is that whole grandstand area at NCCC, capacity is at 100 per cent," Bailie said, with the Capitals' first home game slated for December 12 against Sydney.
"We have to pre-register the event and everyone has to use the check-in app, but we can fill every seat in that grandstand which is unreal. It's about 1600-1700 people, bodies in chairs, plus some mobility-friendly wheelchair spaces.
"We get that stage area as well, it depends on how you configure it and there are probably some specific restrictions there because it's not that fixed tiered seating.
"We're hugely optimistic about packing the NCCC out nine times throughout the season. When you stop and think, keeping stuff in context, it's been such a hard and challenging period.
"But it's so nice to be one of the first sporting codes out of the box and bring back an experience that we just know people love. It absolutely impacts the team performance. There's a lot to get excited about, we're in the box seat and we value that opportunity."
Fans may have to wear masks when attending games at the National Convention Centre, pending ACT Health advice, given it is an indoor venue.
Indoor theatre-style venues, such as the National Convention Centre, with fixed and tiered seating can operate at 100 per cent of fixed seating capacity. Density quotients do not apply for unfixed seating areas when performances are being held, noting venues may not be able to maintain one person per two square metres in lobby and bar areas when operating at 100 per cent capacity.
Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval can operate at 100 per cent of fixed seating capacity. A one person per two square metres rule is to be applied to any unfixed seating areas. The Sydney Thunder face the Brisbane Heat in a BBL game at Manuka Oval on December 6, before internationals take place later this summer.
Other outdoor venues such as Viking Park, where Canberra United open their A-League Women's season against Melbourne City on December 3, can operate at 100 per cent of any fixed seating capacity for each space. A rule of one person per two square metres is to be applied to unfixed seating areas, excluding staff. Events with more than 1000 people require an exemption.
Similar rules apply at Exhibition Park in Canberra, where events with more than 2000 people will require an exemption.
There will likely be an ongoing requirement for events to be ticketed or pre-registered to supplement ACT Health's contact tracing methods if required.
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