The Grand Final is heading to Queensland and the Gabba for the first time in VFL/AFL history and attention is now naturally turning to how tickets will be allocated.
Under a COVID-safe model, the usual 37,000-seat stadium will be reduced to a capacity of 31,000, with competing club members given first access to attend the match.
Unlike like a normal Grand Final at the MCG, where a large portion of tickets are allocated to corporates, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed members and general supporters would be prioritised for the historic event.
McLachlan also said he was hopeful of making some tickets available to non-members through a general public sale.
“I think 31,000 are able to go (to the Grand Final at the Gabba) and high 20,000 will go to non-corporates,” McLachlan said on SEN Breakfast.
“We will prioritise members first and then hopefully there’s a public sale after that. There’s a couple of scenarios where all the tickets are taking up by members but we’ll certainly be prioritising members and the public.”
The scalping of tickets to major events such as the Grand Final has long been a bugbear of fans and McLachlan said he would be working with local authorities to ensure all tickets were sold at face value.
“I must say I don’t know the anti-scalping legislation in Queensland as well as maybe I will," he said.
“We want our members and supporters to get there and be charged (the normal price). We are certainly opposed to scalping so that will be worked work with the local government and police force.”
The Grand Final, which will be the first ever to be held under lights, will take place on Saturday, October 24.
You can listen to the full interview below