NRL braces for empty stadiums, fan separation over coronavirus threat
By Adam Pengilly
March 6, 2020
Fans could be isolated in different parts of stadiums - and even locked out altogether - under contingency plans being developed by the NRL as it braces for the coronavirus outbreak to spread further.
The governing body is leaving nothing to chance with its risk minimisation strategy for the global health crisis, and will rely on the federal government to decide whether NRL matches are played in empty or sparsely populated venues.
NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks has been sending almost daily emails to all 16 club chiefs with the latest coronavirus updates and guidelines and there is now less than a week remaining until the season begins with Parramatta and Canterbury to play at Bankwest Stadium next Thursday night.
A leading executive from English Premier League football club Everton has warned it is "inevitable" matches in one of world sport's most lucrative competitions will be played in front of no fans "within weeks" and pre-game fair play handshakes have already been banned there from this weekend.
The situation is not dramatically worse in the United Kingdom than it is in Australia. As it stood on Friday, there were 116 confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK and 60 in Australia.
While Australia's chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, urged Australians to monitor coronavirus updates and carry on with their daily lives, the NRL has fast-tracked plans to deal with a COVID-19 escalation.
The NRL is planning ahead to combat the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.CREDIT:AAP
The NRL and AFL have been in daily contact with both state and federal health authorities and will refer a decision on whether matches go ahead to Canberra's lawmakers.
NRL officials have discussed the possibility of separating supporters in different pockets of the ground if numbers are restricted. Another scenario would be matches played in front of empty grandstands.
The potential financial fallout for all 16 clubs of a restriction or ban on spectators would be varying, but high-drawing clubs such as the Broncos and Eels would be expected to suffer a loss in gate takings.
Other clubs with smaller attendances wouldn't be as adversely affected and the NRL has been analysing the fiscal impact of a major downturn in crowd numbers.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-br ... 547hs.html
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