The Melbourne Cricket Ground could see up to 25,000 fans entering the stadium every day to watch the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia from December 26. The iconic stadium can accommodate 100,000 fans at a time.
Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, was released from a coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday, with retail and hospitality businesses opening their doors for the first time in months.
“We’ve been really clear with Cricket Australia and the MCG that we’ll make final decisions about numbers closer to the day, depending on the epidemiological situation that abides at the time,” he said.
“At this stage, (25,000) is what we believe would be the safe and appropriate number per day here at the MCG.”
The MCG also got locked in to host both international and domestic cricket for the next three summers. The ground will be the venue for the 2nd Test between Australia and India from December 26.
Melbourne Cricket Club Chief Executive Stuart Fox said it was pleasing to formally extend cricket’s association with the MCG for another three years.
“The MCG began its life as the Melbourne Cricket Club’s home ground in 1838, before moving to its current site in 1853 and has been home to a lot of firsts in the game of cricket from hosting the first ever Test match in 1877 between Australia and England, to the first century scored in Test cricket by Charles Bannerman, to hosting the first ever one-day international cricket match in January 1971,” Fox said.
“It’s pleasing that Victorian, Australian and international fans will be able to experience the magic of cricket at the MCG for a further three years.
