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More seats for finals
20 March 2004 Herald Sun
By Grantley Bernard
MCC OFFICIALS are confident the ground will accommodate 80,000 fans for this season's Grand Final.
Because of the redevelopment at the northwest end of the MCG, the ground will only hold about 67,000 people when the AFL season opens next Friday night between Richmond and Collingwood.
But the venue will gradually increase capacity to 70,000 when the roof is completed on the replacement for the Ponsford Stand and will be up to 80,000 for the Grand Final.
"The plan is clearly there," MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said of reaching the Grand Final goal. "As we put more roof up, we get more seats online."
The redeveloped MCG will eventually hold more than 100,000 people after the 2006 Commonwealth Games, but the general public will only have access to about 40,000 for the first few months of the footy season.
Of the 67,000 seats initially available, about 13,500 will be allocated to MCC members and about 13,500 will be for AFL members, who will occupy a reduced section of the Great Southern Stand.
With the demolition of their historic pavilion, the MCC members will this season be located in the new western section of the ground, where the Ponsford stand used to be.
"You'll always have difficulties with a partly renovated house, so there'll be some no-go areas, but that's OK," Gough said.
"I think it will be better than it was for cricket."
The MCC members will occupy the first two levels of the new stand, but the top tier will remain unused until the roof is fitted and each section is given the all-clear under occupational health and safety regulations.
"Occupational health and safety issues are paramount and the work must proceed according to those requirements," Gough said.
Fans who have bought seats in advance of Friday night are encouraged to collect them early.
here
20 March 2004 Herald Sun
By Grantley Bernard
MCC OFFICIALS are confident the ground will accommodate 80,000 fans for this season's Grand Final.
Because of the redevelopment at the northwest end of the MCG, the ground will only hold about 67,000 people when the AFL season opens next Friday night between Richmond and Collingwood.
But the venue will gradually increase capacity to 70,000 when the roof is completed on the replacement for the Ponsford Stand and will be up to 80,000 for the Grand Final.
"The plan is clearly there," MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said of reaching the Grand Final goal. "As we put more roof up, we get more seats online."
The redeveloped MCG will eventually hold more than 100,000 people after the 2006 Commonwealth Games, but the general public will only have access to about 40,000 for the first few months of the footy season.
Of the 67,000 seats initially available, about 13,500 will be allocated to MCC members and about 13,500 will be for AFL members, who will occupy a reduced section of the Great Southern Stand.
With the demolition of their historic pavilion, the MCC members will this season be located in the new western section of the ground, where the Ponsford stand used to be.
"You'll always have difficulties with a partly renovated house, so there'll be some no-go areas, but that's OK," Gough said.
"I think it will be better than it was for cricket."
The MCC members will occupy the first two levels of the new stand, but the top tier will remain unused until the roof is fitted and each section is given the all-clear under occupational health and safety regulations.
"Occupational health and safety issues are paramount and the work must proceed according to those requirements," Gough said.
Fans who have bought seats in advance of Friday night are encouraged to collect them early.
here