Another Subscriber only article from the HS
MCG parking ban for blockbusters over terror fears
Peter Rolfe, Sports Affairs Reporter, Herald Sun
March 13, 2018 7:15pm
Subscriber only
CARS will be locked out of the MCG precinct for AFL blockbusters and other major sports events this year, due to fears of terrorist attacks.
No public parking will be available outside the ground in Yarra Park for marquee matches including next week’s season opener between premiers Richmond and Carlton.
The Anzac Day blockbuster between Essendon and Collingwood, a rugby league State of Origin clash in June, and this year’s AFL finals series will also be no-parking events.
The move is a safety measure to keep fans away from cars in the wake of European terror attacks using vehicles to target crowds.
Cars will be locked out of the MCG grounds for blockbusters. Picture: Tony Gough
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox admitted the changes would inconvenience some fans, but he said they would also reassure the public they were safe attending sporting events in Melbourne.
“Ongoing events around the world and closer to home clearly demonstrate that we need to minimise the risk of *interactions between vehicles and pedestrians, especially in crowded places such as outside the MCG,’’ he said.
“The safety of all MCG visitors is our number one priority. This is a natural progression of the measures implemented at the MCG and at other venues in recent years.”
Public parking will also be scrapped at Melbourne’s Anzac Eve match against Richmond, Essendon’s Dreamtime at the ’G clash with the Tigers, and Collingwood’s Queens Birthday match with the Demons.
Some other games will see restricted parking. And an 80m exclusion zone will be set up between vehicles and the stadium, reducing parking availability to approximately two-thirds of capacity or about 2000 cars.
The traditional tailgate BBQ in the car park on Grand Final day is a thing of the past.
Similar measures were introduced during the recent summer of cricket and for last year’s footy finals.
Mr Fox said the MCC had worked with the AFL and Victoria Police to strike the right balance of safety and access.
He said: “We understand that some patrons will be *impacted by this decision and we have made arrangements to cater for as many vehicles as possible, in particular for the mobility impaired.”
A limited number of car spaces will be available for *disability permit holders, emergency service workers and authorised pass holders on days public parking is banned, subject to capacity.
Fans have been encouraged to use pubic transport to get to and from the MCG. “Our strong advice to footy fans is to take public transport to the MCG if possible,’’ Mr Fox said.