Perth’s Optus Stadium set to welcome up to 45,000 fans for AFL round three

With Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan having announced a scaling back of COVID restrictions, increasing numbers of AFL fans will be able to attend Perth’s Optus Stadium.

Fremantle’s first home game of the 2022 season on Sunday 27th March Optus Stadium will see the venue operate at 50% capacity with all attendees required to wear a mask while next weekend’s derby will be able to welcome up to 45,000 fans.

For this Sunday’s game, attendees over the age of 16 will need to show proof of vaccination or a valid medical exemption upon entry.

Beyond that, with Western Australia’s Level two public health measures, including capacity limits at major stadiums, being wound back next Thursday, the 3rd April derby will see Optus Stadium operate at 75% capacity, giving an extra 15,000 fans the opportunity to attend.

The change also means both the Eagles and Dockers will be able to cater for all of their seated members.

Speaking about the changes, Premier McGowan encouraged people to continue wearing masks, while also ruling out an immediate return to 100% capacity, commenting “we rely upon the health advice that if you spread people out a bit, you reduce the prospect of transmission.

“I would also suggest to people if you go to the football or those venues, you should wear a mask. It’s a wise precaution. And also we have proof of vaccination requirements for those venues.

“What you find with the football and those sorts of things is many people aren’t going because they don’t want to run the risk. So, even at a 75 per cent capacity level, it may not actually fill to 75% because a lot of people don’t want to run any risk.”

The announcement also comes as welcome news to the Perth Wildcats, Perth Lynx, Perth Glory, West Coast Fever and Western Force, and their home venues at RAC Arena, HBF Park and HBF Stadium.

The change means the last six Perth Wildcats home games can be played with all of their members who reserved seats at the start of the season in attendance.

Perth Lynx will also be able to have a larger crowd if they advance to the WNBL grand final.

Image: Optus Stadium staging the 2021 AFL Grand Final.