AFL to shun well-received NFL ring of steel entrance

THE AFL has no plans to replicate the NFL’s campus-style perimeter fencing of the MCG for this year’s Grand Final.

The NFL’s Friday takeover of the MCG precinct for the 49ers-Rams game saw a “ring of steel” set up away from the stadium to enable seamless entry without queuing at the gates.

It was a set-up largely well received.

But the AFL has decided it won’t follow the same path, mindful of shutting out fans not fortunate enough to have a ticket to the season finale.

The league’s mantra has long been accessibility and affordability and it doesn’t want to shut fans out of its expanding footy festival in Yarra Park from Wednesday of Grand Final week.

Friday’s Grand Final parade also finishes inside Yarra Park, with more than 150,000 expected in the area on match-day eve.

Adding to the complexity in repeating the NFL’s strategy is the MCC and AFL Reserve gates.

But regardless, the AFL’s view is that it doesn’t want to restrict the experience to 100,000 ticket holders by following the NFL’s model.

League chiefs are, however, expected to work with the MCC and Victorian Government in reviewing how the NFL system worked.