Over 52,000 people were packed into the stadium
Australia has just held the most-attended sporting event since the onset of Covid-19 – a rugby league fixture between Queensland and New South Wales.
The State Of Origin fixture is arguably the biggest occasion on the rugby league calendar. Despite Covid-19 and its decimation of live sporting events across the globe, the 2020 edition proved no different.
Over 52,000 people were jam packed into the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for the hotly-anticipated match-up.
Queensland ran out eventual winners, toppling New South Wales by 20 points to 14.
Over 52,000 people saw Queensland beat New South Wales by 20 points to 14. (Photo: Getty)The attendance of 52,000 was a little greater than the 46,000 people in attendance last month for a rugby union match between New Zealand and Australia at Auckland’s Eden Park. New Zealand won 27-7, although the All Blacks have stumbled as of late, losing to Argentina at the weekend.
Rugby league in Australia has provided the setting for most of this year’s biggest sporting attendances.
37,303 were in attendance for the NRL Grand Final in Sydney, while 36,212 watched the Blues’ game-two State Of Origin match in Sydney. In Aussie rules football, just under 30,000 people saw the AFL Grand Final at the Gabba.
In Britain, authorities hope fans can return to the terraces at some point in December.
Football’s bigwigs have held promising talks with the government around the topic of allowing fans back into stadiums. This is expected to fall in line with the government’s tier system.
Football clubs have experienced financial turmoil since Covid-19 hit Britain, with EFL clubs on the receiving end of a bailout to prevent them from liquidation.
The government’s culture secretary Oliver Dowden held a recent virtual summit with leaders from the FA, Premier League, EFL and anti-racism charity Kick It Out regarding a safe time-frame for allowing spectators back into stadiums.
