Sport and Recreation Victoria has agreed to the relocation of the AFL Grand Final from the MCG to Brisbane for one year, with that year to be added to the MCG’s decades-long Grand Final contract.
The Agency confirmed the 2020 AFL Grand Final is to be played at Queensland’s Gabba on Saturday, 24 October.
It said the AFL had agreed to schedule a start time that didn’t clash with the 100th running of the WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
“The coronavirus pandemic means it is impossible to plan with certainty for an event to be held with crowds in Melbourne in late October,” Sport and Recreation said.
“Accepting this situation, the Victorian Government acted to ensure that football’s greatest spectacle would not be denied a crowd while delivering more guaranteed games for Victorian supporters,” it said.
“Confirmation of the Grand Final date also means that the Government can lock in the popular AFL Grand Final eve public holiday for Friday, 23 October – a ‘Thank You Day’ for Victorians who have made so many sacrifices as part of the community effort to contain the spread of coronavirus.”
The Agency said the MCG first hosted the Grand Final in 1902 and under the terms of the new agreement with the AFL, the match would be played at the ground until at least 2058.
“In addition, the MCG has been guaranteed an extra two contracted games in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, taking the minimum number of AFL games at the ground in each year to 45,” it said.
It said the agreement also guaranteed Victoria would host the AFL National Draft in 2021 and 2022.
