We are excited to be welcoming live sport back to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.
Arrangements for this year’s Test will look different to what we are accustomed as we operate in line with Victorian Government COVID-19 guidelines to ensure that all patrons can attend the MCG in a safe way.Already secured tickets to the Boxing Day Test? Click here for information about attending the Reserve.
If the below questions do not answer your query, please contact the Club by phone on 03 9657 8888, via email at membership@mcc.org.au or use the Live Chat function to the bottom right of your screen between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
MEMBERS’ RESERVE QUESTIONS
Will I be able to sit with my friends in the Members’ Reserve at the 2020 Boxing Day Test?To operate within our current COVIDSafe guidelines, the Victorian Government has approved the MCG to operate with a capacity of 30,000 for each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test.
This, therefore, means the Members’ Reserve will also operate at a reduced capacity of approximately 30 per cent. To assist in adhering to social distancing requirements, each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test will be fully ticketed right across the Ground including the Members’ Reserve, so every member entering the Reserve will require a pre-booked ticket that includes seating details.
There will be no walk-up opportunity for members during the Test. Only members who have secured seating for a specific day will have their membership card activated for entry.
The entire MCG will be broken into five zones and everyone attending the Boxing Day Test will be allocated a zone. The zones are to assist MCG management and the Victorian Government in contract tracing. Once in a zone, match attendees will not be able to cross into another zone for any reason. There will be partition fencing installed to help with the management of zoning.
Once members are in the Reserve, they will not be able to cross into other zones of the Ground.
I want to register as a group, can I do this?
Yes - if you wish to attend as a group, you must register for tickets together, with up to a maximum of six per registration. If successful, your group will be assigned to a row in the Members’ Reserve and you will be required to socially distance from other groups of members within your row.
How much are tickets?
Visitor Ticket Prices
Adult Visitor Ticket – $65.00*
Junior Visitor Ticket (ages 6 to 14) – $25.00*
Junior Visitor Ticket (ages 1 to 5) – Complimentary
* A transaction fee of $7.40 will apply for transactions that include visitor tickets.
If I missed out on a ticket for the day I registered in, can I still find tickets for the remaining days?
The ballots for Day 3 and 4 are now cancelled. Additional ticketing for Days 1 and 2 and the access allocation for Days 3 and 4 will be available through a first in basis on-sale process on Friday December 18 at 9.00am AEDT.
Please see updated eligibility* below:
Day 1 – Saturday December 26
- All Full and Restricted members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes eligible members with tickets to any other day of the Test.
Day 2 – Sunday December 27
- All Full, Restricted and Provisional members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes members with tickets to any other day of the Test.
Day 3 – Monday December 28
- All Full, Restricted and Provisional members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes members with tickets to any other day of the Test
- All members also have the ability to purchase 1 visitor ticket.
Day 4 – Tuesday December 29
- All Full, Restricted and Provisional members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes members with tickets to any other day of the Test
- All members have the ability to purchase up to 2 visitor tickets.
*Please note, members must be financial for 2020/21 in order to be eligible to access tickets
Do I get an allocated seat, how does the Club ensure that members are social distanced?
Seating will be randomly allocated across all levels to successful members. If you are successful in securing a ticket, you will be assigned a section and row - not a specific seat within a row – you will then be required to physically distance from other groups of members within your row. Ideally you keep a seat or two between the next set of people in your row. Rows will not be fully allocated to allow for physical distancing.
Will all MCC members be able to access the 2020 Boxing Day Test, or will it only be Full Members?
We are pleased to advise that there will be an additional allocation of members’ tickets for all days of the Boxing Day Test made available on a first-in, first-served basis on Friday December 18, at 9am AEDT via Ticketek.
Following the Victorian Government’s announcement that crowd capacity will increase to 30,000 for each day of the Test, the Club has updated access arrangements in order to allow more members to attend.
Provisional members are now entitled to attend Days 2–4 of the Test, with the ability to purchase one visitor ticket for Day 3 and up to two visitor tickets for Day 4.
Members of all categories who have already secured tickets to the Test are now able to obtain tickets for other days.
Please see updated eligibility* below:
Day 1 – Saturday December 26
- All Full and Restricted members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes eligible members with tickets to any other day of the Test.
Day 2 – Sunday December 27
- All Full, Restricted and Provisional members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes members with tickets to any other day of the Test.
Day 3 – Monday December 28
- All Full, Restricted and Provisional members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes members with tickets to any other day of the Test
- All members also have the ability to purchase 1 visitor ticket.
Day 4 – Tuesday December 29
- All Full, Restricted and Provisional members and Annual Guest Card Holders
- This includes members with tickets to any other day of the Test
- All members have the ability to purchase up to 2 visitor tickets.
*Please note, members must be financial for 2020/21 in order to be eligible to access tickets
Can I visit a friend during the lunch break of the 2020 Boxing Day Test who is sitting in a different area of the ground?
Unfortunately no – to help management in adhering to COVIDSafe protocols and contact tracing, once members are in the Reserve, they will not be able to cross into other zones of the Ground.
The entire MCG will be broken into five zones and everyone attending the Boxing Day Test will be allocated a zone. The zones are to assist MCG management and the Victorian Government in contract tracing. Once in a zone, attendees will not be able to cross into another zone for any reason. There will be partition fencing installed to help with the management of zoning.
Do I have to pay a booking fee for the allocated seating ticket in the Members’ Reserve?
There are no booking fee costs incurred to eligible MCC Members for the Boxing Day Test. This has been waived by the Club for the Test.
However, there are fees to purchase visitor tickets and a transaction fee will apply for transactions including visitor tickets:
Adult Visitor Ticket – $65.00*
Junior Visitor Ticket (ages 6 to 14) – $25.00*
Junior Visitor Ticket (ages 1 to 5) – Complimentary
* A transaction fee of $7.40 will apply for transactions that include visitor tickets.
Will I be able to consume alcoholic drinks in my seat at the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
Yes - due to members not being able to drink or socialise in bars, alcoholic beverages will be allowed to be consumed in your allocated row.
Will 50-Year members still have access to the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
Yes – but aligned with the COVIDSafe members’ arrangements for the 2020 Boxing Day Test, our 50-Year members will need to follow the process of securing an entry ticket.
Due to this new model, the 50-Year dedicated seating section will not be in use this year. The John Landy Room will also not available for the Boxing Day Test.
Will reserved seating be required in the Reserve for the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
Yes - each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test will be fully ticketed right across the ground including the Members’ Reserve, so every member entering the Reserve will require a pre-booked ticket that includes seating details. There will be no walk-up opportunity for members during the Test. Only members who have secured seating for a specific day will have their membership card activated for entry. There will be no additional cost to eligible members when successful in the ticketing ballot with the Club has agreed to meet all associated ticketing fees and costs. However, there are charges for visitor tickets.
If I am successful in obtaining a ticket and then unable to attend can I transfer my ticket to another member?
No - your ticket cannot be transferred to other members as their membership card will not be valid for entry. Only members who have secured seating will have their membership card activated.
I’m a member over the age of 60 and don’t want to attend the match due to my high risk with catching COVID. Am I eligible for a further discount if I opt out of attending the match?
No - subscription fees are not linked to event attendance and the Club has already applied a 30 per cent discount to this season’s fees to recognise the impacts of COVID-19 and the 2019/20 Australian Bushfires.
Will there be dining ballots for the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
Yes - there will be the ability for members that are successful in securing a ticket to the Test to register for a range of hospitality options. Dining options available for the Boxing Day Test include the Members Dining Room, Long Room, Committee Room, Jim Stynes Grill, Hugh Trumble Café and Tower 6. You will be able to register to book a table for up to 10 members (all of whom have been successful in the ticket ballot) in each of these dining spaces. All amenities in the Members’ Reserve will have reduced capacities in accordance with COVIDSafe guidelines.
Specific dining information will be emailed to members who have successfully secured a ticket/s to the Boxing Day Test.
What other food and beverage options will be available in the Members’ Reserve?
Outside of the dining options in the Members’ Reserve, members will also be able to pre-book a hamper designed by acclaimed Melbourne chef Adam D’Sylva. Food and beverage options at bars and outlets will operate as take-away and patrons are asked to consume their items from their assigned row. This means that members will be able to consume alcoholic beverages in their assigned row throughout the duration of the match. More information about member dining and hospitality options will be communicated to members successful in the ticket ballots.
Will I be able to go into the Members’ Reserve if I have dining tickets in the Jim Stynes Grill?
No - if you register in the dining ballot and are successfully allocated into the Jim Stynes Grill, you will have an assigned seat inside the room and therefore will not be able to leave the zone you are located in. Therefore you will not be able to go into the Members’ Reserve or any other zones within the venue.
Will the Test match breakfast functions be held?
No - due to Victorian Government regulations and the importance of delivering a COVIDSafe venue, the Club has decided the traditional Boxing Day Test breakfasts will not be held in 2020.
COVIDSafe MEASURES
How is the MCC/MCG ensuring patrons remain safe from COVID-19 while attending the matches?The MCC has developed a COVIDSafe plan alongside Cricket Australia that has been endorsed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Chief Health Officer. The plan has been designed to enable members and fans to safely attend the Test with a total attendance of 30,000 per day of the Boxing Day Test. The health and safety of members remains our number one priority and prevailing conditions guide implementation of the plan.
Will masks be required at the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
Yes - current Victorian COVIDSafe protocols will be in place for the 2020 Boxing Day Test. The health and safety of members remains our number one priority and prevailing conditions will guide implementation of the guidelines.
What are the social distancing requirements at the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
To operate within current COVIDSafe guidelines and physical distancing requirements, the Victorian Government has approved the MCG to host 30,000 on each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test.
This therefore means the Members’ Reserve will also operate at a reduced capacity of approximately 30 per cent. To assist in adhering to social distancing requirements, each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test will be fully ticketed right across the ground including the Members’ Reserve, so every member entering the Reserve will require a pre-booked ticket that includes seating details. There will be no walk-up opportunity for members during the Test. Only members who have secured seating for a specific day will have their membership card activated for entry.
Once members are in the Reserve, they will not be able to cross into other sections of the Ground. The entire MCG will be broken into five zones and everyone attending the Boxing Day Test will be allocated a zone. The zones are to assist MCG management and the Victorian Government in contract tracing. Once in a zone, match attendees will not be able to cross into another zone for any reason. There will be partition fencing installed to help with the management of zoning.
The MCC’s COVIDSafe plan has been endorsed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Chief Health Officer and prevailing conditions will guide implementation of the plan.
How will you manage queues getting into/ out of the stadium on the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
The MCC has developed a Department of Health and Human Services and Chief Health Officer endorsed COVIDSafe plan that outlines the entry, exiting and queuing at the MCG for the 2020 Boxing Day Test. On top of the reduced capacity at the venue, an important contact tracing measure in place for the Boxing Day Test is the five zones the MCG will be broken into. This is to ensure cohorts of patrons are contained to assigned areas to minimise interactions.
What happens if there is a COVID-19 case found at the match after the game?
The MCC’s Department of Health and Human Services and Chief Health Officer endorsed COVIDSafe plan outlines procedures to manage any potential cases COVID-19. Protocols have been developed to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 at the MCG. The health and safety of Victorians will be the number one priority and prevailing conditions will guide implementation of the plan. More information about this will be communicated in the lead-up to the Test match. The COVIDSafe plan will include contact tracing measures to be able to quickly respond to any potential cases including the use of the Victorian Government’s QR code process. One of the important contact tracing measures in place for the Boxing Day Test is the five zones the MCG will be broken into. This is to ensure cohorts of patrons are contained to assigned areas to minimise interactions.
What happens if the 2020 Boxing Day Test crowd capacity reduces/ game moves due to a new outbreak between now and the match?
The health and safety of all Victorians remains our number one priority. The MCC works closely with Cricket Australia and the Victorian Government and will make decisions and announcements in line with prevailing conditions. The capacity of the MCG has risen to 30,000 for each day of the Boxing Day Test.
Will there be hand sanitiser readily available at the MCG?
Thanks to the MCG’s official disinfection partner, Dettol, hand sanitising stations will be set up throughout the stadium for patrons to use. While there will be over 250 stations throughout the Ground, patrons are also encouraged to bring in their own, portable hand sanitiser when possible. Further information regarding hand sanitisers and all MCG COVIDSafe protocols will be provided closer to the event.
Will the seats, outlets, etc. be thoroughly cleaned between each day of the Test?
Yes – the MCC has developed a Department of Health and Human Services and Chief Health Officer endorsed COVIDSafe plan which outlines continuous and thorough cleaning through the MCG. Cleaning teams will be dispatched throughout the venue to clean during the 2020 Boxing Day Test and a full clean of the venue will occur at the conclusion of each day’s play.
What protocols will security guards/ MCG staff members be following on the day?
The health and safety of Victorians remains our number one priority and a MCC COVIDSafe plan, endorsed by the Department of Health and Human Services and Chief Health Officer, has been developed to ensure the continued health and safety of all staff members and visitors to the MCG.
All staff members working at the MCG for the 2020 Boxing Day Test or non-event days will be adhering to protocols set out in the MCC COVIDSafe plan.
Will there be a way I can call to report breaches of COVIDSafe protocols (i.e.: someone not wearing a mask) at the 2020 Boxing Day Test?
Yes – we’re here to help! The health and safety of all visitors to the MCG remains our number one priority and is unpinned by the developed of the MCC’s COVIDSafe plan endorsed by the Department of Health and Human Services and Chief Health Officer.
You can advise us of any issues via the following channels:
Members
Facebook: @MelbourneCricketClub
Twitter: @MCC_Members
Instagram: @MCC_Members
membership@mcc.org.au
mcc.org.au
Live Chat function on the MCC website (available Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm AEDT).
Public
Facebook: @MelbouneCricketGround
Twitter: @MCG
Instagram: @MCG
contactus@mcc.org.au
mcg.org.au
General
(03) 9657 8888
CAPACITY
How many people will be allowed in the stadium each day for the 2020 Boxing Day Test?The Victorian Government has announced that each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test will have a total attendance of up to 30,000. The health and safety members remains our number one priority and prevailing conditions will guide implementation of the plan.
What percentage of the attending Boxing Day Test crowd will be MCC members?
To operate within current COVIDSafe guidelines, the Victorian Government at this stage has approved the MCG to operate with up to 30,000 for each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test.
This therefore means the Members’ Reserve will also operate at a reduced capacity of approximately 30 per cent.
Why do some general public visitors get to go to the 2020 Boxing Day Test at the MCG whilst some members miss out?
Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MCC is committed to ensuring the 2020 Boxing Day Test operates in line with current Victorian Government guidelines so all patrons can experience the MCG in a safe way while also prioritising members’ access to the Reserve.
While it is exciting to have major events return to the MCG, the Club has put a series of arrangements in place to adhere to health advice and ensure as many members as possible have the opportunity to attend the match. As a result, access entitlements and arrangements for this Test match will be significantly different to what members have experienced in the past.
To operate within current COVIDSafe guidelines, the Victorian Government has approved the MCG to host up to 30,000 for each day of the 2020 Boxing Day Test.
This therefore means the Members’ Reserve will also operate at a reduced capacity and will have a capacity of approximately 30 per cent.
Already secured tickets to the Boxing Day Test? Click here for information about attending the Reserve.