Adelaide Oval, Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and Brisbane’s Lang Park to host State of Origin
Adelaide Oval will host the opening game of rugby league's State of Origin series. Photo: AAP
The NRL has finalised the venues for this year’s State of Origin series, with Adelaide Oval to host game one on Wednesday, November 4.
It will be the first time Adelaide will host a match in the rugby league state of series, which has been delayed from June to November because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city has, however, played host to numerous VFL/AFL State of Origin games.
The last one, between South Australia and Western Australia, was held at the now-decommissioned Football Park in 1998.
Game two of the NRL Origin series will be held at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, November 11.
Lang Park in Brisbane will be the venue for the final game in the series a week later.
Now in its third year, the Women’s State of Origin will be held on the Sunshine Coast on November 13, moving from North Sydney Oval for the first time.
The 2020 #Origin series will kick-off in Adelaide for the first time in history after the #NRL today finalised venues for the Men’s and Women’s series.
Details – https://t.co/n6mQkCIs7q pic.twitter.com/UGB0KtC4LA
— NRL (@NRL) September 15, 2020
Events South Australia executive director Hitaf Rasheed said she hoped Adelaide’s event would draw visitors from other states.
“We’re still hoping that thousands of people will travel to South Australia for the game and it’s great news that the ACT border is open today,” she said.
“Queensland, of course, is open and we’re hopeful that New South Wales will open shortly … so we’re still hoping for thousands of people to travel.”
Crowd capacities for each venue will be finalised before the end of the month.
November 13. Sunshine Coast Stadium. Lock it in 🎉#Origin FAQs – https://t.co/yFKj27tlhc pic.twitter.com/6uRz65dd6p
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) September 15, 2020
However, Ms Rasheed said she was excited at the prospect of the Adelaide game going ahead in front of a large crowd.
“The NRL have had approval for 50 per cent capacity [at the games] … that’s 26,750 people [at Adelaide Oval], so we are looking forward to welcoming those people into the stadium,” she said.
Details about the Origin’s coronavirus bubble conditions and duration are yet to be finalised but the Rugby League Players Association, NRL and state leagues need to reach a conclusion by next week.
–ABC/AAP
