Following an extensive review, Richmond and the AFL have decided to move the two AFLW home games at the Swinburne Centre to Ikon Park, due to capacity limitations.
The Club is anticipating large crowds to attend its home games at Punt Road, and due to recent construction around the facility, crowd capacity will be heavily reduced.
The construction of portable office space at the northern end of the ground was required to accommodate the Club’s administration and growing football program. This, along with the match-day compliance and broadcast requirements for AFLW games has reduced the ground’s capacity.
The Club’s priority has always been for as many members and supporters to have the opportunity to watch Richmond’s inaugural AFLW team compete, and enjoy their match day experience.
With this in mind, the Club will now play its Round 3 match v North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos and Round 7 game v Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park.
Richmond CEO, Brendon Gale said the fans’ enjoyment and safety during games at Punt Road underpinned the Club’s decision making.
“We want nothing more than to host AFLW games at Punt Road in 2020, but given our enormous membership base and the large crowds we’re expecting, our facility isn’t suitable right now to host AFLW matches,” Gale said.
“We want our AFLW games to be more than just a football match. The Club is planning family friendly activities and activations, and at present, we just don’t have the space for everything we want to do.
“We’ll now focus on creating a Richmond-like atmosphere at Ikon Park for our fans to enjoy.”
The Club is committed to continuing to work with the AFL, government and council, to address current crowd capacity issues, and will endeavour to host AFLW games at the Swinburne Centre in future seasons.
Richmond AFLW Home Games
Round 1
Rich v Carl
Friday, Feb 7
7:40pm, Ikon Park
Round 3
Rich v Kangaroos
Sunday, Feb 23
3:10pm, Ikon Park
Round 4
Rich v Geel
Saturday, Feb 29
3:10pm, Queen Elizabeth Oval
Round 7
Rich v Bris
Friday, March 20
5:45pm, Ikon Park
