Rugby league: Ticketek error leaves thousands of NRL fans massed outside stadium amid Covid concerns

Fans waiting outside Suncorp Stadium. Photo / News.com.au

Ticketek caused a Covid-19 nightmare for the NRL on Friday night after a system glitch created a social distancing farce at the Suncorp Stadium showdown between the Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders.

A failure in Ticketek's system impacted ticket machines nationally with both the NRL and the AFL's preliminary final at the Adelaide Oval both forced to lock out thousands of fans as a result of a system breakdown.

Angry fans and NRL commentators were fuming at being trapped in a congested crowd of thousands.

But what came next was even more concerning, with fans claiming they were then allowed into the stadium with all social distancing measures abandoned.

There were some claims on social media fans were barely screened by security on their way into the Brisbane venue after the match started with thousands caught trying to enter.

There were few signs of social distancing amongst Raiders fans at Suncorp Stadium. Photo / Getty

Triple M's Ben Dobbin said up to 20,000 had been caught in the shambles.

"Ticketek has crashed and there's 20,000 people stuck outside," he said.

Fox League's Andrew Voss said the game was even delayed to try to squeeze as many fans into the venue as possible before kick-off.

It clearly didn't help.

"There's some kind of ticketing crash, thousands of people are still outside," Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.

"They've delayed this as much as they can but for such a big game they can't be pushing it back too much."

Former Adelaide Crows coach Graham Cornes said the situation was not much better at Adelaide Oval where fans were caught out in heavy rain.

"Hundreds of people have been affected by Ticketek tonight," Cornes told SEN Radio.

"There's people standing outside in the rain at Adelaide Oval right now."

The Courier-Mail's Amy Price reported the situation in Queensland got worse when the gates were opened up and fans were ushered straight inside the venue.

Trying to get into Suncorp. Game starts in 4 minutes and we’re hardly moving. Disaster. #NRLStormRaiders pic.twitter.com/gxgrN7MO2i

— Amy Price (@amyprice21) October 16, 2020

Update: they let everyone in without scanning tickets and barely a bag check. Missed two tries and a wine, but I’m here. #NRLStormRaiders pic.twitter.com/b29TSHhpps

— Amy Price (@amyprice21) October 16, 2020

Some fans inside the venue were shocked at the sight of supporters charging into the venue after kick-off clearly violating the social distancing rules that saw the Queensland Government boost capacity for NRL finals held at the venue to 39,000.

Others described the scenes of fans packed outside the venue as a "complete shambles".

When ticketek crashes but then is fixed, social distancing doesn’t matter 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/sCrNLHz6dd

— Luke McGarry (@LukeMcGarry7) October 16, 2020

If there is going to be a #COVID19 outbreak it is going to happen at @Suncorp stadium tonight. Zero social distancing, zero direction from staff. Disgrace #NRL @qldhealthnews @NRL

— The Tea Man (@Teaman04) October 16, 2020

Ticketek later issued an apology. "Ticketek apologises to Storm and Raiders fans that were delayed getting into Suncorp Stadium tonight due to a technical issue," it said. "We also apologise to the NRL and Suncorp Stadium."