Anger over access with broadcasters in MCG wheelchair zone

Seven and FOX Footy will be forced to broadcast from new positions at the MCG for the remainer of the Round 1 after fans Darren Cunningham and his son James, who both use wheelchairs, bought level four general admission tickets for Thursday night’s Richmond-Carlton match.

But upon arrival the blue-painted wheelchair zone on which the TV networks had set up was not offered as a ticketed area.

The AFL and Melbourne Cricket Ground became aware of the problem after the pair tweeted their disappointment.

.@7AFL and @FOXFOOTY have taken two whole blocks of wheelchair seating at @MCG tonight

Instead of unimpeded view of the entire ground on Level 4, tonight we get the back of crowd heads on Level 1

Disabled fans like @CripsyAU & I deserve better#AFLTigersBlues #AccessMatters pic.twitter.com/FsCpSDy2wp

— DarrenWheels (@DarrenWheels) March 16, 2023

The men were later given spots close to the area on level four in which they had originally hoped to sit.

According to the AFL, the FOX Footy studio was on Thursday night moved from its 2022-season location to be side by side with the Seven studio — the first time this has happened.

AFL communications boss Jay Allen said, “Unfortunately, two patrons purchased standard seating with the assumption an area would be free to utilise, however during marquee games over the last number of years, some of these areas are utilised by our broadcast partners for the telecast. When it is unavailable you cannot purchase tickets to access it, however this is done on the basis that there are similar accessible seats elsewhere in the venue.

“Once we were made aware of the two patrons not being able to access the area, MCC staff immediately acted and moved the two patrons to an alternative accessibility access area to view the game.

“Today the AFL, MCC and broadcaster partners have come together to find an immediate solution, being both broadcasters not utilising this area for the rest of the round, and it will be available for patrons who may require it.”

Media claim an agreement was reached between the league, the MCC, Seven and Fox Footy for the studios not to be used for the rest of the opening round of the season. The parties will meet next week to find a solution to the problem.

Updated: A FOX Footy spokesperson told TV Tonight it was “allocated by venue / the AFL. We are completely directed by them as to where we set up.”

Seven has also been contacted for comment.

The @MCG and the @AFL are under fire from fans in wheelchairs after disabled spots at last night's blockbuster were taken up by sports media crews | @jordy_wright #AFL pic.twitter.com/iDOb3G3alX

— 10 News First Melbourne (@10NewsFirstMelb) March 17, 2023

Source: ABC, news.com.au, 10 News First

This post updates