Tickets to the Sir Doug Nicholls Round games in Darwin are SOLD OUT
All the match day information for the Toyota AFL Premiership Season Round 13 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round) games at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Friday 21 August 2020 and Saturday 22 August 2020.
Gold Coast SUNS vs Carlton
Friday 21 August – Round 13
7:20pm ACST
TIO Stadium, Darwin
Essendon vs Richmond - Dreamtime in Darwin
Saturday 22 August – Round 13
7:15pm ACST
TIO Stadium, Darwin
Sir Doug Nicholls Round
Season 2020 marks the fourteenth year the AFL has celebrated the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and their contribution to Australian Football and is the fifth year the dedicated round has been named in honour of Sir Doug Nicholls.
Sir Doug Nicholls was born on Cummeragunja mission in New South Wales in 1906. He played football for Fitzroy before becoming a Pastor and pioneer for reconciliation in Australia. He then went on to become the first Indigenous person to be Knighted and hold the position of Governor of South Australia.
Gate times for both nights
Bonson Gate (airport end) opens 5.30pm
Ah Mat Gate (McMillan's Rd end) opens 5:30pm
Scoreboard Gate opens 5:30pm
Club training sessions
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no club training sessions open to the public.
Tickets
Both games are SOLD OUT. There will be no tickets available at the gate.
General Admission wheelchair and accessible areas – flat ground available in the tiered area of the Family Friendly Area and adjacent to the Scoreboard Bar.
These spots are on a first-in, best-dressed basis, all other Grandstand wheelchair and accessible tickets were sold directly from NTix.
What is the capacity for the games?
In accordance with the NT's Chief Health Officer signing off on our COVID Event Plan, our capacity at TIO Stadium is 5,461 patrons for each game.
What is the TIO Stadium seating map?
Click here to download the map of TIO Stadium.
AFL Live on the Big Screen
In conjunction with Activate Darwin, the Darwin Waterfront and City of Palmerston there will be two live sites for the community to enjoy both games.
Darwin Waterfront lawns
Goyder Square, Palmerston
There is a big screen at each location, as well as plenty of food and drink options, so all you need to do it pack your picnic blanket, sit back and relax.
Picnics are also welcome, no glass or BYO alcohol.
For more information visit the AFLNT article here.
Entry Restrictions/Prohibited Items
| Allowed? | Item |
| YES | All ages |
| YES | Food |
| YES | Non-alcoholic drinks |
| NO | Alcoholic drinks |
| NO | Eskies |
| NO | Glass |
| NO | Cans |
| NO | Cameras/recording devices |
| NO | Umbrellas |
| YES | Chairs (nominated areas only) |
| NO | Shade devices |
In the interest of public safety, all patrons entering the ground will be subject to security and bag checks. There will be separate queues for those who do not have bags or do not require a bag check.
Please follow the instructions of TIO Stadium staff and security and allow plenty of time to enter the ground and pass through the checks.
Chair Zone
Patrons with General Admission tickets are able to bring their own folding chairs but must set these up behind the nominated white lines in General Admission areas.
Important times to know - Gold Coast SUNS vs Carlton - Friday 21 August
Gold Coast SUNS run on – 7:04pm
Carlton run on – 7:07pm
Larrakia Welcome to Country by Richard Fejo – 7:16pm
Coin toss – 7:18pm
Gold Coast SUNS vs Carlton STARTS – 7:20pm
Yirrnga Yunupingu and band – Half-time
Important times to know - Essendon vs Richmond - Saturday 22 August
Yirrnga Yunupingu – 6:42pm
Essendon run on – 6:53pm
Richmond run on – 6:56pm
Larrakia cultural ceremony and Welcome to Country by Richard Fejo – 7:08pm
Coin toss – 7:13pm
Essendon vs Richmond STARTS – 7:15pm
Yirrnga Yunupingu and band – Half-time
Best on Ground Yiooken Award – Post-game
About the performers, artwork and awards
Larrakia People: are the traditional owners of Darwin. Today they are a vibrant Aboriginal nation numbering around 2,000 people. Larrakia are broadly recognised for their strengths in performance, music and art and the cultural dance they will perform at the Dreamtime in Darwin game is known as the Wunymalang Ghost Song. Les Huddleston is playing the didgeridoo.
Yirrnga Yunupingu: Yirrnga Yunupingu will commence the Dreamtime in Darwin pre-game celebration with the song ‘Sweet Arnhem Land’ and ‘My Kind of Life’. He will also perform at half time with ‘We Rise’ and ‘Mainstream’. At half time of Friday night's game he will perform 'Sweet Arnhem Life' and 'My Kind of Life'.
Destined to be a Gumatj song man at an early age, Yirrnga grew up at a place called Beach camp Yirrkala North East Arnhem Land. The epicentre of traditional song and dance, a place steeped in ceremonial history, a place where manikay (songlines), bungul (dance) and rom (law) are performed and passed down to the next generation within, the strict guidelines of kinship (gurrutu).
Yirrnga Yunupingu demonstrated his capacity as a front man singer. And it wasn’t long before elders chose this kid, with the big voice that would resonate into the future.
In the last couple of years alone, the band (Yothu Yindi) has played packed out shows at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, Byron Bay Blues fest’s Crossroads stage and the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
He is performing alongside Arian Pearson (guitar) and Kevin Yunupingu (didgeridoo).
Richard Fejo: A leader and a proud Larrakia "Saltwater" man. He is a recognised Elder of the Fejo Family group. One of the families that make up the Larrakia People.
Best player – Yiooken Award: Each year, the player judged best on ground in the Dreamtime match is awarded the Yiooken Award. Yiooken is a word from the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people which means dreaming.
This year the Yiooken Award has been gifted by the Larrakia people. It is a beautiful wood carving of the saltwater crocodile which is one of the main totems within the Larrakia family groups.
Artwork on the big screen/old scoreboard: A piece by Shaun Lee and Trent Lee, it is an interpretation of a Welcome to Country and of a Smoking Ceremony.
Traffic Management
Traffic is one way on Abala Road from 4.00pm on each game day. Please obey all directions from traffic managers and drive to changed conditions.
Access via Dante Road
Dante Road, which runs from McMillans Road and behind TRL Stadium/Warren Park (rugby fields) and onto Abala Road will only be opened for buses to drop passengers and make a U-turn. All other pedestrians from McMillans Road are encouraged to enter via Marrara Drive, approximately 600 metres towards the airport.
FREE Public Transport
AFLNT and Buslink are pleased to offer ticket holders to this weekend’s AFL matches free rides from Darwin city, Palmerston and Rural areas (Humpty Doo and Coolalinga) to get to and from games at TIO Stadium.
Buses travelling from Casuarina to the game will be charged at the normal fee but are free on the return from the game.
Be sure to show your AFL ticket to your bus driver to take advantage of this offer.
The bus drop-off pre-game and the pick-up post-game will be midway down Dante Road, which runs behind Warren Park (rugby field).
*Please see the full bus timetable here for more details.
Car parking
Free parking is available at the Bonson Gate car park (airport side of complex), Marrara Indoor Stadium, the Hockey complex car park and TRL Stadium on a first in best-dressed policy.
Parking on verges is not permitted.
Disabled parking is available at the Bonson Gate car park (airport side of complex).
VIP parking is available at the Bonson Gate car park (airport side of complex, pass holders only) and at the Ah Mat Gate car park (McMillans Road side of complex, pass holders only).
Strictly NO PARKING along McMillans Road.
Public toilets
Level 1 (outside TIO Stadium office)
Level 2 (grandstand patrons only)
Level 3 (corporate guests only)
General Admission areas (behind Family Friendly area and behind Scoreboard Bar)
AFL Record
AFL Records are available for purchase inside all three gates - $5.00 per record.
Lift Access
There is a lift available outside the TIO Stadium office – it goes to Level 2 (grandstand) and Level 3 (corporate).
Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the lift is limited to two (2) guests at a time.
Food & Beverage Outlets
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Grass concourse before Oval 2 (various food, soft drinks and alcohol options available)
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Level 2 – main bar, one wing bar, public canteen and BBQ stall (Grandstand patrons only)
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Level 3 – Corporate guests have catering included (corporate guests only) and Kantilla’s Members’ Bar will also have the option to purchase pies and sausage rolls
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General admission – near Oval 2, behind Family Friendly Area and next to the Scoreboard Bar
ATMs
All food and beverage outlets accept EFTPOS but for specific ATMs:
- 1 x ATM near Scoreboard Bar in outer
- 1 x ATM near the Public Bar in the Grandstand
Merchandise
Merchandise for competing clubs on both nights will be available at the Intersport marquee from 5pm on the grass area before Oval 2, adjacent to food and beverage and ATMs.
Family Friendly Area
Located at the airport end of the Stadium.
There is strictly no alcohol available for purchase or permitted in the area.
Accommodation offer with Club Tropical
Save 20% of resort rooms and 30% off apartments when you book with our preferred accommodation supplier, Club Tropical Resort. Use the promo code: AFLDREAMTIME. Phone 08 8944 8500 to book and see the flyer here for more details.
Arena Access
There is no arena access at any stage of the night.
Anti-social behaviour
Report it to NT Police (base near the Bonson Gate), or to security who are located at all gates and at various areas around TIO Stadium. Or report via SMS to 0432 211 081.
Smoking
TIO Stadium and the MLLLC are smoke-free zones. Smoking areas are available next to each of the three entrance gates (Bonson, Ah Mat and Scoreboard).
What if I bought tickets through a reseller/unauthorised site?
We are sorry to hear you have purchased tickets via an unauthorised website. These websites are unofficial ticket resellers and the authenticity of your purchase cannot be verified by us. The only authorised ticketing agent for the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season games in Darwin is www.NTix.com.au.
Other websites have no official connection or affiliation with AFL and have not been authorised or licenced by the AFL to utilise AFL Intellectual Property in the manner described. We have sent a cease and desist letter to these websites but we strongly advise you read the terms and conditions and contact the on-seller directly for a refund.
What are your COVID-19 related policies for TIO Stadium, Darwin?
Special terms and conditions (TIO Stadium COVID Event safety advice below) apply due to COVID restrictions – patrons are advised that NO tickets will be available for sale on the day and must be pre-purchased.
You acknowledge that, even with rigorous capacity and control measures in place at AFL matches, there remains an unquantifiable risk of transmission of viral illness including COVID-19 at an AFL match at this time and you have considered that risk and your own personal circumstances, including any health condition or vulnerability that you may have or that of persons whom you will be in close contact with following your attendance at an AFL match. You acknowledge that, for a small number of people, COVID-19 has very serious health consequences. By attending an AFL match, you (and any persons who attend the match with you) acknowledge and accept these obvious risks.
What if I feel unwell before the game?
Please get in contact with us via AFLNT@afl.com.au ASAP before the game, where we can arrange a refund.
Why is it important that I submit my details and know who I am buying tickets for/giving tickets to?
It is a condition of entry to these games and part of our COVID Event Plan that we are able to contact trace any patron who attends the games. Please enter correct details and be aware of who you are purchasing or giving tickets to.
What is the TIO Stadium COVID Event safety advice?
It's great to welcome fans back to TIO Stadium. We have collaborated with NT Health and NT Police to put in place measures to ensure events are as safe as possible.
To a certain degree, these measures will only work if everyone plays their part in keeping TIO Stadium COVIDSafe.
We need you to:
- Stay home if you are feeling unwell and get tested for COVID-19.
- Stay home if you have had any contact with a person from any NT Government Declared hotspots in the last 14 days.
- Limit the number and size of bags you bring and have any bags ready for inspection as you approach your entry gate. This will make security checks faster and safer.
- Arrive early to help avoid congestion, gates open at 5pm.
- Your ticket to the game is also your ticket to FREE travel on dedicated Buslink services departing from Palmerston, Humpty Doo and Darwin. Make getting to and from the game easy, leave the car at home. A full bus, service will run despite restricted crowd numbers, to increase capacity and assist with physical distancing efforts. Visit the AFLNT website for more details.
- Have your phone with your ticket ready to go when entering the stadium, finding your seat and scanning out of the stadium (no paper pass-outs).
- Be mindful of others when moving in and around the Stadium and maintain appropriate physical distancing at all times.
- Follow signage and directions of event day staff and all Stadium announcements and messaging.
- Sit in the reserved seat or area allocated to you. Standing areas are not available in the Grandstand.
- Practice good hygiene at all times – keep up the hand washing/use of soap, as well as sanitiser. Always cough/sneeze into your elbow. Bring your own hand sanitizer.
- Payment for food, beverages and Merchandise is by card (preferred). Take your refreshments back to your seat to consume.
- If you can, use the stairs. Lift usage will be restricted to people with mobility needs and a maximum of 2 people at any time.
- Try to avoid touching stair rails, door handles and other touch points – sanitise your hands after this and use hand sanitiser before eating.
- Patrons with special access requirements seated in the Maurice Rioli Grandstand will need to use the lift located near the Bonson gates/ AFLNT Stadium Office.
- At the end of the game, please remember to respect others and keep your distance from other people at all times. As you leave, try to avoid touching handrails, doors and other touch points.
- At the end of the game, patrons are reminded that there may be requirements to stagger departure times. Please listen carefully to all TIO Stadium announcements.
- We encourage you to download and use the Government's COVIDSafe app and make sure it’s up and running before you leave your house.
- If you develop any cold or flu symptoms after the match PLEASE get tested for COVID-19.
Read Conditions Of Entry To An AFL Venue For Match Or Event.
We hope you have a great time at TIO Stadium and thank you for playing your part