Your Mable Can-do Guide for attending a cricket match with a disability at Sydney’s two home grounds: the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and ENGIE Stadium.
Many Australians go to the cricket for a great day out. For some, it’s a family tradition and for others, it’s a way to share their love of cricket with friends. Maybe you’d like to go for the chance to see your favourite team play or just for the thrill of a live game.
If you’re a cricket fan with disability, a big stadium outing can take a bit more planning. The good news is that both Sydney’s major cricket venues – the SCG and ENGIE Stadium – offer accessibility features that can help you feel more comfortable and supported on the day.
Here, experts from Cricket NSW share their tips to help you enjoy a great day at the cricket.
Cricket NSW wants more people to enjoy cricket, no matter their needs.
“For us, inclusion means doing what we can to support people with disability to attend cricket matches at Sydney’s two most popular cricket grounds, the SCG and ENGIE Stadium.”
The SCG has a ‘Disability Action Plan’ which means staff get disability-awareness training so they can help people with different support needs. ENGIE Stadium is a partner in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, so if you have extra support needs you can wear the sunflower lanyard to let staff know you might need extra help.
Now let’s look in a bit more detail at the accessibility features at each ground to understand how to get around on match day so you can enjoy your time at the cricket.
The SCG has many accessibility features to make your day easier and more comfortable like wheelchair and companion seating. This can be booked via the ticket seller’s accessible ticket line or online form. There are accessible toilets and ambulant cubicles, plus there’s accessible parking with dedicated drop-off and pick-up zones.
If you need it, there’s also a sensory room in the Clive Churchill stand, with staff available to help you access it. And don’t forget that your furry support friend is welcome to attend with the right harness and identification.
Features:
When you arrive you’ll find accessible parking, with some events offering shuttle services to make transport easier. There’s step-free access with ramps and lifts available, and you’ll find accessible seating on the concourse level with help from staff if needed.
The stadium also has accessible toilets, including Changing Places toilets, accessible food kiosks with low counters and quiet/sensory-friendly spaces.
Features:
It’s a good idea to book your cricket ticket early. It can give you more choice when it comes to accessible seating, as well as more time to plan for a great day.
For the SCG:
For ENGIE Stadium:
Tickets are sold on Ticketek or Ticketmaster. The process is the same for both.
Once you have your ticket, you can contact the stadium to let them know what help you might need. This is important if you need mobility assistance, wheelchair support or companion seating.
Contacts:
ENGIE Stadium - Contact the relevant team:
It’s a good idea to arrive as early as you can. This way you can avoid large crowds and make your entry and journey to your seat a bit smoother.
You can use the accessible gates and parking/drop-off zones. These areas are designed to be easier to access with trained staff available to help you.
Once you’re inside, both stadiums have stair-free movement with ramps and lifts. Remember, if you need help at any time, just speak to the nearest staff member. They’re there to make sure you have a great time.
There is another option if you’d like an extra hand on the day and that’s booking an independent support worker on Mable. They can support you in a way that suits you – whether it’s planning ahead, finding your seat, or simply having support alongside you as you watch every exciting ball bowled and shot hit.
This Mable’s Can-do Guide was created in collaboration with Cricket NSW. Content in these guides is general in nature, based on the experience of those interviewed, and may not be applicable to all.
