Sport has become an expensive business, and the rises in liability premiums aren’t making things any easier. Melbourne stadium Optus Oval, for example, has seen its public liability premium rise in 12 months from $7000 to $95,000.

Ground Operations Manager Martin Shannon attributed the rise to the increasingly litigious nature of society.  “An increase in claims related to passive smoking and slip and trips has increased insurance premiums for gaming rooms and bars.”

Another to suffer huge rises is Somers Street Stadium, the home of the National Soccer League’s Melbourne Knights in the industrial enclave of Sunshine. The club has only recently been able to arrange new cover after GIO declined to renew the cover at the 2000/2001 season. The new cover came with a threefold increase in premium.

After a string of fiery incidents at the stadium during and after games throughout the season, Knights GM Rob Hrzic said the club has “struggled terribly” to find insurance.  The problem was doubled by the rise in premiums from $7,000 to $21,000.  “Some companies were asking ten times what we were paying with GIO,” he said.

Mr Hzric said GIO’s refusal to renew the club’s insurance was not a “knee-jerk reaction” to the string of violent incidents events at Knights Stadium. He believes the premiums offered by GIO could not cover high-risk public liability claims.

Sportscover Insurance MD Peter Nash said there is “no question” that far more public liability claims are being made. “Material risks haven’t changed, but the attitude of the people visiting stadiums has,” he said. “They expect a greater duty of care as soon as they go through the door.”  Sportscover includes among its clients the Sydney Cricket Ground and Brisbane’s main cricket venue, the Gabba.