A leading fight promoter considered holding a mixed martial arts card in an empty arena to broadcast online.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the recent coronavirus outbreak in the North West has quashed any thoughts of fighters delivering a product for subscribers to watch.
Legion Fightsports was set to stage its next promotion in Launceston in July.
Jacob Gelston has racked his brain to fight through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put a halt to sport, after the promoter told supporters on social media earlier this month to being "committed" and "optimistic" to the event.
Suggestions of fighters and referees only in attendance and without fans appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
"We were looking into the future that we could have been one of the few places in the world that potentially could have been able to fight and showcase to Australia and the world," Gelston said.
"People are craving sport and want to watch live action, but I can't see restrictions being lifted for us."
Gelston was waiting on advice from the Department of Sport and Recreation, but a lack of audience would really prevent streaming fights.
"There's potential for support on a local front, but not nationally or internationally unless you have big headliners, which we can't get at the moment because of [travel] restrictions," he said.
"We'd love to be able do it, but the costings behind it just wouldn't work."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT: Harper, Tyrrell lead Blues in 2020
Legion 13 looks certain to be postponed following its last promotion in February.
But Gelston also feared mixed martial arts in the state could be in a longer hiatus than COVID-19 is around.
"It's obviously been a real strain. We haven't said we're going to do our next event in July, but it's looking unlikely at this stage," he said.
"We run a gym, but people can't train for martial arts, so that's affecting us than not being able to run an event.
"There's no income stream there and on the other end of it when we can run our next event, financially I am not sure if we are going to get the same sponsorship support because there has been a strain on a lot of businesses."
Gelston, whose core work is as a personal trainer, has turned more to conducting live workouts on Facebook.
It coincides with his new website that delivers a home video workout program.
Both Bracknell and St Pats footballers have signed up to the live workouts.
"I'm potentially looking at other clubs to also keep their fitness up while we're all on isolation," Gelston said.
The former Bracknell big-game player, who had walked away after a 2017 grand final loss, said he has received a "lot of positive feedback".
"I can keep them accountable because I know who's doing the workouts, we can track them through heart-rate monitors and we can have some communal banter on team-morale building as well because we can interact through live chats," he said.
Subscriptions are available here.
Sign up to our Sport email here.