TELSTRA Dome boss Ian Collins has ruled out any changes to the no-passout policy at the stadium and yesterday denied he had spoken to AFL boss Andrew Demetriou about relaxing the system.

Collins told The Sunday Age he had not spoken to Demetriou since the AFL chief executive's comments on radio last week suggesting he would seek changes that could allow patrons to leave the stadium during games. Collins described the issue as "a dead duck".

"He (Demetriou) knows exactly what we're doing and what we're not doing," Collins said.

"I don't know what Andrew said, but it seems a futile exercise to put people on gates so (patrons) can go out and kick footballs on the concourse or for people to go out and have a smoke or buy food elsewhere.

"We don't mind them buying food elsewhere before and after the game … but we've got to run a business and we've got to protect that business, it's pretty simple."

The rule change prevents patrons from leaving the stadium during the game, while smokers are given use of outdoor cages.

Collins said he would adhere to a policy of eliminating passouts and wanted "to be able to run our business as we see fit" without interference.

"We're not being supported by the government, we're not getting handouts, we've got to run a business and be competitive like everybody else," he said.

"All the (AFL) clubs share in the revenue from the stadium, they're not sharing revenue from third parties 50 metres away on the concourse."

Most people surveyed by The Sunday Age outside the stadium before last night's game disagreed with the policy.

Lorien, from Yarraville, said it created difficulties when trying to arrange when and where to meet people outside the stadium.

"I need to go inside but I can't because once I do, I'm not allowed back out and that's just unfair."

Nicola, of Point Cook, thought it might help improve security and said it didn't bother her because "I'm here to watch the footy, not to go anywhere else".

But, others like Barry, from Launching Place, disagreed with the policy because it prevented them from buying food outside the stadium. "We like to go outside, we prefer the food outside and feel we should have a choice," Barry said. "I never buy the food inside, it's too expensive."