Stadiums will be allowed to re-open from December 2 with 4,000 fans allowed in Tier 1 areas

974

View
comments

A handful of sports fans will be allowed back to watch live action once the national lockdown ends on December 2. 

But the good news for supporters has been tempered by strict varying limits on stadiums in different geographical areas, depending on which tier each venue is in and its capacity, with Premier League clubs possibly forgoing the right to have fans back inside.

And fans may also be barred from singing, shouting or drinking alcohol when they are allowed to return.

The government will allow the lower number of 4,000 spectators – or 50 per cent of a stadium’s capacity – for outdoor events in Tier 1 areas. For indoor events in Tier 1 the maximum allowed will be the lower of 2,000 or 50 per cent of capacity.  

In Tier 2 areas, each of these numbers will be halved. So for outdoor events in Tier 2, a maximum of 2,000 spectators – or 50 per cent of capacity, whichever is lower – will be allowed. For indoor events the lower number of either  1,000 fans – or 50 per cent of normal capacity – will be allowed. 

Areas that will go straight into Tier 3 however will still have to adhere to a ban of attending sporting events for all fans. 

Sportsmail revealed last week that the Department for Culture Media and Sport has submitted proposals to the Cabinet Office for the return of fans to grounds in December for the first time since March.

In his statement detailing the long-awaited return of spectators to live sporting events, Boris Johnson said: ‘In Tiers 1 and 2 spectator sports and business events will be free to resume inside and outside with capacity limits and social distancing.’ 

Mr Johnson also said outdoor grassroots sports and indoor sports facilities like gyms would be able to reopen.

He did warn, however, that at the end of lockdown more towns, cities and local authorities would be placed in higher tiers than before. The tiers for each region will be announced on Thursday.

Strict rules on travelling between regions in different tiers will also make it difficult for many fans to attend, even if they are one of the lucky ones to get a ticket.  

Following today’s statement by the Prime Minister to the House of Commons, MPs will vote on his proposals later in the week.

Elite sports have continued behind closed doors during the four-week lockdown, while grassroots and amateur sport were stopped from 5 November.

Many sports and individual clubs were blindsided by today’s announcement, and will now be rushing to allow fans in as soon as their tier rating allows. 

Premier League clubs could reject the chance to welcome fans back into their grounds next week due to concerns over cost and the absence of a roadmap towards full capacity crowds.

Sportsmail has been told that while their operating costs vary, all 20 top-flight clubs would lose significant sums if they admitted even the maximum number of 4,000 fans that the Government announced on Monday — a limit that is unlikely to be permitted in large areas of the country.

The Premier League defied the Government in September by cancelling planned test events due to unhappiness at a Downing Street-imposed capacity cap of 1,000, which they deemed uneconomic, and some of their clubs could do so again.

The Premier League responded today with a statement, one which suggested they feel the measures do not go far enough.   

‘Fans have been greatly missed at Premier League matches and therefore we welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today regarding the return of supporters for the first time since March, albeit at small numbers, the statement read.

‘Our ambition remains to work with Government to increase attendance to more substantial levels. Until this can be done, many fans will be unable to attend games and our clubs will continue to operate matches at a financial loss.

‘Our priority continues to be the agreement of a roadmap, with DCMS and the Sports Technology and Innovation Group, for pilot events that can help our clubs quickly scale up to larger capacities in line with the Sports Ground Safety Authority’s COVID-secure guidelines and beyond.

‘Premier League clubs have a proven track record of achieving high-biosecurity standards and we believe we can play a significant role in the Government’s rapid turnaround testing initiative.

‘We look forward to working with Government on their next steps.’  

The Premier League have also written to each club outlining new measures for when grounds reopen.

The document, sent to top-flight sides on Saturday, states: ‘This may include singing, shouting and alcohol consumption.’

Meanwhile, the English Football League are just one body looking at ways to maximise the return of fans. 

Sportsmail understands one possibility is to move fixtures to Wednesday so that clubs can take advantage of the changing rules and bring fans in. 

However, until the government announces the new tiers on Thursday, no decisions can be taken. 

A statement released by the EFL read: ‘The EFL welcomes today’s decision by the Government to allow the return of supporters, capped at 4,000 in tier 1 and 2,000 in tier 2 when the national lockdown ends next week. We now look forward to the re-opening of some EFL Club stadiums as we finally welcome back fans after eight long months away.

‘Whilst today’s news is subject to regional restrictions, it is an important step in achieving a return to normal, alongside it being crucial to addressing the  significant revenue gap left by a lack of spectators and other revenue streams as a result of the pandemic.’

Haydock Park race course is due to host a meeting on December 2, and could be the first live sporting event with spectators. But with Liverpool in Tier 3 before this recent lockdown, that may nor happen, 

There are three other meetings scheduled for December 2:  at Kempton Park and Lingfield both in Surrey and Ludlow in Shropshire.

The sport staged two pilot events at Warwick and Doncaster in September and would feel comfortable about hosting spectators as soon as possible.  

The most high-profile event planned for December 2 is Manchester United’s Champions League tie against PSG at Old Trafford. Previously, United have said they are ready to host 23,500 fans at their home stadium.

The following night Rapid Vienna’s visit Arsenal. 

However, Sportsmail understands that clubs have not yet been contacted by government about the plans to return fans to stadiums, so no decision has yet been taken about whether fans will be admitted. 

United reacted to the news on Monday evening through a spokesperson, who said: ‘We welcome today’s announcement from the Government and we reiterate that we are ready to welcome fans back to Old Trafford as soon as it is safe to do so. 

‘We will now work through the detail of the plan with the relevant authorities and await the announcement on the local restriction levels.’

Another club source said: ‘Clubs are in the dark over exactly what it will mean and are scrambling for as much information as possible.’

However, clubs at all levels of professional football have done a huge amount of preparation for the return of supporters, including making sure their stadiums are equipped for cashless payment, planning for staggered arrivals and social distancing in grounds.

‘It is really positive news,’ said Burnley chief executive, Neil Hart.

‘It is a starting point and what we have been waiting for. I hope we can embrace it and build upon it.

‘We are waiting to see what tier we end up in. If we are in tier two, we will look to mobilise and get 2,000 fans in.’

Burnley’s first game after lockdown is lifted on December 2 is at home to Everton on December 5.

However, clubs want to know how the admission of fans will develop. In Burnley’s case around 10,000 fans are needed for the club to break even on a game.

‘There has to be a road map for me,’ said Hart. ‘How we might ramp it up, linked to infection rates.

‘It would be really good to see a road map, to see how we get fans back in at full capacity, that has to be the primary objective.’

Like Burnley, Coventry City also need to hit the 10,000-fans mark to break even for a home game,   

Their chief executive Dave Boddy, said: ‘It’s a start. It’s all I can say. It is expected that Birmingham will be tier three, which would mean no spectators.

‘You do need more than 2,000 or 4,000 in the stadium to make it viable. It’s a start and we will then prove we can make it work.

‘It does bring back some atmosphere. It gets spectators back in to the stadium and they’ve not seen live football since March.’ 

While football will welcome a return of fans, clubs are anxious that the government sets out a roadmap for increasing the numbers of spectators. At large stadiums, a few thousand fans would mean they are still running at a significant loss.  

Rugby union had also been hard hit by the absence of fans but received the largest amount from the £300m government bail-out announced last week, but some of England’s fixtures may be allowed to bring fans back in.

Bristol Bears’ clash with Northampton Saints at Ashton Gate could be the first Premiership fixture to welcome fans back in.

The news is timely however given that Macclesfield Town were wound up more than two months ago – strengthening fears other clubs may follow suit in the coming months.

The 146-year-old National League outfit, relegated from League Two last season, were forced into liquidation at a High Court hearing on Wednesday over debts totalling £500,000 and became the first club to fold during the pandemic.

It is understood at least ten EFL clubs will need an emergency loan to pay staff this month, with another ten thought to be teetering on the brink in December. 

But it is not just those lower down the pyramid who are suffering immeasurable losses, with current Premier League leaders Spurs projecting that their revenue will drop by over £150million if they cannot welcome fans back.

In previous test events, Brighton hosted 2,524 fans in a preseason friendly against Chelsea and nine games in the EFL were limited to 1,000 fans.

Leyton Orient chief executive Danny Macklin welcomed the potential return of fans, tweeting: ‘ Sounds good news regarding a return of fans – obviously we all await government guidelines on what tier @BreyerGStadium will be in. 

‘News when we have it probably later in week @leytonorientfc’.

Fans will be allowed into stadiums for the first time in NINE months… but what are the rules? How do you get a ticket? And can you have a pint while watching a game? Everything we know, and DON’T know, about today’s huge announcement

Sports fans have received the news they have waited months for – stadiums will re-open from December 2 when the current Covid-19 lockdown in England is eased.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the country will return to the tier system of coronavirus restrictions early next month and sports venues in tiers one and two will be permitted to admit a limited number of spectators.

But how will everything work and how many people will we actually see inside stadiums next month? Sportsmail answers your questions.

What is the news?

The government is announcing that fans will be allowed to return to watch outdoor sport in England once the national lockdown is lifted on December 2.

Supporters have been banned from watching most elite sport at stadiums and events since the coronavirus pandemic gripped Britain in March.

The ban has hit sports hard financially, with clubs still incurring costs, but suffering from much reduced income.

Now, the government says a maximum of 4,000 fans are set to be allowed at outdoor events in the lowest-risk areas when the national lockdown ends.

Up to 2,000 fans will be allowed in tier two areas but zero in tier three.

The measures are set to be part of the new Covid-19 restrictions in England. Elite sport has continued behind closed doors during England’s four-week lockdown, but grassroots and amateur sport has been halted since 5 November.

When will it be announced?

The announcement will actually be spread over a couple of days.

On Monday, Boris Johnson was set to tell the House of Commons that fans will be allowed to return to elite sport, but it is dependent upon the level of infection in the area where the stadium or event is located.

Sport taking place in Tier 1 areas will be allowed to admit up to 4,000 spectators, those in Tier 2 will be allowed 2,000 and in Tier 3 no fans will be allowed.

The infection rates in parts of Britain remain stubbornly high and we will not find out which tier different areas will be in until Thursday November 26.

Only then will we find out which sports events will be open to supporters.

Who are likely to be in Tiers 1 and 2 and have fans back?

There will be discrepancies between different parts of England as to where spectators can return to sporting events and it will all depend on which tier they are placed into post-lockdown.

The full breakdown of which parts of the country are going into which tier will be announced on Thursday ahead of the end of lockdown next week and will be reviewed on a fortnightly basis.

It depends entirely on the weekly infection rate and, as such, will remain a fluid situation.

As it stands, sporting venues in London, the south and East Anglia are most likely to be in Tier 1 or Tier 2 and see stadiums re-open to fans.

The Midlands, north-west and north-east appear to be the most likely to be placed into tier three restrictions, meaning stadiums will remain closed.

So it could well be that London-based Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham can begin to allow a few thousands fans back but the likes of Manchester United, Leicester City and Newcastle cannot quite yet.

Even this might not be the case however, as top-flight clubs could reject the chance to bring fans back in. 

In any case, it is impossible to say with any certainty before the tiers are announced on Thursday.

What are the rules for fans entering stadiums?

A lot of work has been done to test approaches to the safe return of fans and this, combined with the findings of the government’s Sports Technology and Innovation Working Group, will be used to inform best practice.

National guidance is set out by the Sports Ground Safety Authority, which is used to inform local Safety Advisory Groups, made up of local authorities and the emergency services, in order to plan for events.

Sports venues work with their safety advisory groups in order to be certified safe to host events and it is this level conditions are agreed.

Nine test events were held in the EFL in the summer and one in the Premier League, a preseason friendly between Brighton and Chelsea, which was staged at the Amex Stadium in front of 2,500 supporters.

It was a great success and many of the rules in place that day have been adopted in national guidance.

The rules included:

• Distancing on the approach to the stadium to avoid crowds, as well as on concourses inside
• Masks to be worn everywhere except when seated, however that is expected to change and masks will probably have to be worn before, during and after a match
• Fans will have to carry photo-identification so the club knows they are the person who bought the ticket and they can be contacted in the event of a coronavirus outbreak
• Supporters will have to sanitise their hands on the way in and out of grounds
• Each fan sits alone, although some test events allowed a ‘family bubble’, with seats either side vacant and one row left empty between supporters, which allows stewards to manage the game more easily

Unique branding was produced by Brighton in mint green for Covid-related information. This was used to communicate with fans before the game and at the match, so they knew what to expect and what to do.

Fans at the Amex were asked to give way to supporters climbing the stairs to their seat (because they would be exhaling more heavily) and turn away from others when passing them.

In addition, the Government’s Sports Technology and Innovation Working Group is looking at other initiatives, such as the possibility of mass testing of supporters so only those who test negative attend the match.

Other clubs anticipate they will stagger arrival times, possibly over a two-hour period, to reduce congestion.

What are the first events after the easing of the rules where we will see fans?

The sporting calendar has continued apace even during this latest lockdown and there are certainly plenty of events in many sports throughout December.

If organisers are able to move quickly enough, and their venues are in the correct tier, we could even see fans admitted to events on December 2, when lockdown lifts.

Manchester United host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at Old Trafford that evening, while there are Championship fixtures scheduled at Blackburn Rovers, Luton Town, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe.

There are also afternoon race meets at Haydock Park, Lingfield Park and Ludlow, plus an evening meet at Kempton Park.

The following day – December 3 – sees the Europa League game between Arsenal and Rapid Vienna at the Emirates Stadium, while Friday December 4 sees the Championship match between Barnsley and Bournemouth at Oakwell.

The EFL are also considering bumping their midweek games from December 1 to Decemeber 2 in order to let fans into games as soon as possible.  

Also that night is the Premiership Rugby fixture between Bristol and Northampton Saints at Ashton Gate.

So in theory, all of these events could have some spectators, but as mentioned it will depend not only on the tier restrictions for each area but how quickly clubs and organisers can mobilise logistically to allocate and distribute tickets and put in arrangements for social distancing.

As it stands, clubs have not yet been contacted by Government about the plans to return fans to stadiums.

What sports are the biggest winners from this?

No sport will turn down the opportunity to make some much-needed money from ticket sales and other matchday revenue at the moment.

Cash-strapped clubs in the lower reaches of the EFL and in non-league football will breathe a sigh of relief at the news.

We have already seen Macclesfield Town, relegated from League Two last season, forced into liquidation over debts totalling £500,000 and it was feared more clubs in the EFL and below could fold.

It is understood that at least 10 EFL clubs will need an emergency loan to pay their staff this month and another 10 thought to be approaching financial ruin in December.

So for them, the opportunity to get a few thousand back inside their stadiums will be a lifeline.

However some clubs may feel somewhat peeved if they are placed in a higher tier while other rivals can welcome fans back in, with the extra financial and morale boost that will bring. 

How will fans travel to the stadiums?

The new tier system does come with guidance on how to travel.

If you’re in tier one, the advice is to walk or cycle if possible and to avoid travel into tier three areas unless it’s necessary for work, education, medical appointments, youth services or caring responsibilities.

In tier two, you’re advised to reduce the number of journeys made where possible and not travel into tier three areas unless necessary.

And in tier three, you should avoid travelling outside the area unless it’s for those reasons outlined.

It seems certain that clubs will advise fans to travel to their games on foot, by bicycle or in cars and avoid crowded public transport, but that won’t be an option for everyone.

The restrictions may prevent fans who live in tier three areas travelling to a stadium that is in tier one or two, however. But this is by no means definitive by the wording of the new rules. 

It also seems highly likely that away fans will be discouraged for the foreseeable.

Will fans be able to sing?

It was reported in August that football fans may not be allowed to sing as part of a ‘code of conduct’ that they would have to adhere to in order to return to stadiums. 

However it seems highly unlikely that any such rule would be in place for this return. The distancing between fans should be enough of a precaution. 

Before the latest wave, when German football fans were allowed in stadiums, there was plenty of signing. Indeed, before Union Berlin’s game against Augsburg in September, the home stadium announcer bellowed: ‘You’ll all have to sing for at least four people today!’ to make up for the lack of overall numbers. So clearly not much guidance was given there in terms of signing. 

So there is no reason to think it would be any different on these shores. Distanced crowds, hand sanitisers, staggered entrances and exits, yes, but a ban on signing, probably not.

Will alcohol be allowed?

Now this is a big one. Nationwide in Tier 1, pubs and bars can serve alcohol until 11pm, while in Tier 2, pubs can only serve drinks with ‘substantial’ meals. 

Largely speaking, the introduction of the new rules for the tiers has been viewed as a disaster for drinking establishments.

For stadiums in Tier 2, fans being served alcohol is unlikely. Official government guidelines say that, for Tier 2, ‘venues that serve alcohol can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant’. 

Hospitality areas may be allowed to use this workaround but fans grabbing a pint at half time is very unlikely.

So will football grounds follow suit and allow drinks in Tier 1 stadiums at the very least? Well, it’s a murky issue. 

Fans are being allowed back in to bring the game into line with theaters and other arts, which was a particular gripe for those inside the game. 

It is not yet clear what Tier 1 will allow to happen for theatres given the rules are different to before, but if they are allowed to open the bar, then it is likely football stadiums will, too.

It’s worth noting that laws, introduced in 1985 to ban fans from drinking in view of the pitch, are being reviewed in light of the pandemic. 

In the long-term, these could be lifted and fans may be allowed to watch games with a pint in order to avoid congregation on concourses. Could this mean a form of ‘table service’ at grounds before long? Perhaps, but certainly not yet.

Who will get tickets? 

This remains unknown. Football clubs in particular were certainly caught out by the announcement today so there is a good chance they won’t have a plan in place to decide who will get one of the few thousand golden tickets. 

All that we do know is that it is likely to cause controversy either way. Will teams seize the opportunity to claw back cash by only allowing the highest paying spectators, the hospitality set, back in first and risk public outcry? Or will they run a lottery system among season ticket holders? Or something completely different? 

Speaking over the weekend, Eddie Hearn insisted his plan to get fans back in for Anthony Joshua’s fight against Kubrat Pulev did not involve selling the highest-priced seats only. 

Other sports, such as the NFL in America, have already allowed limited fans back and have given their ticket allocation to season ticket holders on a first come-first served basis. 

Some fans may not feel comfortable enough to want to return to stadiums in the first place so may forgo their chance at watching games again, which opens a whole different can of worms. 

Won’t be it be unfair that some fans are allowed back in for big games, like derbies, having already played each other with no fans?

Some clubs immediately raised concern over the prospect of fans returning to competitive sport.

While clubs in elite sport are desperate for revenue, allowing some to have supporters and not others raises awkward questions for the integrity of competition.

Firstly, those clubs allowed supporters may be at an advantage over those that are not simply because they have fans cheering them on.

However, clubs have also warned that the revenue generated might also create unfair competition.

‘We are in the middle of a competition and then suddenly a group of clubs will have an advantage over another,’ one Championship club source told Sportsmail.

‘Suddenly one group of clubs will have extra revenue while others will not. The impact ahead of the transfer window could be huge.

‘The Championship is a £150 million game and if you have a club in tier three and another in tier one that is going to mean the tier three club will struggle for revenues going into January and if they are competing for two or three players it could make a big difference. That will have to be looked at.’