Getting life back to normal is what most of us would ideally wish for Christmas over anything else this year.
For many, a large part of “normality” is being able to attend sporting events up and down the country on a Saturday afternoon or midweek evening, catching up with friends, visiting new grounds and escaping the real world for a few hours at least.
And the UK is set to enjoy a slither of that normal life once again in December, when restrictions on fans attending sporting events will be lifted – albeit minutely – to allow spectators back onto the terraces.
We’re still a long way off capacity grounds roaring on their teams in the Premier League, Premiership, County Championship and scores of other sporting leagues across the country.
But Boris Johnson’s announcement that fans will be returning under the new tier system in England next month offers hope to thousands that they will get to see their teams again soon.
Here, i looks at what the new Covid-19 tier system means for football supporters wanting to return to Premier League, EFL, non-league and FA Cup games this winter.
How many fans can attend games?
The first question on every football supporters’ lips when told fans would be allowed back into stadiums in December was “how many?”.
With the government having flirted with fans returning in October, only to pull the plug on the idea at the last moment, supporters rightly want to know the details of what is being planned this time around.
And the number of fans each area will be able to permit into stadiums depends on the tier that area will be in. Up to 4,000 supporters – or half the capacity of a stadium, whichever is fewest – will be able to attend football games in areas designated in Tier 1 of the new coronavirus restrictions.
That reduces to 2,000 supporters in Tier 2 areas, while clubs whose grounds are in Tier 3 will still have to play behind closed doors.
How England’s tier system affects football fans
Tier 1
- Up to 4,000 supporters can attend outdoor sporting events, or half the stadium capacity, whichever is smaller
Tier 2
- Up to 2,000 supporters can attend outdoor sporting events, or half the stadium capacity, whichever is smaller
Tier 3
- No supporters permitted to attend games, which will continue to be played behind closed doors
When will we know the tiers?
The new Covid-19 tier system in England will begin once the national lockdown is lifted on 2 December. How the country will be divided into the three tiers is to be announced on Thursday 26 November when the latest Covid-19 infection data in made public.
The country is likely to see a mix of tiers, with many MPs in the north of England lobbying to ensure their constituencies are not in Tier 3. London may also be put into Tier 3, although the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan is hopeful a Tier 2 restriction will be enforced instead.
Once the tiers are announced, football clubs will be able to make further preparations to admit supporters.
Who gets the tickets?
A big issue football clubs are facing is how to fairly distribute any tickets they are permitted to sell from December.
Back in August Brighton were granted permission to distribute 2,500 tickets for a friendly game with Chelsea, which was part of the government’s “test event” schedule to try and return fans to sporting spectacles.
Brighton allowed season ticket holders and club members to apply for tickets based on loyalty points, and stated that “in the unlikely event the game does not sell out, there will be no ticket sales on the day”.
Ticket sales from December onwards will be handled by individual clubs, but it is expected that most clubs will follow this route, as they have paying season ticket holders who have as-yet been unable to attend games.
Clubs are also taking individual approaches on season ticket refunds. Newcastle recently confirmed they would offer refunds to season ticket holders for games they have missed in the 2020-21 season, while Burnley informed fans that their right to buy a season ticket for next term would not be affected if they request a refund for this season.
Demand at elite-level clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United is likely to outstrip available tickets, even if cities like London and Manchester receive Tier 1 status and the maximum 4,000 capacity. Away fans will still not be permitted at grounds.
Is it the same in Scotland?
No. The changes to England’s tier system once the country comes out of the national lockdown does not affect Scottish football grounds.
That’s because sport and health are devolved issues, which means any decision on when to admit supporters back to stadiums in the Scottish Premiership and lower divisions will be taken by Holyrood.
Some test events have been held to general success, with Aberdeen in particular reported to be keen on maintaining discussions with the authorities about lifting restrictions.
Eleven local authorities will remain in Level 4 restrictions in Scotland until 11 December.
Will clubs even make money?
Making football financially viable again is one of the biggest challenges facing the Premier League, EFL and FA. Manchester United recently revealed the coronavirus crisis has resulted in a £118.1m loss in revenues, while FIFA believe the disease has cost the global game over £11bn.
For the likes of United and other elite-level English clubs, even having the maximum 4,000 supporters back in their stadiums will do little to boost their bank balances. After all, matchday revenues without VIP, corporate box and other entertainment sales count for very little at the top of the English game.
Indeed, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has conceded that the north London club will face real issues unless supporters are welcomed back in full to their new £1.2bn stadium.
“We are currently in the midst of one of the most challenging times ever experienced. The impact of the pandemic on our revenue is material and could not have come at a worse time, having just completed a £1.2bn stadium build which is financed by club resources and long-term debt,” he said.
“The 2020-21 season has so far seen no fans at games and this is compounded by a loss of third party events such as NFL, concerts, the closure of stores and visitor attractions.
“Our estimate for the current financial year of the potential loss of revenue, should the stadium remain closed to fans, is in excess of £150m. Clearly this would be an irrecoverable loss of income.”
Further down the pyramid and clubs will certainly enjoy a greater benefit from welcoming fans back into games – but even then it might depend on whether their allocations are fully taken by season ticket holders, who have already paid for the game.
Clubs are spending thousands of pounds preparing for the return of fans by setting up social distancing measures at their grounds and near public transport facilities.
So I can still get a burger at half time?
While there is a clamour among football fans to return to games in the near future, the experience of a live sporting event in a largely-empty stadium is certainly far from appealing.
So how normal will watching football be? Social distancing guidelines will likely require supporters to sit apart from each other, use separate entrances and exits, toilets and the like. There is also no guarantee that food and beverage kiosks will be open at stadiums, although Tier 1 restrictions on the relaxation of the 10pm pub and restaurant curfew, and opening of non-essential shops, suggests you might be able to get a burger and a pint at half time.
A number of European leagues – including Germany’s Bundesliga and the Danish Superliga – welcomed supporters back to grounds in recent months, only to then be forced into fresh restrictions.
Stadiums in both leagues were divided into sections, meaning ticket allocators could safely spread supporters across terraces, giving plenty of space to social distance.
Will everyone want to return?
It may safely be said that while the majority of football fans are keen to watch their teams in some capacity, not all are desperate to get back onto the terraces.
The Times report that a number of elderly Accrington Stanley supporters aren’t exactly clamouring for a return.
Stanley, who sit in the top half of League 1, will only be able to accept a maximum 2,700 supporters to the Crown Ground, even if the local area moves to Tier 1 restrictions.
And it is an issue many football fans – especially those who have previously been told to self-isolate or who have directly suffered from Covid-19 – are wary of.
What’s more, the return of all 10 Premier League matches per game week being broadcast without Pay Per View restrictions certainly offers a greater impetus for fans to stay away from stadiums and watch games on TV.
And the Daily Mail this week reported the EFL’s iFollow service – where fans can stream games of their teams – has generated £11m.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3fuQWQ1
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