Safe return of spectators

[sheffield exile1]

Isn't there any facility to extend I-Follow as I said earlier, to broadcast home games either to ST holders or pay per game? I did say i would watch I-Follow if necessary until safety is restored, and if we are "full" when we are allowed in, continue to offer it to the non-ST who still want to see the game? Surely because of the current situation a different contract can be negotiated. Also will stop away fans traveling un-necesarily as well if extended to them? Win/win to me....

[drfchound]

The reduction of fans at games will have a huge knock on effect for future seasons on my opinion.

If we are limited to say 3000, the other 3000-4000 who usually attend will quickly become disousioned and out of the habit of attending (if that isn't the case already).

I fully agree.
If, as has been suggested, away fans might have to be accommodated, it would be interesting to know whether it is an EFL decision or whether each club would have a choice not to take part in that decision.
As redarmy82 says, it would prevent unnecessary travel by away fans.
Imagine a situation where Blackburn or Leicester fans were travelling to away games.
I wouldn’t think they would be welcomed.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Any fans money is welcome home or away, but as said, the decision to allow away fans may be out of the clubs hands.

That said, if say for example 6000 are permitted for the first home game and only 5000 home fans take up the opportunity, then it would look silly to exclude away fans.

The guidance will come from the government first then the club/EFL/SAG can work from that.

It will be hard for the club to gauge what sort of interest there will be before tickets go on sale. I'm sure they will promote it together with all the steps being taken to reduce risks to try and encourage folk to buy.

[silent majority]

Isn't there any facility to extend I-Follow as I said earlier, to broadcast home games either to ST holders or pay per game? I did say i would watch I-Follow if necessary until safety is restored, and if we are "full" when we are allowed in, continue to offer it to the non-ST who still want to see the game? Surely because of the current situation a different contract can be negotiated. Also will stop away fans traveling un-necesarily as well if extended to them? Win/win to me....

Yes, I've already mentioned that IFollow will be part of any package that's worked out for next season. This means relaxing the 3pm window for home games as well, i.e. to be made available in England and Wales.

But until the details are worked out, which is reasonably complicated, we won't know how many suppotrers are allowed in the stadium.

[silent majority]

The reduction of fans at games will have a huge knock on effect for future seasons on my opinion.

If we are limited to say 3000, the other 3000-4000 who usually attend will quickly become disousioned and out of the habit of attending (if that isn't the case already).

I fully agree.
If, as has been suggested, away fans might have to be accommodated, it would be interesting to know whether it is an EFL decision or whether each club would have a choice not to take part in that decision.
As redarmy82 says, it would prevent unnecessary travel by away fans.
Imagine a situation where Blackburn or Leicester fans were travelling to away games.
I wouldn’t think they would be welcomed.

Hound, it won't be an EFL decision, it will be government through the SGSA, and then locally through the SAG, who have already issued their draft recommendations. Ive scanned it again and can't see specifically any mention of away fans, I could be missing it though.

[drfchound]

Ok, thanks for that.

[silent majority]

Baz, it looks like the actual numbers allowed might be variable as I keep seeing the phrase 'dynamic capacity'.

Essentially, the capacity will depend on what type of groups will be allocated seats. Keeping individuals seated and allowing for social distancing of those individuals will keep the capacity lower than if supporters are booking tickets in groups of two or 3 etc. It could well be that supporters will be actively encouraged to book in as large a group as possible.

[silent majority]

Bought my season ticket today. Suzanne said that quite a lot of season ticket holders have asked for a refund, which is disappointing, but understandable given people's differing circumstances.

We're lucky that we have a 14/15000 capacity all seater stadium in which to work out social distancing. Just think about clubs like Burton. Their capacity is around 9000, and 3 of the sides are standing terracing. I know it's not our problem, but how the hell do they deal with that?

All I'm saying is that we're probably a lot better off than some.

Sorry, I've just checked, and it's 6912, not 9000. That makes it even worse.

Steve, it could be much worse than you think.

Its not a simple calculation of available seats, there's also a calculation for concourse capacity, a calculation for entry capacity, exit capacity, and emergency exit capacity. The lower of all those will be the final capacity under current restrictions. So, if you have a very small concourse area, Rotherham for example, your capacity will be based on that.

[selby]

  A lot of grounds will be a lot worse than the Keepmoat then, Peterborough's away toilets might let two in. Have Portsmouth got a concourse? Bristol Rovers? Huddersfield Town you might as well stand in a field although that might be a bonus.
  Leeds and the two Sheffield clubs will struggle Bradford City is very small and insignificant in the side the stand the one behind the goal disgusting, Lincoln City a porta cabin, Ipswich Town small access, and the stairs at Sunderland?
  I would say if the criteria is implemented the same by every local authority we could possibly be one of the highest attendances in our division according to the way SM has described the parameters, especially if the home supporters facilities are much the same as the away facilities are that we encounter.
 

[dknward2]

There is talk of some clubs refusing to play if fans can't come back into grounds I would imagine that they will refuse to play if they don't get to the break even figure.

So if say 10 clubs in our league refuse to play what would the efl do, knowing how they normally deal with things probably i.e do nothing and hope things just disappear

[Alan Southstand]

And if they do come up with something, it will probably be at the end of next season!

[IDM]

Is there scope to expand the concourse area to be physically outside the stadium, like the smoking bubbles.?  Use temporary fencing outside and check tickets before entering.  Put some extra temporary toilets in there, and some beer garden style seating maybe.

Would that work, at some grounds, and be cost effective.?

[silent majority]

There is talk of some clubs refusing to play if fans can't come back into grounds I would imagine that they will refuse to play if they don't get to the break even figure.

So if say 10 clubs in our league refuse to play what would the efl do, knowing how they normally deal with things probably i.e do nothing and hope things just disappear

Well I haven't seen that anywhere, and it does seem a bit contentious because the EFL have yet to have that members meeting that agrees the start date for next season. I know everybody quotes the 12th September as the agreed date but the vote hasn't taken place yet.

But judging by the agreed date, DM mentioned it,  for pre-season to start, i.e. early August, that would fit with a 6 week pre-season fitness programme. If its not going to kick-off on the 12th September then the clubs need to know now so they can leave players on furlough a bit longer.

[silent majority]

Is there scope to expand the concourse area to be physically outside the stadium, like the smoking bubbles.?  Use temporary fencing outside and check tickets before entering.  Put some extra temporary toilets in there, and some beer garden style seating maybe.

Would that work, at some grounds, and be cost effective.?

Yes I would say so IDM. Its something we've chatted about with the club and it certainly makes sense for those with small concourses. According to the guidance you can stop using your concourse as a concourse and then redefine it as a circulation space only, doing that effectively takes the concourse out of the calculation to a certain degree, but you then lose the ability to sell food, drink etc. So extending outwards makes sense if you have the room to do so.

[IDM]

I would have thought we could have socially distanced queueing for the outlets inside, with folks moving outside with their purchases, and stewards ushering people outside.?  Not sure how that would work in the west stand, and you would need to have one stairwell/exit for going in, and another for coming out.?

[dknward2]

Martin the talk was from a newspaper in Ipswich

[silent majority]

Martin the talk was from a newspaper in Ipswich

Thanks, I'll see if I can locate that somewhere. No doubt I can get a catch up with DRFC this week and see what their position is.

[hoolahoop]

I’m sure there will be further relaxing of these draconian measures before the first ball is kicked....we are after all reasonably conditioned to the new codes of behaviour expected of us....the science is looking good 

" Science " looks great does it , nigh on 60, 000 excess deaths in just 4 months and still not plateauing because social distancing still being totally ignored .

Thankfully I wasn't in Leeds for their big celebration the other night but don't be surprised to see spikes in that city.
We , the English, seem determined NOT to wear masks, keep appropriate distances etc and drop into the past without thinking . Its that very exceptionalism that will delay watching live sport as much as we might love to see it .

There HAVE to be more mandatory rules rather than this current Libertarian approach by the Govt. to ensure safety not only in sport but pubs, bars, shops , restaurants and live events.

I'm not a scientist , not even a behavioural scientist , but realise many are still NOT fully appreciating the reality of this pandemic.

[silent majority]

Seems that somebody has been thinking along the right lines at Shrewsbury and wants to delay the start of the season until October so that more supporters can attend. The early rounds of the Carabao Cup and Leasing.com trophy can be held in September so that they qualify as the pilot schemes which have to be held using reduced numbers.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2020/07/21/shrewsbury-town-call-for-october-start/

[steve@dcfd]

If the season starts in October then when will it finish. With all cups and league games it takes normally 38 weeks. If squads are reduced playing at least two games a week consistently will be very hard. Needs to be thought out, fewer cup games if the EFL plan to finish the season.

[dknward2]

The carabo cup and leasing trophy have got start dates of early Sept within 3 days of each other.

I think for this season at least we could be best getting out of these competitions at the earliest maybe the fa cup go for it for money

[drfchound]

The carabo cup and leasing trophy have got start dates of early Sept within 3 days of each other.

I think for this season at least we could be best getting out of these competitions at the earliest maybe the fa cup go for it for money

Maybe we could play the under 18 team and get knocked out of both competitions.
Oh, wait on, they start within three days of each other.
Now what was it that those Bolton people said about two games in a week for the kids?

[dknward2]

Under 18s for the leasing cup and 1st team for league cup but don't need to try to much maybe these games will be the trial to allow fans back into the stadium

[drfchound]

We wouldn’t need to do too much to accommodate the people who want to watch the leasing cup games.

[steve@dcfd]

Have we got an U18 team for next season. We should have some first years scholars left but have we brought in any other players from the 16s last season.

[since-1969]

Sheffield United lose appeal

When was this ?

[idler]

Sheffield United lose appeal

When was this ?

2007
Another case of Footballers rulers getting it wrong and putting money before justice.
I always maintained that if Manchester United had lost the title due to Carlos Tevez's goal against them they would have appealed or taken the FA to court over his dual registration. Instead they signed him.
A fine and then having to pay Sheffield United some compensation was far easier on West Ham than relegation.

[silent majority]

If anybody is interested the draft copy of the supplement to the Green Guide is up on the SGSA website so that you can read all about the changes, and amendments, that have to be made for stadiums to reopen;

https://sgsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SG02-Planning-for-social-distancing-at-sports-grounds.pdf