FA Cup final and World Snooker Championship among events to be used to test return of spectators
Pa Reporter
The FA Cup final and the World Snooker Championship will be among a group of sporting and cultural events used as pilots to test the large-scale return of spectators to venues.
The Government announced plans for a pilot programme to get under way in April when it set out its road map in February for the easing of coronavirus restrictions, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has now provided more detail, saying there will be ‘around a dozen’ events serving as tests in total.
The FA Cup final on May 15 is the most high-profile of the events announced by DCMS.
The FA Cup final at Wembley will be among a group of events to test the return of spectators
Decisions on capacity for any of the events have not yet been taken, but it is reasonable to expect that for the FA Cup final the intention would be to go considerably beyond the 10,000 limit for larger outdoor seated venues set to come into force at step three of the road map on May 17.
The pilots form part of the Events Research Programme (ERP) and will inform Government decisions on step four of the road map, which will begin no earlier than June 21 when it is hoped spectators will be able to get back safely and in large numbers. The idea is to test a range of sporting and cultural venues, from Wembley on one hand to a 200-capacity comedy club on the other.
With such a range of venues to test within the ERP and the limited number of events proposed by DCMS, it leaves open the question of whether the EFL or the Premier League will be involved in the pilots.
The World Snooker Championship will also be used as a test pilot event for the return of fans
The EFL is understood to remain keen to participate, with the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham – also to be played at Wembley on April 25 – considered its ideal event to test.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: ‘These test events will be crucial in finding ways to get fans and audiences back in safely without social distancing.
‘We will be guided by the science and medical experts, but will work flat out to make that happen. We want to get the people back to enjoying what they love and ensure some of our most important growth industries get back on their feet.
‘These are important steps towards the safe and special summer we all crave and that I’m fully focused on delivering.’
The events will test a range of ‘non-pharmaceutical’ methods to allow the safe return of fans without social distancing – including venue layout, face coverings and ventilation.
Researchers will monitor spectators’ movements and interactions while the event is ongoing, DCMS said.
Football fans could make their return to stadiums in major cup finals at the end of the season
Rapid testing will also be key to the events. Testing before and after the event will be mandatory, but it is not confirmed yet how close to the event a negative test would need to be provided to allow entry.
David Ross, the founder of Carphone Warehouse and the chair of the Sports Technology and Innovation Group (STIG) which oversaw pilot events last year, will be one of the co-advisers on the ERP.
A report from the ERP will go to Government for consideration before the end of May, DCMS said.
Although this is mainly about football I hve highlighted a few key elements.
So this is about allowing rather large crowds without social distancing.Testing will be required, wich is good provided that the test is no older that 48 hours, otherwise it’s meaningless. Also nothing is said about people coming to the venue, every day, for a long period. This is often the case at he Crucible, where tou see the same people there for a full week or even the 17 days. At the very minimum, they should be re-tested if they attend for more than a week.
Now venue layout and ventilation are cited as key elements. How on earth is the Crucuble being considered? It’s a cramped venue, with seats very close to each other, It’s an indoor venue, relying on aircon for its ventilation and everyone who has been there will know that it’s anything but great.
I’m afraid that the part in blue is the main factor in this decision and people’s health and lives come way behind in the decision makers agenda.
2 thoughts on “2021 World Championship – a pilot for spectators return.”
I’m not impressed, I can’t have a meal with one person anywhere, but a few hundreds can meet in the Crucible, already organising parties in Sheffield – you just need to have a look on the usual social networks, probably messing up our little chances that maybe from 17th May onwards seeing family and friends will be possible again, if Mr Hearn wants spectators, the event should have been moved to July or August with most people vaccinated, hotels and pubs/restaurants reopened
Consdering that until now we were told that even with vaccination and a more favourable infection rate, certain things, like social distancing (and masks) might have to/should be kept, it sounds very strange indeed. And certainly unwelcome.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
I’m not impressed, I can’t have a meal with one person anywhere, but a few hundreds can meet in the Crucible, already organising parties in Sheffield – you just need to have a look on the usual social networks, probably messing up our little chances that maybe from 17th May onwards seeing family and friends will be possible again, if Mr Hearn wants spectators, the event should have been moved to July or August with most people vaccinated, hotels and pubs/restaurants reopened
Consdering that until now we were told that even with vaccination and a more favourable infection rate, certain things, like social distancing (and masks) might have to/should be kept, it sounds very strange indeed. And certainly unwelcome.