How crowds could return to sporting arenas
County cricket will become the first sport to allow spectators to return to stadiums, when fans are allowed to attend two friendly matches on July 26 and 27.
This will be the first in the Government’s pilot scheme trialling the return of fans to live sport, with Surrey’s match against Middlesex at the Kia Oval one of the two-day games that will permit fans. The other game is still to be decided.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that county cricket chiefs were arguing that the sport was uniquely placed to be a test case and be the first sport to allow spectators back for live matches. “We’re very pleased that they’ve selected our first friendly as a pilot,” said Richard Gould, Surrey’s chief executive. “We’re very pleased we’re starting to see some movement on this.”
The pilot fixtures will have crowds of a limited number – possibly as few as 1,000 – with priority given to members. Inside the ground, spectators will have to socially distance, with one option being for fans to pre-book seats which will be kept a safe distance apart.
“We’re expecting it to still be on the conservative side,” Gould said. “I know many members will be very keen to get back in.”
The plans include temperature checks being carried out using thermalimaging cameras, similar to those at airports, for spectators on arrival. Anyone failing the test would be refused admission. Inside the ground there will be frequent hand-sanitising stations, with food at outlets
pre-packed and vendors wearing personal protective equipment to minimise risks of Covid-19 transmission.
If the pilot goes well, county cricket chiefs hope to make the case that cricket crowds should be permitted later this summer, in advance of the Government’s target of Oct 1 for fans to return. The domestic season is due to begin on Aug 1 and will comprise the Bob Willis Trophy – the first-class competition staged this year – and the Twenty20 Blast.
County chiefs have been arguing for weeks that the sport can put in place measures to be safe for social distancing. Surrey, for instance, have plans to allow 6,000 spectators into the Oval – one-quarter of normal capacity – as The Telegraph revealed.
Even limited crowds would be a huge boost to the county game, going some way to making up the shortfall in revenue this summer and ensuring that fans remain engaged with the domestic game.
“Cricket’s in a unique position in that if we don’t get crowds back this season, then we’ll have to go a year and a half between crowds,” Gould said. “We’ll be working really hard to make sure that the pilot is a success, and that we can be creative in finding safe solutions.”
He is “hopeful” crowds will be possible for first-class and T20 games too. “If we can do a good job on the pilot then that gives us a chance,” Gould said. “It’s good news for cricket that it’s been chosen for the pilot, because that may give us a chance of bringing in some crowds prior to Oct 1.
“Hopefully it gives us an opportunity to get some members back in, even if it’s only in small numbers.”
Surrey are already allowing members into the ground’s roof terrace to watch Test cricket on a big screen.