Trafalgar Square fan zone
➤England’s three group games may be screened in fan park ➤Formal proposals for the site to be announced next month
Up to 12,500 supporters could be allowed into a “fan zone” at Trafalgar Square this summer to watch England’s Euro 2020 matches on giant screens. Wembley, which hosts England’s games, will have a reduced capacity for early rounds but is it hoped at least 45,000 will attend the semi-finals and July 11 final.
A fan zone for up to 12,500 supporters to watch England’s Euro 2020 matches on outdoor screens is being planned for Trafalgar Square.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, such high numbers will be allowed only from June 21 if the Government sticks with its current roadmap out of lockdown. However, authorities are confident the scene of past celebrations for some of the nation’s great sporting moments can welcome spectators for all Wembley matches, the first being England’s Group D game against Croatia on June 13.
Talks have been taking place since last August, but a formal plan for the site will be announced next month after the London mayoral elections, with screens showing a “victory parade” should England win the tournament also included in a proposal submitted to City of Westminster Council.
All three of England’s group matches at Wembley would be shown at the London landmark, which last hosted a fan zone during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
The plans are subject to a licensing application which will be heard by the council later this month. A spokesperson for the London maythe or’s office said final plans around the fan zone were still to be decided. No number has been agreed on capacity prior to June 21, when social distancing will be enforced.
Meetings are also taking place with the Metropolitan Police amid fears that numbers could swell in London for the Scotland match on June 18.
Proposals for smaller “Uefa Football Villages” at Potters Fields Park, near City Hall, and Tower Bridge are also being considered.
London is one of 12 cities hosting Euro 2020, but England may yet get more matches with doubts over whether Dublin and Bilbao will be able to host fans by June. Four venues were given an extension until April 19 to guarantee fans after only eight of the cities were able to assure Uefa they would be a quarter full.
Rome, which was among those in doubt, is now safe. The Italian government confirmed yesterday it would permit crowds at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, which is scheduled to host the first game.
Tickets will be free for the fan zone via a ballot. All England matches will be screened – including potential last-16 and quarterfinal fixtures abroad.
Wembley, which has a tournament-high seven fixtures, will have at least a quarter of the 90,000-seat stadium filled in the group stage and last 16. The intention is for the capacity to rise to at least 45,000 for the semi-finals, and final on July 11.