Further pilot events given the green light to admit fans

[tiger76]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/53921797

Hope that we might be able to have fans on the turf soon perhaps? If these events pass off well.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Brilliant news. And let’s hope not too much focus on infections. Obviously caution needed. But the more important things to focus on are hospitalisation and death.

After all that’s what they were focusing on at the start...

[tiger76]

Brilliant news. And let’s hope not too much focus on infections. Obviously caution needed. But the more important things to focus on are hospitalisation and death.

After all that’s what they were focusing on at the start...

Well without wishing too sound flippant, we're all going to die sooner or later, and even hospitalisations and deaths are dramatically falling.

We have to try and regain some form of normality, and attending sporting events, especially outdoor sporting events, should be relatively safe, as long as people maintain a common sense attitude.

Obviously these are only test events, so it's not guaranteed that fans will be permitted to attend on the 1st October as planned, but they at least have to give it a go, and see what transpires.

Indoor venues could prove more problematic, and they might well have to wait longer for audiences to return, but as they're proceeding with these trials, I can only surmise that they're happy with the results from the Crucible final.

[wilks_bfc]

Be interesting to know how Brighton are making the 2500 ticket to STH, available.

Is it a first come first served basis? Ballot? Lucky dip?

[Spike]

Brilliant news. And let’s hope not too much focus on infections. Obviously caution needed. But the more important things to focus on are hospitalisation and death.

After all that’s what they were focusing on at the start...

The NHS hasn’t struggled for months
There are less than an hundred COVID hospitalised patients in the North West out of a population of 7.3m
No Covid deaths in Preston for a month but still stricter sanctions.

If Boris had sacked Cummings then we could perhaps be listening to common sense and not being ruled by meaningless statistics

Unless the number of infections is killing people then let’s unlock people

[claptrappers_union]

Be interesting to know how Brighton are making the 2500 ticket to STH, available.

Is it a first come first served basis? Ballot? Lucky dip?

It’ll be first come first serve, that’s how tickets are normally sold

[claretonthecoast1882]

It’ll be first come first serve, that’s how tickets are normally sold

They are being sold to members and season ticket holders based on loyalty points.

Photo ID is required on entry and ID must match name on the ticket

[claptrappers_union]

They are being sold to members and season ticket holders based on loyalty points.

Photo ID is required on entry and ID must match name on the ticket

Like when they sell away tickets - remember this is just for the friendly though.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Like when they sell away tickets - remember this is just for the friendly though.

That is how the 2500 tickets are being sold for the friendly

[dougcollins]

'Some fans' isn't the answer, how would you feel being one of the ones to be told you can't go on the Turf?

[NottsClaret]

'Some fans' isn't the answer, how would you feel being one of the ones to be told you can't go on the Turf?

I'd be happy for them, some is better than none. Then just wait my turn to go.

[Andreshotboots]

I'd be happy for them, some is better than none. Then just wait my turn to go.

Unless you were asked not to attend the Man City game against Messi!

[tim_noone]

It’ll be first come first serve, that’s how tickets are normally sold

Yes hopefully the old fashioned way of queuing up. Instead of the points system.

[tim_noone]

I'd be happy for them, some is better than none. Then just wait my turn to go.

No....it will be the same 'old' faces who havent missed a game in 80 years blah blah...

[dsr]

'Some fans' isn't the answer, how would you feel being one of the ones to be told you can't go on the Turf?

I'm being told now that I can't go on the Turf, so I wouldn't feel any different. Except perhaps a bit more hopeful that my time will come.

[wilks_bfc]

I get this is just for a friendly but I’d be interested to know on what the process could possibly be if/when we can attend league games.

It can’t be first come first served then
If they “allocate” games to STH, what if you are unable to attend that game for some reason, do you miss your turn?

I get that they want fans to start going but I hope somebody has at least started to think how this will be possible, either within in club or the Premier League as a whole

[Granny WeatherWax]

I've changed my mind on this, its all or nothing for me.

[jojomk1]

On Talksport today
Yes tickets are based on loyalty points so assume home fans only
Digital ticketing where phones are scanned on entry
Temp checks before entry
Social distancing in all back areas
Fans will all be spaced well apart (inc families) and will be wearing masks
Figure of just under 10% capacity seems to be what everyone is happy with as part of the trial

[FactualFrank]

Obviously the common sense way of going about things, so great news.

[wilks_bfc]

On Talksport today
Yes tickets are based on loyalty points so assume home fans only
Digital ticketing where phones are scanned on entry
Temp checks before entry
Social distancing in all back areas
Fans will all be spaced well apart (inc families) and will be wearing masks
Figure of just under 10% capacity seems to be what everyone is happy with as part of the trial

That's fine, and I get that they can't please everyone, but the problem with using the "loyalty points" is that then still penalises supporters.
It's fine (to a degree) for purchasing away tickets, but to say "dad who has enough points from supporting them 10yrs+ plus but his 6yr old son who got his first season ticket last year, cant" then that doesn't seem right

[wilks_bfc]

I've changed my mind on this, its all or nothing for me.

I think I'm of the same opinion

[dsr]

If it's "all or nothing", then if capacity is say 50% teams like Blackburn Rovers will be open as usual while Burnley's ground remains empty. Why? What's the point? Surely better for everyone to see half the games than no-one to see any at all.

[FactualFrank]

I think I'm of the same opinion

How can doing this in stages, not be the right thing to do? It's like with lockdown, it needed to be eased bit by bit, so it could be tracked and then eased further if possible. It's the same here. You let a % of people in and monitor. If it seems to be working, it can eased more - then a bit more - and so on.

[NottsClaret]

It's an interesting topic this, in how it divides opinion. Struggling to get my head round the mindset that says 'if I can't go, nobody should be allowed to'.

What's the thinking behind that, genuinely curious?

[Granny WeatherWax]

It's an interesting topic this, in how it divides opinion. Struggling to get my head round the mindset that says 'if I can't go, nobody should be allowed to'.

What's the thinking behind that, genuinely curious?

Its more fair that way, especially if games are not on TV.

[wilks_bfc]

It's an interesting topic this, in how it divides opinion. Struggling to get my head round the mindset that says 'if I can't go, nobody should be allowed to'.

What's the thinking behind that, genuinely curious?

It's not that I'm saying "if I can't go, nobody should be allowed to", although admittedly it is coming across that way, its just that, like everybody else, I want to see as many people as possible attend, but it is not yet clear how this will happen.

If they are saying that you can only every 4th game, that is fine, but how will they decide who attends?

In our group of STH, there are 5 people from 4 different households, and with current guidelines (and yes I know they can change) we cannot all get together.

They could base it on households
If my household, which is just my ticket is selected, that's fine I can go
If my dads household, which is just his ticket is selected ticket, is selected, that's fine he can go
If my brothers household, which has his and 6yr old son ticket, is selected, they can both go
But if my my 12yr old godson, who comes on with us is selected, then who takes him?

As you say it is dividing opinion, and I think that is down to personal circumstances.
If this had happened 2yrs ago, when it was just me, my dad & brother attending, my opinion would probably have been get as many on as you can as soon as you can, but now having to consider the other 2 it is different

Like I say, its not a case of "all or nothing", I've flipped between the both after hearing both side and no doubt will continue to do so.

[NottsClaret]

Its more fair that way, especially if games are not on TV.

I suppose not letting anyone watch football is 'fair'.. but is that the best solution while there is capacity for some to attend? Personally, I'd be happier if I missed a game knowing at least a couple of thousand Clarets had got in, than I would missing a game knowing that everyone else is just as miserable.

If not everyone could get a ticket for, say away at Blackburn or at Wembley, do you think we shouldn't take any tickets at all to ensure fairness?

[Granny WeatherWax]

I suppose not letting anyone watch football is 'fair'.. but is that the best solution while there is capacity for some to attend? Personally, I'd be happier if I missed a game knowing at least a couple of thousand Clarets had got in, than I would missing a game knowing that everyone else is just as miserable.

If not everyone could get a ticket for, say away at Blackburn or at Wembley, do you think we shouldn't take any tickets at all to ensure fairness?

No, because in those circumstances people who had most loyalty points would get a ticket.

Now lets not get into a debate on the less than perfect loyalty point system but at least tickets would be awarded on a basis that isn't completely random.

[dsr]

It's not that I'm saying "if I can't go, nobody should be allowed to", although admittedly it is coming across that way, its just that, like everybody else, I want to see as many people as possible attend, but it is not yet clear how this will happen.

If they are saying that you can only every 4th game, that is fine, but how will they decide who attends?

In our group of STH, there are 5 people from 4 different households, and with current guidelines (and yes I know they can change) we cannot all get together.

They could base it on households
If my household, which is just my ticket is selected, that's fine I can go
If my dads household, which is just his ticket is selected ticket, is selected, that's fine he can go
If my brothers household, which has his and 6yr old son ticket, is selected, they can both go
But if my my 12yr old godson, who comes on with us is selected, then who takes him?

As you say it is dividing opinion, and I think that is down to personal circumstances.
If this had happened 2yrs ago, when it was just me, my dad & brother attending, my opinion would probably have been get as many on as you can as soon as you can, but now having to consider the other 2 it is different

Like I say, its not a case of "all or nothing", I've flipped between the both after hearing both side and no doubt will continue to do so.

If you and your family decide that the system doesn't work for one person then none of you should go on, that's fair enough. But I don't see that as justification to stop me or anyone else going on.

Coronavirus isn't fair. Life isn't fair. What about people who can't go on because they are ill? Because they have no money? Because they have moved away? Because their parents won't take them? Because they can't get seats? It isn't fair on any of them.

We can't wait until coronavirus disadvantages no-one before we try and recover from it. We have to get going as soon as humanly possible and if it means that not everyone is back to normal in the same minute, so be it. If we insist on marching at the pace of the slowest, we will never get started.

So to answer the question "how do we decide who attends", we make the best system possible, tweak it it can be reasonably tweaked, and we get on with life as best we can.

[wilks_bfc]

I suppose not letting anyone watch football is 'fair'.. but is that the best solution while there is capacity for some to attend? Personally, I'd be happier if I missed a game knowing at least a couple of thousand Clarets had got in, than I would missing a game knowing that everyone else is just as miserable.

If not everyone could get a ticket for, say away at Blackburn or at Wembley, do you think we shouldn't take any tickets at all to ensure fairness?

That's not really comparable though is it. The "demand" would outweigh the "capacity" for those place, just like all/most away games would

We are talking a demand (STH) that is within our home capacity, just reduced.

If you booked a holiday for 6 people and they then turned around and said "sorry 3 of you can now cant go", would the other 3 still go?

[FactualFrank]

Whether it's fair or not shouldn't really be the issue. It's something you would expect would be made as fair as possible anyway, but what matters here is that a % of people get to go back on and over the coming month, with tweaks made when needed, we get back to how it was before.

[wilks_bfc]

Coronavirus isn't fair. Life isn't fair. What about people who can't go on because they are ill? Because they have no money? Because they have moved away? Because their parents won't take them? Because they can't get seats? It isn't fair on any of them.

But we aren't talking about these groups of people are we (with exception of possibly the ill).
We are talking about people that have committed and have a season ticket for the 2020/21 season.
Those people you mentioned are no different to those that pick & choose the games they go to as walk-ons, where if sold out, they wouldnt be able to attend anyway

[claretonthecoast1882]

But we aren't talking about these groups of people are we (with exception of possibly the ill).
We are talking about people that have committed and have a season ticket for the 2020/21 season.
Those people you mentioned are no different to those that pick & choose the games they go to as walk-ons, where if sold out, they wouldnt be able to attend anyway

It isn't going to restart any other way though. There is no chance that it will go from zero attendance to full capacity for any sport. The world snooker final recently being an example, Horse racing fixtures with limited crowds, you have to increase gradually. When new stadiums are built they have test games with limited numbers it is just how it is.

[dsr]

If you booked a holiday for 6 people and they then turned around and said "sorry 3 of you can now cant go", would the other 3 still go?

No, but I wouldn't demand that the whole plane be cancelled. It is not the club's fault that your godson is unlucky.

[NottsClaret]

If you booked a holiday for 6 people and they then turned around and said "sorry 3 of you can now cant go", would the other 3 still go?

Probably not, but I wouldn’t insist on nobody else going on holiday that year either.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Be interesting to know how Brighton are making the 2500 ticket to STH, available.

Is it a first come first served basis? Ballot? Lucky dip?

I would imagine similar to how they would manage a 2,500 away ticket allocation would be best?!

[aggi]

No, because in those circumstances people who had most loyalty points would get a ticket.

Now lets not get into a debate on the less than perfect loyalty point system but at least tickets would be awarded on a basis that isn't completely random.

If it's based on loyalty points then it's always going to be the same group, those at the top of the pile, as there won't be any options to earn more points.

I suspect it will have to be some combination of ballots and grouping tickets by households or some other option. Admittedly the speed at which they processed the refunds does suggest that anything complicated could prove tough to work out.

[cricketfieldclarets]

'Some fans' isn't the answer, how would you feel being one of the ones to be told you can't go on the Turf?

Most of us would be fine. We realise the current situation isnt ordinary. Some of us might not even want to go on.

[cricketfieldclarets]

If it's "all or nothing", then if capacity is say 50% teams like Blackburn Rovers will be open as usual while Burnley's ground remains empty. Why? What's the point? Surely better for everyone to see half the games than no-one to see any at all.

Because some people are selfish and only want what suits them. And are too impatient to wait until its safe and sensible for measures to relax gradually.

Gradual, sensible return means full blown return is likely sooner and restrictions being reintroduced less likely.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Its more fair that way, especially if games are not on TV.

Life isnt fair. Never mind Burnleys ticketing!

[jojomk1]

The trial with loyalty points seems the only way to start this experiment - and I won't get a ticket to see any game at all on that basis

Based on a 10% attendance, the club have details on all season ticket holders and their actual seats so could, in the main, allocate every 10th seat out to that current holder

Some computer guy should be able to come up with a program to do this and then, for next game, the seating allocation is moved on to the next starting seat

Yes, it means you will only be able to see one game in ten at the beginning, but this is just a start

If any allocated seat falls to a 6 year old child, sorry but that is just bad luck

[cricketfieldclarets]

And to play devils advocate. Those complaining at a loyalty system being used - chances are those at the top of that pile are our oldest fans and therefore most at risk therefore less likely to be allowed or even want to return immediately.

No system will be fair on everyone. But this shouldn't be about fairness.

I would be classed as low risk. Young. Fit. Healthy. No known risk factors. I have paid for last seasons ticket even when I couldnt go on. And have continued paying for next seasons knowing i might not be able to go on. I have 4 other people as part of my group, 3 of which sit with me.

If I was told some or all of us couldnt attend based on the system thats fine. It is what it is. Its not a normal situation and to be honest attending wont be normal either.

I have to support whatever decision the club, the league and all other parties agree is safe, sensible and 'fair'. As long as we have access to see the game (and the suggestion is, we will) and as long as the trial is successful and a move back towards full capacity I am fine with it.

The club getting paying fans back in, supporting the team, etc is what's important. And no individual fan is bigger than the club or the solution they put in place.

I would rather 5,000 paying Burnley fans return to games and me not be one of them. Than 0 Burnley fans return and me being part of them!

Some people need to accept that there is a much bigger picture than their own.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Because some people are selfish and only want what suits them. And are too impatient to wait until its safe and sensible for measures to relax gradually.

Gradual, sensible return means full blown return is likely sooner and restrictions being reintroduced less likely.

Correct, just wait til things progress and someone gets a ticket for Brighton at home but doesn't get Liverpool at home. God help us if Messi signed for City and people forgot who they supported on missing a ticket for the game against them.

[1HappyClaret]

I hope everyone doesn’t get to excited about fans in stadiums. It seems that because of rising numbers in Germany (still less than the UK daily Covid cases) they are not going to allow fans in until next year and limit private indoor gatherings to 25.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I hope everyone doesn’t get to excited about fans in stadiums. It seems that because of rising numbers in Germany (still less than the UK daily Covid cases) they are not going to allow fans in until next year and limit private indoor gatherings to 25.

Rising cases or deaths?

[1HappyClaret]

Rising cases or deaths?

Rising cases, not sure on deaths but still don’t intend to have fans in grounds before 2021.

[box_of_frogs]

Away fans need to get some too. The atmosphere isn’t great when there’s nothing to flow between the fans.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Away fans need to get some too. The atmosphere isn’t great when there’s nothing to flow between the fans.

I'm always banging the drum (no pun intended) about improving the atmosphere. But for me the return isnt about that. Its about being able to see the team and the game live. Atmosphere can return in time.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Rising cases, not sure on deaths but still don’t intend to have fans in grounds before 2021.

Its probably sensible to wait until spring. And I thought we would too. But (as it stands at least) things seem to be going in the right direction despite increased cases again. So lets hope things remain as stable and fans can return pre christmas.

Imagine the first game back for full fans is boxing day. vs Leeds. What a treat.