Aviva Stadium celebrated it’s the tenth anniversary yesterday not with an update on the Euro 2020 Finals which should have been one month away but announcing instead that the Defence Forces are now on-site with an area of the stadium being used as a community testing centre for COVID-19.
Stadium management has also been working closely with the FAI, the IRFU and other world-class venues to develop the return to sport protocols initially to enable games to be held behind closed doors once public health guidelines permit.
“It is not the 10-year anniversary we had anticipated at the start of the year,” said Stadium Director Martin Murphy.
“Aviva Stadium is built on greatness and the redevelopment into the world-class venue we are today would not have been possible without the support of the Irish people through Government investment.”
“We are pleased to be able to support the country’s efforts during these unprecedented times.”
“We have hosted some classic sporting moments at Aviva Stadium, and we look forward too many more.”
“To that end, we are working very closely with our stakeholders at the FAI and the IRFU and with leading sports venues around the world to ensure that Aviva Stadium is ready and able to host games in whatever format just as soon as public health guidelines allow.”
These protocols involve creating a players and officials bubble with a deep cleaning of the changing rooms area and even the ability to sanitise the pitch.
Murphy estimates that the number of staff required across broadcasting and stadium operation would be in the region of 160, all of whom would be registered and checked in with contact tracing protocols available to switch on in the event of a notification of infection.
The stadium will be watching closely over the weekend as the German Bundesliga returns to action and there will be plenty of lessons learned over the coming weeks and months.
World Rugby and PRO14 Rugby have each produced their own protocols, and there is plenty of smart thinking going into whatever emerges should the green light be given for a return to action.
Read and Watch: Aviva Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Look back on the Decade
Check out our Live Sessions and Events coming up on Sport for Business
“Fair play you are doing a brilliant job of keeping us all informed and motivated”
Image credit: RTE Six One News
