The future of sport as we know it hinges on getting fans back into stadia. This is especially true in Ireland where the IRFU, FAI and GAA rely to a very high level on the income generated by matchday ticketing and revenue.
Each week we will take a look at developments around the world on where sporting organisations, public health authorities and governments are moving in the return to stadia.
VACCINE HOPES SEND SPORTS STOCKS SOARING
It is only a first step but it is seen as an important one and the announcement of successful trials of a Covid 19 vaccine by Pfizer were warmly welcomed around the world.
In the US stock market shares in Live Nation soared by 23 per cent on the news, the biggest single-day gain in over 12 years according to analysts.
Madison Square Garden which as a venue is also quoted on the New York Stock Exchange also rose by 20 per cent.
The news came the same day as a suggested hit of $2.7 Billion to be felt by the 32 teams in the NFL which has kept going through the pandemic albeit with a mix of empty and partially filled stadia depending on the approach of individual states.
WESTMINSTER WON’T BE DRAWN
The UK Government is resisting calls to provide for a faster return of sports fans to stadia.
Speaking at a parliamentary debate yesterday Sports Minister Nigel Huddlestone said they would only consider it “as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The Premier League looks set to abandoned a programme of making every game available on premium pay per view with take-up for the games at a price of just under €20 believed to be low and with reputation damage being felt.
Every game had been made available on one of the League’s hist broadcasters through the end of the last campaign and start of this one, in a move to reduce the impact of having no fans.
“A key issue is that this is not just about fans sitting in stands inside the stadia,” said Huddlestone. “We must consider the whole fan journey as well, from home to venue, considering how fans travel to and from stadia, and the risk of gatherings in and out these venues, and a high number of contact points that this risks.”
“We want to get pilots back and fans back into stadia as soon as possible.”
“We’ve had a plan from very early on in lockdown. And it’s been stated and it’s out there, and what we’ve had to do on a couple of occasions, unfortunately, is press the pause button. But we want to get back to the plan as soon as we can.”
OLYMPIC TEST EVENTS PROVIDE PATHWAY
2,000 fans gathered in Tokyo on Sunday to watch 30 athletes from Japan, China, Russia and the United States perform in a test as much of Covid protocols as of the Olympic venue.
Each country was invited to send eight athletes but the US only sent six with others expressing unease about the travelling.
Each athlete undertook a test 72 hours prior to departure. They travelled on charter planes and were separated from other passengers on arrival at Tokyo airport.
They were escorted directly to a biosecure lodge which was strictly policed by security staff and each delegation travelled to the venue on a bus which was deep cleaned after every journey.
Each competitor and official was tested and temperature checked on arrival and there was no sharing of chalk as would normally be the case.
On arrival, all competitors and each of the 2,000 masked spectators walked through a disinfectant mist.
the 2,000 fans were socially distanced around the 8,700 capacity venue and were discouraged from shouting support to minimise the spread of droplets.
IOC President Thomas Bach said after the event that it had increased “confidence in our preparations for future events in particular of course with a view to the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”
Join us this Thursday morning, November 12th at 11 AM for an online session with the authors of our monthly Irish Sport on Social media report.
A chance to chat with the authors of the report and look at ways in which sporting bodies and sponsors, as part of the Sport for Business community can maximise their impact across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Sport for Business Partners
