Fans back in October?

Earwegoagain wrote:

Saw a ST holding mate of mine this morning he said that the first two thousand that booked tickets will get in first although I haven't seen that written anywhere.

The initial loyalty renewal phase will run until Friday, August 14, and priority access to games in a restricted capacity scenario will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Football fans may return to stadiums for Carabao Cup games as part of test event plans

This weekend the government has reintroduced test events in sport to see what the landscape looks like with fans returning to events.

It's a small step, but an important one on the road to fans being allowed back into stadiums to watch football once again.

Reported on talksport 2 tonight is that leagues below the Conference south and north will be allowed fans back into the grounds

Confirmed

BBC

Non-league clubs at step three and below can admit fans to grounds

Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events.

Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October.

It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs".

The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted.

BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in.

Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits".

Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure".

They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators.

The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds".

BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below.

A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures.

Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]."

She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense".

An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible."

Now the FA has released updated guidelines for clubs at Steps 3 to 6 of the National League System - covering the Southern League and Western League - to allow a phased and limited return of spectators.

Between August 22-30, fans may attend games, “providing that their number does not exceed 15 per cent of the minimum ground grading capacity at these levels or respective figures set out within the FA’s updated guidelines”.

From August 31, that 15 per cent is to increase to 30 per cent.

All clubs at those levels must have a designated Covid-19 officer, complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans, and arrange support for Track and Trace efforts before letting fans in.

5000 give or take season ticket holders in an 18500 capacity stadium (thanks james brent you dick) i think that is do able to be able fit them all in and keep social distancing..

Fans will be allowed back into Scotland games from next month, to reopen with restricted numbers from 14 September

The English Football League is in discussions with the government and the sports grounds safety authority (SGSA) about staging test events next month as the prospect of supporters returning to stadiums edges closer.

The league, together with the department for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) and SGSA has been working with Charlton and Cambridge to devise protocols for a phased return of fans. Matches were played behind closed doors when the Championship season restarted in June but Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, hopes fans can return with social distancing measures in place in October.

Charlton’s League One match at home to Doncaster on 19 September has been targeted as a test event but it is likely other games could be used as test events before then. Charlton’s stadium has a capacity of 27,111 and it is hoped between 6,000-8,500 supporters could attend matches in October.

The EFL, the DCMS, and the SGSA are continuing to explore how supporters could attend games under such distancing measures and to ready staff for the potential return of crowds. The EFL recognises the importance of match-day revenue to its clubs, with gate receipts making up at least 30% of income at the majority of League One and League Two clubs.

The Valley and Cambridge’s Abbey Stadium, which holds 8,127 supporters, were picked as pilot stadiums as they provide contrasting examples in terms of size, structure, and facility. The clubs have worked with the crowd dynamics specialists Movement Strategies to model how supporters could return, exploring the operational challenges, including the flow of fans.

The league is determined to be ready for fans’ return, should the government give the green light to a phased comeback under stage five of the DCMS guidance, which “allows for spectators to return to competition in a controlled and socially distanced way at reduced capacity in competition venues”.

The new league season is set to get underway in the EFL on 12 September but the Carabao Cup first round takes place on 5 September. In the Championship, Watford begin the season at home to Middlesbrough, while Bournemouth host Blackburn Rovers. In League One stricken Wigan visit Ipswich and in League Two relegated Bolton welcome Forest Green on the opening day.

The government reinstated rules which allowed a restricted number of fans into sporting events last week after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, called off planned pilot events at the beginning of August amid fears over the coronavirus infection rate. Last week’s world snooker championship final acted as a test event as around 300 spectators attended the 1,000-seater Crucible in Sheffield.

An EFL spokesperson said: “The EFL continues to work closely with DCMS and the SGSA regarding proposals for pilot events to take place, with all EFL Clubs having aspirations to allow the return of fans into stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The EFL have reportedly reached a deal to allow clubs in all three divisions to live-stream every match next season.

It is claimed that season-ticket holders at clubs like Carlisle United will be able to watch games free of charge, with other supporters charged £10 per game.

The Daily Mail this morning say that Saturday 3pm kick-offs will be included.

They say the EFL have come to an agreement with Sky Sports to allow clubs to stream games on their websites.

The arrangement is set to be in place while a majority of fans are not allowed to attend games due to Covid-19 restrictions.Early games in the season will be played behind closed doors, with October the earliest some fans could be allowed back into grounds.

The Mail report, though, that the streaming deal is likely to remain in place until the Government permits a 50 per cent occupancy rate at stadiums.

A significantly lower percentage is likely to be allowed when fans are first permitted to return to grounds. The report adds that, while money raised by streaming fees will be kept by whichever club sells the service in the Championship, "a more complex revenue-sharing formula will be applied in League One and League Two" because of the big disparity in clubs' respective fanbases.

There has not yet been any official confirmation of any such deal. Sky are also understood to be prepared to allow clubs to stream games which they have chosen for live TV coverage without demanding compensation.

Carlisle yesterday launched an appeal for sponsors to back their streaming service through the iFollow system.

They expect a "high volume” of fans to use the iFollow service, with live games set to be accompanied by BBC Radio Cumbria commentary.

The service is expected to provide a crucial income stream for United in a period when fans cannot watch games at Brunton Park in their usual numbers.

The club have said they will announce further details soon.

Blues chief executive Nigel Clibbens said last night on the club website that he does not expect away fans to be allowed into stadiums whilst there are restrictions on hte number of home fans attending.


He said that was the expected "direction" following talks with the EFL and other clubs.

United, who have sold more than 1,400 season tickets, are looking at accommodating home fans in away areas of Brunton Park as the club seek to maintain social distancing arrangements.

Clibbens added: “I’ve said all along that we have a big advantage here at Brunton Park in terms of the size of our terracing, which means we can get more people in,” he continued. “There are a number of clubs who will get nowhere even close to getting their normal Season Ticket numbers in.

“Quite simply put, they need their full capacity to help those fans, therefore their priority will be home fans over away fans.

"Additionally, and if you think about it logically, in these current circumstances do we really want a couple of hundred of our fans going to Cambridge on a coach, just as an example, or for Cambridge fans to have to make that journey up here when there is still so much concern and uncertainty around the transmission of the virus.

“I don’t really think we want to be encouraging that, and particularly not when all of the games are going to be shown on iFollow anyway.

“What we all hope is that this will all only be in place for a short time because fans are integral to the match day experience. Short-term we must take a hit, but I think everybody understands why that has to be the case."

Totally gone tits up now after yesterday

L1 and L2 cannot go more than a couple of matches with no fans. I think the season will be cancelled.

The club is running a Willy Wonka type competition to see which six fans will be allowed to attend the first match, a shard of green glass has been hidden in a Ginsters pasty. Nools clear favourite to win.

Earwegoagain wrote:

The club is running a Willy Wonka type competition to see which six fans will be allowed to attend the first match, a shard of green glass has been hidden in a Ginsters pasty. Nools clear favourite to win.

Ooh, ooh. How exciting! Instead of delivering 50 pallets to Leicester tonight, I'll bring my truck home and get the missus to unwrap them pasties in the front room! Shorly have a winner by day break!

Earwegoagain wrote:

The club is running a Willy Wonka type competition to see which six fans will be allowed to attend the first match, a shard of green glass has been hidden in a Ginsters pasty. Nools clear favourite to win.

he would be like verccua salt's father where he buys a factory of ginsters pasties to find that shard of green grass.

I think the income from ifollow will be both substantial and unexpected

harvetheslayer wrote:

I think the income from ifollow will be both substantial and unexpected

Plymouth Argyle FC @Only1Argyle

Green heart And a reminder to all non season-ticket holders that the game is available to purchase now for just £10 with 100% of net revenue on stream sales paid to us Raising hands

Simon Hallett

Just a reminder that this is the legitimate way to watch and support your club. People who use "IP" services are undermining everything we are trying to do and depriving us of the revenue we need to keep your club going.

With the Premier League and EFL kicking off this weekend, eyes will not only be focused on the pitch but also on the surrounding stands.

The 2019-20 season reached its conclusion without supporters in stadiums, and the new one is about to begin with no fans as well.

Trial games, overseen by the DCMS, such as the recent friendly between Brighton and Chelsea, have taken place with reduced numbers, with just 2,500 at the 30,000-capacity Amex Stadium.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the intention to return fans to stadiums from 1 October will be reviewed, as part of wider restrictions to tackle the spread of Covid-19. Pilot test events in September will now be restricted to 1,000 fans.

Football clubs have been working with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to thrash through the health, safety, and social distancing issues to be tackled.

The government is also thought to be considering the formation of a Sport Technology Innovation Group.

So in what ways might technology safeguard the match-day experience?

Different solutions [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The trial with limited numbers at Cambridge tomorrow has been cancelled.

What proportion of the £10 from iFollow do Argyle receive?

TGWU

Whats the Simon Hallett reference about "IP" services ?? I thought IP was Internet Protocol but I'm no techy
Is he suggesting that illegal streams will be rife tomorrow ??

Greenlander wrote:

What proportion of the £10 from iFollow do Argyle receive?

Plymouth Argyle FC @Only1Argyle
a reminder to all non season-ticket holders that the game is available to purchase now for just £10 with 100% of net revenue on stream sales paid to us


This is posted a couple of post back.

Tgwu wrote:

Greenlander wrote:

What proportion of the £10 from iFollow do Argyle receive?

Plymouth Argyle FC @Only1Argyle
a reminder to all non season-ticket holders that the game is available to purchase now for just £10 with 100% of net revenue on stream sales paid to us


This is posted a couple of post back.

Are you using the correct term?

"Gross" revenue means all, "net" means after deductions, as in your "net salary is lower than the "gross" figure as tax & NI have been deducted.

So does PAFC get the full tenner, or less?

harvetheslayer wrote:

TGWU

Whats the Simon Hallett reference about "IP" services ??  I thought IP was Internet Protocol but I'm no techy
Is he suggesting that illegal streams will be rife tomorrow ??

That, plus people in the UK using VPN's to give the impression of being abroad and getting the game cheaper than the £10 that Argyle would receive.

Tgwu wrote:

harvetheslayer wrote:

I think the income from ifollow will be both substantial and unexpected

Plymouth Argyle FC @Only1Argyle

Green heart And a reminder to all non season-ticket holders that the game is available to purchase now for just £10 with 100% of net revenue on stream sales paid to us Raising hands

Simon Hallett

Just a reminder that this is the legitimate way to watch and support your club. People who use "IP" services are undermining everything we are trying to do and depriving us of the revenue we need to keep your club going.

SH needs to get his "us  "them" and "your" terms sorted out.  

If it's "your" Club IP users would be depriving "themselves" not "us" of revenue. And if it's "your club" why do we get no say in how "we" run "our" Club, and who is the "us" you refer to? Of course it's not "our" club, any more than Tesco is "our" shop.

Just another subtle way of the owner continuing to give the impression that he's being benevolent in funding his own business.

And before the usual suspects start firing their vitriol at me, just think how you would have reacted if JB had said the same thing.

JB artfully used a couple of stooges to manipulate the media. SH has chosen a more direct roure.

Of course, with all the media and communications staff the Club employs, they could have just said "Please support the service provided by PAFC as all income will go to the Club

Tgwu wrote:

Greenlander wrote:

What proportion of the £10 from iFollow do Argyle receive?

Plymouth Argyle FC @Only1Argyle
a reminder to all non season-ticket holders that the game is available to purchase now for just £10 with 100% of net revenue on stream sales paid to us


This is posted a couple of post back.

The club surely don't receive the full tenner though do they.

Yes, as Grovehill explains what do we get from every tenner after iFollow take their cut.

And do iFollow take a percentage on every paid stream or is there a flat rate so Argyle only see any money if that threshold is exceeded.