Reopening Football Grounds in the UK

[Piglet_Phoenix]

Can I ask for the thoughts of the great and the good on here please?

With the current wave yet to peak in the UK, thousands of hospitalisations projected and hundreds of deaths, what is the justification for lifting all the restrictions?

Does social responsibility and ethical behaviour matter? Or is football truly more important than life and death?

[howoldboy]

Can I ask for the thoughts of the great and the good on here please?

With the current wave yet to peak in the UK, thousands of hospitalisations projected and hundreds of deaths, what is the justification for lifting all the restrictions?

Does social responsibility and ethical behaviour matter? Or is football truly more important than life and death?

Cases and hospital admissions are doubling every 11 days in the UK at the moment so it is hard to see any justification for lifting all of the current restrictions.

Last month Professor Steven Riley (Professor of Infectious Disease Dynamics at Imperial College, London) said: “Even though we are seeing the highest infection prevalence in younger people who are less susceptible to COVID-19, if this growth continues it will drive up infections in older, more vulnerable people, as the vaccines are not 100% effective and not everyone has been fully vaccinated. This would lead to more hospitalisations and deaths, and risks straining the NHS, which is why it’s vi-tal that people take up their vaccine offer and continue to stick to the rules.”

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/2241...england-react/

Against this background why would any responsible government remove the rules?

Surely the sensible thing would have been to retain some of the existing restrictions (e.g. social distancing and wearing masks indoors) until the virus is more under control and more people have been vaccinated.

As for "social responsibility and ethical behaviour" the UK Government has demonstrated numerous times in recent months that it has no concept of the meaning of these words.

[Piglet_Phoenix]

I don't disagree with any of the above, Howoldboy.

Where does that leave our first home game of the season and the £10 entry attendance push?

I know the club aren't doing anything illegal and are following government guidelines, but is there a question of ethics here?

Do you simply follow the guidelines, even when the Government is in the wrong? Or do you choose to do the right thing yourselves, because it's the right thing to do?

[Kessler]

Can I ask for the thoughts of the great and the good on here please?

No.

[howoldboy]

I don't disagree with any of the above, Howoldboy.

Where does that leave our first home game of the season and the £10 entry attendance push?

I know the club aren't doing anything illegal and are following government guidelines, but is there a question of ethics here?

Do you simply follow the guidelines, even when the Government is in the wrong? Or do you choose to do the right thing yourselves, because it's the right thing to do?

The Government has decided that, for the time being at least, the public can be trusted to take personal responsibility for controlling (or not controlling) further spread of the virus.

Bearing in mind the average age of the CUFC fanbase I suspect quite a few will initially be slightly nervous of attending a match, particularly when their own personal safety may be dependent on the conduct of other spectators who may be far less fearful of virus implications.

Notwithstanding the stance of the Government, for me it would be reassuring if CUFC (and other clubs) set an example of social responsibilty by retaining a few of the existing COVID related rules, particularly in those parts of the ground where personal safety may be dependent on the consideration of others.

[Piglet_Phoenix]

No.

I wasn't addressing you, Nigel.

[Piglet_Phoenix]

Notwithstanding the stance of the Government, for me it would be reassuring if CUFC (and other clubs) set an example of social responsibilty by retaining a few of the existing COVID related rules, particularly in those parts of the ground where personal safety may be dependent on the consideration of others.

I heartily concur with this.

I'd be all for opening grounds up with masking regulations and distancing involved, however that's not what I've observed at Wembley. Nor is it what I suspect will happen on August 7th, sadly.

Call me reactionary if you like, but I'd also make it mandatory for folk to provide evidence of full vaccination before they're allowed in a stadium.

[cocopops61]

The last two games at Meadow Lane (last month) 25% of fans was let back in with approx 4400 going through the gates and it was fine with everyone being sensible,if 50% capacity is allowed to his season then we will be fine as we usually only get 7000ish in a 20,000 stadium,how many can Brunton Park hold,what's your average attendance and how many would you be comfortable being let back in?

[Piglet_Phoenix]

Our ground holds 18,000ish, so there's more than adequate space to do things properly.

The thing is, Coco, the club are reducing entrance prices to £10 flat and attempting to drive a big crowd for the 7th.

Personally, I had have kept regular prices and spacing then done this promotion, responsibly, when the pandemic was near as damnit over.

[cocopops61]

Reducing it £10 a game every game or is it a limited offer,they won't make any money on that if it's permanent,big home crowds create a better atmosphere and the 12th man is invaluable