With 2500 fans being allowed in to watch a friendly at Brighton this Saturday we are inching closer to the prospect of matches next season taking place with some of us actually inside the ground. How this will be achieved remains unclear: most likely it will be a stepwise process, with a few thousand at first before scaling up to potentially full attendances.
How much of an appetite is there amongst fans? From previous comments on this site I’m guessing some may well be reluctant at the moment. For myself, I am 56 years old and consider myself fit and healthy. I believe the chance of contracting the virus in an outdoor environment are very small, as are the chances of getting a severe illness if I did catch it. I would be back like a shot.
How do others feel? If people are not yet ready, what would it take? Not until a vaccine is available? Compulsory wearing of masks by all fans? I’d be interested to know the proportion of regular attendees who would still prefer to stay at home. My guess is that in the higher age groups there will be many who will “wait and see" a bit longer but I’m keen to see opinions.
Ready to go back?
posted on 28/8/20
Well Vidal, I have a reasonable social life with my walking friends but it is easy to distance yourself in the great outdoors and infection is very unlikely in such an environment. I have visited a Wetherspoons once and didn't feel entirely safe and have visited a couple of restaurants and eaten indoors, again not completely comfortable. Had a week in a hotel in North Wales in early August but that was well organised and I was never worried about catching anything. So it's based on a mixture of gut feelings and science.
I can't think that sitting for around two hours in close proximity of strangers is a recipe for avoiding catching anything. I would want to see whether any spikes in infection were linked to football grounds before I made the decision.
posted on 28/8/20
I can understand that. In reality it would be very difficult to demonstrate any link though. People who go to football matches also do other things like going shopping and to work. If one or two fans caught the virus they might blame it on the footy but it would be unlikely to be the cause given what we know about transmission outdoors. There has been periodic outrage about people crowding on beaches and other outdoor places but without any evidence at all of an increased risk of infection. I expect there will be many like yourself though who might want the reassurance of seeing fans going to matches and surviving before doing the same. I go to pubs and restaurants now and don’t really give it a second thought but I’m sure there are many who are still reluctant and who just need a bit more time to get used to the idea. Even if everybody is allowed back I expect attendances will be well down for a while.
posted on 28/8/20
I you are going to pubs and expecting to feel "entirely safe" you visit smarter establishments than me!
posted on 28/8/20
comment by HebridesRam (U2909)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
I you are going to pubs and expecting to feel "entirely safe" you visit smarter establishments than me!
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Especially a " 'Spoons "
posted on 28/8/20
I'm in the Vidal camp.
If this virus would only wipe out those that take hand washing hygiene with a pinch of salt after going to the bog, it might have done us a small favour?
posted on 28/8/20
I didn’t say I felt “entirely safe” in pubs, just that I don’t really give it a second thought. I consider the risk as being very small and not enough to stop me doing things I enjoy if I am allowed to.
posted on 28/8/20
Wasn't even referring to the virus Vidal. Obviously fell short of the mark. I must do better but still pre-season.
posted on 28/8/20
Ah. My mistake. I think we’re all a bit rusty.
posted on 30/8/20
Yes but would rather wait until full crowds. Not interested in going if masks, no chanting etc. I also think that once full crowds are allowed attendances won't be down at all. Quite the opposite, they will flock to football like after the war
posted on 30/8/20
I hope you’re right Chris.