Was Saturday’s crowd experiment a wise decision

[r00fie1]

I would suggest lower risk in the open air than on an enclosed underground train or in a pub or a school.

 

[rob_fmttm]

Yes I thought that, I thought one of the stipulations was that fans can’t shout or chant.

You thought wrong, then. At no point were we asked not to chant or sing but we were several seats apart from each other in the open air - crucially.
The test therefore also proved to everyone that even with social distancing you can create an atmosphere.

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

The game was on ifollow so it wouldn‘t have been broadcast in pubs, that’s why season ticket holders get free streams, so they can watch at home.

I watched it in a pub in Redcar... some pubs use streaming boxes.

 

[Otto42]

If it was wrong to test for 1,000 on Saturday in what was essentially a COVID-19 compliant environment then we might as well all stay indoors until this mythical vaccine appears!

 

[coluka]

You thought wrong, then. At no point were we asked not to chant or sing but we were several seats apart from each other in the open air - crucially.
The test therefore also proved to everyone that even with social distancing you can create an atmosphere.

It is right that such experiments are carried out, we learn from such things and the club and the fans were willing participants. I would not have felt comfortable but thats my choice and personal balance to risk and reward.

However, Rob, their was one particular seated line of people sat directly behind one another in a vertical line. They did not appear to be a row apart on the TV pictures shown before the game kicked off. Any chanting or singing from them would potentially spread particles from their mouths over the person occupying the seat directly in front. I thought that was an unnecessary risk at that time. I accept the vast majority looked fine, but that one line looked risky from the tv perspective anyway.

 

[EI_Owen]

You thought wrong, then. At no point were we asked not to chant or sing but we were several seats apart from each other in the open air - crucially.
The test therefore also proved to everyone that even with social distancing you can create an atmosphere.

There was an article in the gazette mentioning it a few weeks ago but it was probably a load of bull

 

[RavsDad]

Y


Ah okay, so bottom line is the rules were broke.

I suppose you want to file under your freedoms to do what you want?

Congratulations, have you ever considered a career as a traffic warden? You seem ideally suited.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Well done to all of the clubs who went ahead with this, it was an experiment and hopefully the behaviour of the fans was observed to make changes needed for it to go ahead again.

With such a small group one would have hoped that each fan would be followed up for feedback.

Hopefully it can be extended to four stands once the current panic subsides.

 

[ForssAwakens]

Congratulations, have you ever considered a career as a traffic warden? You seem ideally suited.

Oh the rules don’t apply to you?

I robbed a bank but I was just supporting my family, see what I did there

 

[EI_Owen]

I watched it in a pub in Redcar... some pubs use streaming boxes.

Are they allowed to do that?

 

[rob_fmttm]

Well done to all of the clubs who went ahead with this, it was an experiment and hopefully the behaviour of the fans was observed to make changes needed for it to go ahead again.

With such a small group one would have hoped that each fan would be followed up for feedback.

Hopefully it can be extended to four stands once the current panic subsides.

There has been lots of feedback to the club and also collected by the fans forum - we have also passed on a lot to FSA for them to add to all the others from other clubs.
The council imposed all the ticket checkpoints and giving out face masks and also they said NO to any food points outside the stadium. With the COVID situation on Teesside these were all probably very important steps to make.
There was one really interesting tweet from a 73 years man who said he had not been to shops since COVID but was taken to this match by a relative and felt really safe and secure. I thought that was great to read.

 

[rob_fmttm]

It is right that such experiments are carried out, we learn from such things and the club and the fans were willing participants. I would not have felt comfortable but thats my choice and personal balance to risk and reward.

However, Rob, their was one particular seated line of people sat directly behind one another in a vertical line. They did not appear to be a row apart on the TV pictures shown before the game kicked off. Any chanting or singing from them would potentially spread particles from their mouths over the person occupying the seat directly in front. I thought that was an unnecessary risk at that time. I accept the vast majority looked fine, but that one line looked risky from the tv perspective anyway.

Could this line have been the club playing staff seats in the lower section either side of the tunnel or maybe hospitality seats?

 

[EI_Owen]

I found the gazette article, I didn‘t imagine it, but the headline said could not would

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport...ws/middlesbrough-fans-face-chanting--18770299

 

[rob_fmttm]

Yes, I remember that. But that code of conduct wasn't mentioned again in the build up to the game. There were test games the week before - I linked a video from a women's game at West Ham and the fans were clearly singing there.
It has to be said people were clapping more than anything and though there was singing, it was more cheering, clapping etc. Everyone was getting into the atmosphere but being sensible.

 

[RavsDad]

Oh the rules don’t apply to you?

I robbed a bank but I was just supporting my family, see what I did there

Nope, you're obviously

Oh the rules don’t apply to you?

I robbed a bank but I was just supporting my family, see what I did there

Yes, I saw you being both incorrect and anal at the same time. Quite an achievement but I guess you've had plenty of practice.

 

[ticker_tape]

I left my mask on during the game, with the occasional pull down to give the referee grief. Thought it all went swimmingly well.

 

[TeessideCleveland]

If those who attended the game wore face coverings and socially distanced correctly then you would hope not. It looked good the way they had seated the fans.

Very few were wearing face coverings in their seats
It actually made me a bit anxious about the 3rd October

If those who attended the game wore face coverings and socially distanced correctly then you would hope not. It looked good the way they had seated the fans.

When I saw the pictures not many were wearing masks, so while 1000 were socially distanced I had a bit of anxiety about 10000 not wearing masks
I was actually considering paying for the 3rd October game - to leave going until after the international break - to let them iron out the new seating arrangements
So I'm quite comfortable about waiting - and watching the match by streaming - until this hopefully subsides a bit

 

[TeaCider]

It is right that such experiments are carried out, we learn from such things and the club and the fans were willing participants. I would not have felt comfortable but thats my choice and personal balance to risk and reward.

However, Rob, their was one particular seated line of people sat directly behind one another in a vertical line. They did not appear to be a row apart on the TV pictures shown before the game kicked off. Any chanting or singing from them would potentially spread particles from their mouths over the person occupying the seat directly in front. I thought that was an unnecessary risk at that time. I accept the vast majority looked fine, but that one line looked risky from the tv perspective anyway.

Presumably people sitting in the wrong seat.

I saw 3 men sat right next to each other at the start of the match, but they were moved apart in to their allocated seats by the stewards.

 

[TeaCider]

Very few were wearing face coverings in their seats
It actually made me a bit anxious out the 3rd October




When I saw the pictures not many were wearing masks, so while 1000 were socially distanced I had a bit of anxiety about 10000 not wearing masks
I was actually considering paying for the 3rd October game - to leave going until after the international break - to let them iron out the new seating arrangements
So I'm quite comfortable about waiting - and watching the match by streaming - until this hopefully subsides a bit

Fans aren't returning in October anymore, it's been delayed indefinitely.

But fans weren't wearing masks in their seats because they weren't required to do so, it's unsurprising. Given every fan was sat about 2m apart from the next fan, and it was open air, I don't see the issue.

Everyone was wearing a mask in the concourse and on the stairs.

 

[TeessideCleveland]

Fans aren't returning in October anymore, it's been delayed indefinitely.

But fans weren't wearing masks in their seats because they weren't required to.

Everyone was wearing a mask in the concourse and on the stairs.

Ah well that's good to hear mate
I wasn't meaning to criticise anyone, I'd just feel a bit anxious with it being windy and someone sat a couple of seats away not wearing a mask - or I could give it to someone else in the same way