" Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadium "
Fri Sep 04, 2020 11:39 am
The Bluebirds feel 10,000 supporters could securely social distance inside Wales' biggest football stadium
October 21st is the next time Cardiff can hope for a crowd of 30% capacity.
No away fans will be allowed to any matches this season.
Friday 4th September 2020
By Paul Abbandonato
Cardiff City have been refused the opportunity to have fans back inside Wales' biggest football stadium after seeking the go-ahead to welcome supporters back even as soon as their Championship season opener with Sheffield Wednesday.
The Bluebirds feel they could securely house a crowd of up 10,000 supporters inside the 33,000-capacity Cardiff City Stadium and have made their case to the Welsh Government.
However, they are being left frustrated by the response, with First Minister Mark Drakeford remaining cautious and monitoring the return of sports fans at differing events across the Severn Bridge in England.
While the Welsh Government has rejected Cardiff's request, it stresses an intention to give the Bluebirds and Swansea City a level playing field with their English Championship rivals when it comes to supporters going back to games.
Cardiff have been told they may have a chance in October ( v Bournemouth 21st October ) to have a 30% capacity, but that again will depend on the figures of the virus at that time.
Cardiff's hierarchy are desperate to hand their passionate fans the match-day experience again and believed it could have even happened in time for the big kick-off on Saturday week, on September 12.
Cardiff then meet Reading at home on September 26, the next time they could push for 10,000 fans to attend.
There is then a gap for a month before they clash with relegated Bournemouth in the Welsh capital on October 21.
The Bluebirds feel a limited number of spectators, up to around 30 per cent of the stadium's capacity, could securely socially distance with every area of the ground used.
The plan would be for season ticket holders only to attend at the first stage, based on a first come, first served approach. That would reward supporters who renewed early.
Cardiff want the shackles to be released by Mr Drakeford, knowing their fans are keen to watch Sean Morrison and his team close up again.
The Bluebirds are ready to implement strict guidelines for entry to the stadium, whenever the go-ahead may be given.
These include one-way entry and exit, hand sanitiser stations and potentially advising supporters lucky enough to get tickets of staggered arrival times.
Supporters would be expected to take full responsibility for themselves by not attending if they are showing Covid-19 symptoms or have been in contact with those who have.
Swansea City, the Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union are also waiting for guidance from the Welsh Government about when fans can return to their own games.
Pressure has started to be put on the authorities after more than 2,500 Brighton supporters successfully attended a pre-season friendly with Chelsea at the weekend. They had to bring photo ID, face coverings, were told not to leave their seats during the action and to avoid fist bumps, high-fives or hugs with fellow supporters.
Other Premier League and Championship clubs across the border are hoping the experiment proves they too can start bringing back fans.
Rugby clubs are also exploring the options open to them, with England asking Prime Minister Boris Johnson to grant permission for 20,000 supporters to attend their looming match with the Barbarians at Twickenham on October 25.
Cardiff supporters have been denied seeing their team in action at home since a 2-2 draw with Brentford back in February.
Despite the lockdown measures, we are told the Bluebirds have still sold more season tickets at this stage than they did for the successful 2019-20 campaign.
However, there is traditionally a big take up in the final two weeks before the new season kicks off and Cardiff believe there would be more chance of that happening again if fans knew they were being allowed back into games.
"We feel a crowd of 30 per cent of our capacity would not be a problem," said Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo.
"We know many of our fans have missed coming to games, want to return, and we feel the time is approaching for us to give them that opportunity again.
"We are in dialogue with the Welsh Government and the football authorities. We are pushing hard on behalf of our fans. We are hoping for something definitive, but it is up to the Welsh Government."
A Welsh Government spokesman responded by saying the public's wellbeing continued to be at the forefront of their "cautious and progressive approach to relaxing restrictions, based on the emerging situation in Wales".
He continued: "At the present time, the only spectator events to be held are the three small pilot events announced by the First Minister. These will have audiences of up to 100 people and will help us to learn more about how spectator events can be securely held if transmission rates of the virus remain low.
"We are also working closely with the UK Government to monitor the outcomes from its trials of spectator events, including the football matches which will be held in England later in September."
October 21st is the next time Cardiff can hope for a crowd of 30% capacity.
No away fans will be allowed to any matches this season.
Friday 4th September 2020
By Paul Abbandonato
Cardiff City have been refused the opportunity to have fans back inside Wales' biggest football stadium after seeking the go-ahead to welcome supporters back even as soon as their Championship season opener with Sheffield Wednesday.
The Bluebirds feel they could securely house a crowd of up 10,000 supporters inside the 33,000-capacity Cardiff City Stadium and have made their case to the Welsh Government.
However, they are being left frustrated by the response, with First Minister Mark Drakeford remaining cautious and monitoring the return of sports fans at differing events across the Severn Bridge in England.
While the Welsh Government has rejected Cardiff's request, it stresses an intention to give the Bluebirds and Swansea City a level playing field with their English Championship rivals when it comes to supporters going back to games.
Cardiff have been told they may have a chance in October ( v Bournemouth 21st October ) to have a 30% capacity, but that again will depend on the figures of the virus at that time.
Cardiff's hierarchy are desperate to hand their passionate fans the match-day experience again and believed it could have even happened in time for the big kick-off on Saturday week, on September 12.
Cardiff then meet Reading at home on September 26, the next time they could push for 10,000 fans to attend.
There is then a gap for a month before they clash with relegated Bournemouth in the Welsh capital on October 21.
The Bluebirds feel a limited number of spectators, up to around 30 per cent of the stadium's capacity, could securely socially distance with every area of the ground used.
The plan would be for season ticket holders only to attend at the first stage, based on a first come, first served approach. That would reward supporters who renewed early.
Cardiff want the shackles to be released by Mr Drakeford, knowing their fans are keen to watch Sean Morrison and his team close up again.
The Bluebirds are ready to implement strict guidelines for entry to the stadium, whenever the go-ahead may be given.
These include one-way entry and exit, hand sanitiser stations and potentially advising supporters lucky enough to get tickets of staggered arrival times.
Supporters would be expected to take full responsibility for themselves by not attending if they are showing Covid-19 symptoms or have been in contact with those who have.
Swansea City, the Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union are also waiting for guidance from the Welsh Government about when fans can return to their own games.
Pressure has started to be put on the authorities after more than 2,500 Brighton supporters successfully attended a pre-season friendly with Chelsea at the weekend. They had to bring photo ID, face coverings, were told not to leave their seats during the action and to avoid fist bumps, high-fives or hugs with fellow supporters.
Other Premier League and Championship clubs across the border are hoping the experiment proves they too can start bringing back fans.
Rugby clubs are also exploring the options open to them, with England asking Prime Minister Boris Johnson to grant permission for 20,000 supporters to attend their looming match with the Barbarians at Twickenham on October 25.
Cardiff supporters have been denied seeing their team in action at home since a 2-2 draw with Brentford back in February.
Despite the lockdown measures, we are told the Bluebirds have still sold more season tickets at this stage than they did for the successful 2019-20 campaign.
However, there is traditionally a big take up in the final two weeks before the new season kicks off and Cardiff believe there would be more chance of that happening again if fans knew they were being allowed back into games.
"We feel a crowd of 30 per cent of our capacity would not be a problem," said Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo.
"We know many of our fans have missed coming to games, want to return, and we feel the time is approaching for us to give them that opportunity again.
"We are in dialogue with the Welsh Government and the football authorities. We are pushing hard on behalf of our fans. We are hoping for something definitive, but it is up to the Welsh Government."
A Welsh Government spokesman responded by saying the public's wellbeing continued to be at the forefront of their "cautious and progressive approach to relaxing restrictions, based on the emerging situation in Wales".
He continued: "At the present time, the only spectator events to be held are the three small pilot events announced by the First Minister. These will have audiences of up to 100 people and will help us to learn more about how spectator events can be securely held if transmission rates of the virus remain low.
"We are also working closely with the UK Government to monitor the outcomes from its trials of spectator events, including the football matches which will be held in England later in September."
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 11:43 am
"Season ticket holders will be able to attend on a first come first served basis ", that'll go well
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 11:58 am
No way the WAG is going to allow spectators in stadiums in Wales before its allowed in England
That would mean Dripford and his cronies making a decision. That will never happen because they are gutless and have no bottle!!
That would mean Dripford and his cronies making a decision. That will never happen because they are gutless and have no bottle!!
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:40 pm
oohahhPaulMillar wrote:No way the WAG is going to allow spectators in stadiums in Wales before its allowed in England
That would mean Dripford and his cronies making a decision. That will never happen because they are gutless and have no bottle!!
Not before England is fair enough, but if that muppett delays until after England have been allowed, then we ought to turn up anyway and have a party in the car park. This dick is just going to go against anything that the UK government do because he's a nobody with a little bit of power.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:47 pm
darran1927 wrote:"Season ticket holders will be able to attend on a first come first served basis ", that'll go well
Well if it's a crowd of 10k as far as aware around 9k have been sold only problem is arranging where fans can sit if not in original seats? But with drakeford suspect get 24hrs to arrange everything!
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:21 pm
darran1927 wrote:"Season ticket holders will be able to attend on a first come first served basis ", that'll go well
City sold less than 8,000.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:40 pm
Their are some right scientific geniuses on here 
I’d personally be surprised if we have anybody in stadiums before next year. Particulary when you add in the winter flu season and increase in Covid cases that will come with colder weather even further combined with the UK governments get back to the office drive. When we got our season tickets for this season none of the three of us expected to see many of the games anyway and I still think that will end up being the case given the current science.
I’d personally be surprised if we have anybody in stadiums before next year. Particulary when you add in the winter flu season and increase in Covid cases that will come with colder weather even further combined with the UK governments get back to the office drive. When we got our season tickets for this season none of the three of us expected to see many of the games anyway and I still think that will end up being the case given the current science.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:52 pm
Shame they can’t just fill the stadium with youngsters or folks under 40. If you’ve e got no pre existing conditions you would be fine probably.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 3:45 pm
phildavies wrote:Their are some right scientific geniuses on here
I’d personally be surprised if we have anybody in stadiums before next year. Particulary when you add in the winter flu season and increase in Covid cases that will come with colder weather even further combined with the UK governments get back to the office drive. When we got our season tickets for this season none of the three of us expected to see many of the games anyway and I still think that will end up being the case given the current science.
Be lucky to have anyone doing anything until next year ? All anyone are interested is in how many positive tests there are and where shall we introduce lockdown next? Never mind deaths and hospital admission are going down or haven't moved despite sharp rise in corvid... politicians are just looking to be doing something ready for next election! when in fact they are causing untold loss of jobs or loss of schooling for kids just to look good and are not following the science.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 3:59 pm
Understandable really, if fans cant return in England then fans cant return in Wales. Wales will follow what the rest of the UK will do in terms of bringing in fans.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 4:17 pm
Get fans back in stadium.. can be spread out..
Ok to go to shops, restaurants, shopping malls but stopped on this..
Come on welsh assembly, take off the blinkers
Ok to go to shops, restaurants, shopping malls but stopped on this..
Come on welsh assembly, take off the blinkers
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 4:49 pm
It’s not necessarily being in the stadium that’s the problem - you can space out 10,000 people quite easily and safely. However, getting people in and out safely is much more difficult, especially as two sides of the stadium are blocked off outside by the COVID-19 testing station at the moment.
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:12 pm
bluebird58 wrote:It’s not necessarily being in the stadium that’s the problem - you can space out 10,000 people quite easily and safely. However, getting people in and out safely is much more difficult, especially as two sides of the stadium are blocked off outside by the COVID-19 testing station at the moment.
At end of day testing site is at citys discretion as it's their land... but it's not hard task to jig site around to allow fans access .
. Nothing is going to change regarding corvid from now until Oct so what are politicians waiting for? A rise in cases as thats all is happening now!
Re: " Cardiff City again told they can't have fans in stadiu
Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:54 pm
Bonner wrote:Get fans back in stadium.. can be spread out..
Ok to go to shops, restaurants, shopping malls but stopped on this..
Come on welsh assembly, take off the blinkers
