Cambridge United Confirm Test Events With Crowds
The Abbey Stadium, home of Cambridge United, will be the first ground in England since the Coronavirus outbreak, to host test events with crowds at competitive professional fixtures.
These will take place at the two home matches against Fulham U21s on Tuesday 8th September (K.O 7:30pm) in the EFL Trophy and Carlisle United on Saturday 12th September (K.O 3:00pm) in Sky Bet League Two.
The club has been chosen to host the two test events, having previously been part of a joint project by the EFL and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) that looked at the safe application of social distancing at football grounds.
That work was overseen by crowd dynamics experts, who will also assess the pilot matches at the Abbey Stadium on behalf of the SGSA and Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Appropriate measures have been applied at the Abbey Stadium, with both terraces and seating arrangements available. As a result of two fixtures taking place at the same venue in a short period of time, it will allow for any learnings to be implemented quickly under the same conditions.
The match against Fulham U21s will see 1,000 home supporters able to attend in a socially distanced manner in the Newmarket Road End, North Habbin Stand, South Habbin Stand and Mead Plant & Grab Stand.
Meanwhile, the Abbey Stadium will also be staging a full pilot event when the club host Carlisle United on Saturday 12th September, with Cambridge United able to permit access to 2,500 home supporters across every area of the ground.
Cambridge United CEO Ian Mather, commented: “First and foremost, it is a real honour for Cambridge United to be able to represent our fellow professional football clubs, and lead the way in the Government and EFL’s pilot work to re-introduce supporters to football stadiums at competitive matches across the country.
“For us to be able to welcome our own supporters back to the Abbey Stadium after such a long period away, I’m certain will be welcome news indeed to our fanbase, who have been incredibly supportive throughout the tough period since the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Cambridge United will strive to do everything we can to make these events as safe and successful as they possibly can be, so that we play our part in football supporters up and down the country being able to return to watch their own respective clubs.
“We have seen throughout this challenging time, the role and impact football clubs are able to have in so many people’s lives, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of the process to allow that to return.”
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