Many Australian sports grounds were able to re-open to spectators shortly after the initial six-week closure in March and April 2020. Capacities have since been restricted, with varying rules and guidance applied in different states and at different types of events. As we move forward, with social distancing requirements expected for some time, venues will be weighing up the right re-opening and spectator management plan moving forward.
Movement Strategies, part of GHD’s Advisory practice, has a specialist team that not only understands how stadiums, venues and events are designed and operated but also has global experience of designing for social distancing.
With an increasing body of guidance and experience, Movement Strategies shares the following recommendations to effectively develop and implement safety guidelines while maximising capacity:
Don't just think about the viewing area
Seating may be the first thing that comes to mind when determining the new capacity. However, assessments of the other parts of the venue and how both seated and standing spaces will operate is also essential to ensure distances are maintained for the duration of an event.For example, any constraints in accessing and circulating the venue are vital to understanding the new capacity. The time it will take to get spectators inside before an event starts is needed to plan communications and operations. Making sure people are a sufficient distance apart is one thing, but the time it takes to check tickets and search and/or screen attendees (and potentially add new steps, such as temperature checks and hand sanitisation) also need to be taken into consideration.
Furthermore, with social distancing measures in place, the capacity and throughput of toilets may now be a key factor in how the venue operates, particularly in queuing and concourse spaces. Extra ‘temporary’ provision may be required for toilets in addition to hand-washing facilities, which are more important than ever. It may be necessary to review and update computer-aided design (CAD) drawings of the toilet facilities to help assess the space for social distancing and the space for queues. Consider how people continue to flow around the venue when the new overlay and queues are in place.
What happens in Zone Ex may affect Stadium Operations
‘Zone Ex’ describes the pedestrian routes used by spectators on event days to move between the venue and the transport nodes that support it. It is sometimes referred to as the Last Mile and is likely to include areas outside the direct control of the venue operator. Local transport systems would have a well-established event day capacity which will typically be reduced due to social distancing requirements and will also need to be taken into consideration.
With venues re-opening, there is an onus on the stadium operator to consider the event as a whole, and a plan needs to be developed with local stakeholders that considers how to reduce the pressure on external infrastructure, minimising the potential for social distancing breaches across the whole spectator journey. It is likely that some of the levers for achieving this need to be applied from within the stadium.
For example, to regulate the flow of people in the surrounding streets to enable social distancing, a staggered departure may need to be implemented – with careful consideration given to the order in which blocks of seats are released to reduce the risk of social distancing breaches while minimising the overall clearance time from the venue.
Your CCTV footage can be beneficial in providing a true account of how your fans actually behave together with their arrival and departure habits.
Following the new rules consistently requires effort
When we have observed venues re-opening we have seen patrons and staff try to adhere to social distancing and follow the new operations rules. However, trying to maintain social distancing requires mental effort and over time either people relax or their perception of risk changes. This can occur within an event and from one event to another. There is a need for more sustained management intervention and timely and consistent communication to patrons will be critical.
Face coverings can affect communication
If staff or attendees are required to wear a mask, it is important to factor in that some visual cues are obscured by half the face being covered and the ability to verbally project across a loud noisy space is reduced. This also means the potential for more close contact interactions as people move closer to hear what is being said to them. This clearly runs counter to the social distancing requirements.
If staff need to communicate to the crowds or their colleagues and this is now inhibited, then alternative procedures may need to be identified. Options to consider include amplification of voices through a PA system to communicate to crowds, use of two-way radios for communication between staff or replacing verbal communication with signage and other visual messaging.
Minimising interactions should consider staffing plans
A lot of the planning will naturally focus on maintaining distance between spectators. However, it’s also important to consider that staff members may often interact with more people than a typical spectator. In the context of transmission, if one staff member is responsible for (say) checking everyone’s temperature, this increases their individual risk and – if they happened to be infectious – then they are in a position where their role brings them into contact with many others, increasing the population who could be affected.
In short, procedures and safety measures for staff members needs careful consideration – and when considering staff-attendee interaction points, effort needs to be made to strike the appropriate balance between spectator experience and safety for all.
Assessing lessons from venues and stadiums around the world is an important part of balancing safety with measures to maximise capacity. Don’t be limited to looking at what other sports venues have done – workplaces, retailers and public transport have all been operating with social distancing throughout the lockdown and we have seen that lessons from one sector can be successfully applied to others.
Movement Strategies has been assisting venues in Europe and North America to prepare their re-opening plans. This includes supporting the evaluation of social distancing measures at a series of pilot sporting events on behalf of the SGSA (Sports Grounds Safety Authority) and the EFL (English Football League); the Tower of London re-opening plans, and optimisation of spaces and facilities in office buildings, hospitals and on construction sites. A specialist team that not only understands how sports venues and events are planned but also has experience of implementing social distancing measures will give you confidence that your plans comply with government guidance and safety for all staff and attendees is delivered.
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