Post by rickyqpr on Jul 8, 2020 12:02:40 GMT
I was pondering whether or not the Covid lockdown may bring longer term implication for football crowds.
First off, football is like a drug, it is a ritual and you attend without question unless serious domestic alternatives -e.g. weddings and funerals
But once that routine has been broken, then it may be a whole new ball game for some to pick up from before. I know, for example, that my longest spell away from QPR was when we had young children and I only attended evening games during that period. But lockdown means that parents have spent far more time with their families (especially their children) than ever before and perhaps found it very rewarding. Perhaps, some will be less likely to return to the football ritual once it is possible.
It is also the case that we now have wall to wall football on the TV and to be honest with most of it pretty sterile. The lack of urgency in the tactics is hardly a great attractor for anyone considering thinking about attending in the future. But so much may prove to be a turn-off.
Then there is the issue of what it will be like when we are eventually allowed to return to the ground. There is a suggestion that grounds may open with social distancing, so stadium capacity will be much reduced. It could mean that tickets will be a lottery and that you could end up with none of your regular community sat with you. Community is a massive part of football and social distancing may well stifle that.
Then there is the chanting and singing. Every game will be like a LDV Trophy attendance and likely to be without atmosphere if capacity is capped.
The most senior of our supporters may also have had a sustained lockdown with very little exercise or mobility and may decide that they no longer feel able or motivated to traipse down to W12.
Some (like me) have been shielding and so will not want to return until such times as there is a vaccine. Others may also feel the same in order to to protect family members. This category has got used to watching the jerky internet in the comfort of their own homes. I guess that may well be offered as an alternative initially as an inducement to renew season tickets and help with social distancing challenges.
Some may decide not to renew their long-standing season tickets because of future Covid risk. I certainly know of some of our group who are pondering.
The facilities (hot water in Ellerslie Road, the fight for a urinal and the squash to even get to the Gents) is going to be quite alien to the way we struggle to even walk past people when out walking.
A second waive does not bare thinking about….
But it will certainly be different, especially for the Championship and below. As ever, the Prem will probably be ok and the Sky hype may well be the spur to return. But for our level, Covid may well have punched a hole in the great community life that is part of attending football and it may take quite a time to get back to where it once was. The economic impact could be massive to clubs like ours. I really hope not. But to me, the vaccine is the only real game changer and at present that could be a long way away.
I think there will be a big push to get crowds back in some form for next season but there are a lot of challenges and changed lifestyles to anticipate.
First off, football is like a drug, it is a ritual and you attend without question unless serious domestic alternatives -e.g. weddings and funerals
But once that routine has been broken, then it may be a whole new ball game for some to pick up from before. I know, for example, that my longest spell away from QPR was when we had young children and I only attended evening games during that period. But lockdown means that parents have spent far more time with their families (especially their children) than ever before and perhaps found it very rewarding. Perhaps, some will be less likely to return to the football ritual once it is possible.
It is also the case that we now have wall to wall football on the TV and to be honest with most of it pretty sterile. The lack of urgency in the tactics is hardly a great attractor for anyone considering thinking about attending in the future. But so much may prove to be a turn-off.
Then there is the issue of what it will be like when we are eventually allowed to return to the ground. There is a suggestion that grounds may open with social distancing, so stadium capacity will be much reduced. It could mean that tickets will be a lottery and that you could end up with none of your regular community sat with you. Community is a massive part of football and social distancing may well stifle that.
Then there is the chanting and singing. Every game will be like a LDV Trophy attendance and likely to be without atmosphere if capacity is capped.
The most senior of our supporters may also have had a sustained lockdown with very little exercise or mobility and may decide that they no longer feel able or motivated to traipse down to W12.
Some (like me) have been shielding and so will not want to return until such times as there is a vaccine. Others may also feel the same in order to to protect family members. This category has got used to watching the jerky internet in the comfort of their own homes. I guess that may well be offered as an alternative initially as an inducement to renew season tickets and help with social distancing challenges.
Some may decide not to renew their long-standing season tickets because of future Covid risk. I certainly know of some of our group who are pondering.
The facilities (hot water in Ellerslie Road, the fight for a urinal and the squash to even get to the Gents) is going to be quite alien to the way we struggle to even walk past people when out walking.
A second waive does not bare thinking about….
But it will certainly be different, especially for the Championship and below. As ever, the Prem will probably be ok and the Sky hype may well be the spur to return. But for our level, Covid may well have punched a hole in the great community life that is part of attending football and it may take quite a time to get back to where it once was. The economic impact could be massive to clubs like ours. I really hope not. But to me, the vaccine is the only real game changer and at present that could be a long way away.
I think there will be a big push to get crowds back in some form for next season but there are a lot of challenges and changed lifestyles to anticipate.