Pilot Games - Cambridge United

[shoddycollins]

Why were you playing Salford on a Thursday afternoon?

Let me rephrase from;

'We've confirmed that we can accommodate all ST holders and have recieved our safety certificate for the Salford match this afternoon'

to

'We've confirmed that we can accommodate all ST holders and this afternoon have recieved our safety certificate for the Salford match'

 

[The Terminator]

Ballots for 3 of our 4 home games in December are being done next week.

The EFL trophy home game we have with Bristol Rovers on Tuesday 8th December will be our first game with fans since March.

Our fans living in Tier 3 Kent aren't allowed in ATM sadly.

Also our CEO has said that for now there will be no food or hospitality - You will literally go in, watch the game and go home. Obviously toilet facilities avalible and that is it, so we've been encouraged to bring own food and drink. This has put a number of our fans off, I don't know what other clubs will be doing, but it was always going to be small steps to begin with.

 

[valefan16]

We are unhappy with the 2000 limit for Tier 2 and the one size fits all, if we drop to tier 2 in time for Boxing Day against Barrow we are planning for that as it stands to be prepared if we get dropped on 16th.

Our view is that one size fits all doesn't work as we have a huge ground and how can Old Trafford be treating the same as Salford for instance? Which is a fair point.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

We are unhappy with the 2000 limit for Tier 2 and the one size fits all, if we drop to tier 2 in time for Boxing Day against Barrow we are planning for that as it stands to be prepared if we get dropped on 16th.

Our view is that one size fits all doesn't work as we have a huge ground and how can Old Trafford be treating the same as Salford for instance? Which is a fair point.

The whole reason the government was giving for not opening football sooner was what happens outside the ground. I don't necessarily agree, but that's their reasoning.

4,000 outside Old Trafford is the same as 4,000 outside Holker Street - in fact, Barrow fans are more likely to spread out and walk home, whereas most Man Utd fans need to pile onto public transport.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

We'll also be staggering entrance and exit times to 20-minute time slots (don't know if everyone does), so some have to be in the ground between 2pm and 2.20pm, but I suspect they get to leave straight after kick off too.

 

[The Terminator]

We'll also be staggering entrance and exit times to 20-minute time slots (don't know if everyone does), so some have to be in the ground between 2pm and 2.20pm, but I suspect they get to leave straight after kick off too.

So far we've just said that the ground will open 2 hours before kick off and asked fans to arrive in good time.............................That may change though.

 

[chipmunx]

We'll also be staggering entrance and exit times to 20-minute time slots (don't know if everyone does), so some have to be in the ground between 2pm and 2.20pm, but I suspect they get to leave straight after kick off too.

I think it said leaving was in 5 minute windows depending where you were in the ground and you can leave when your area is called out over the tannoy

 

[Monkey Tennis]

I think it said leaving was in 5 minute windows depending where you were in the ground and you can leave when your area is called out over the tannoy

Yeah, you're right - I didn't see what it said about where you can stand. The way I interpreted it when skimming the statement is that you can stand where you want as long as you're spaced out, but you have to remember whether you were time slot 1, 2 or 3 when you entered. Sounds absolutely bananas, but I guess that's why we're treating it as a pilot.

 

[Son of Cod]

Okay, we're all thinking it so I'm just gonna say it...

Anyone else think it's weird that Oxford University have made a vaccine but the great Cambridge University hasn't?

Fans back in grounds and who is benefitting straight away? Cambridge.

Where were the pilot games originally played? Oh yes. Cambridge.

Let's have a look at the automatic promotion spots. Newport, Cheltenham and...yep you've guessed it...Cambridge.

Wuhan my arse. We all know where this virus really came from.

 

[masi51]

You will be getting barred by the snowflake Laker !!

 

[shoddycollins]

We'll also be staggering entrance and exit times to 20-minute time slots (don't know if everyone does), so some have to be in the ground between 2pm and 2.20pm, but I suspect they get to leave straight after kick off too.

We haven't said anything about staggering entrance or exit, but may have more possible entry/exit points to the ground than you do.

 

[masi51]

In tier 3 rightly in my opinion, we will go into tier 1/2 on the 16th December. Thankfully the infection rate has fallen from just under six hundred to 329 per 100k
I have no interest in going back into the ground before having a vaccine.
Football in the stadium holds no appeal....yes i like the match, but i like the day, the pre/post match games...the banter.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I'll go back regardless. Dont care about the lack of food and drink, I'll wear a mask if need be.
It's one step in the right direction and I will want to be part of it.
(Not for the Papa John's though I have my limits)

 

[denzel ecfc]

London in Tier 2, so we've confirmed that we're now in discussions with our local council and hope to be able to accomodate 2,000 fans, at our next two home games Bristol Rovers and Newport, but it will be season ticket holders only and there will be a ballot.

We have 3,000 season ticket holders.

Isnt that assuming that all Season ticket holders want to go? I imagine a lot will be nervous to go, especially if there is an option to watch at home on ifollow and if it means they will be separated from their usual mates at the ground.

It's a mammoth task though, I dont envy the clubs at this short notice.

 

[masi51]

In tier 3 rightly in my opinion, we will go into tier 1/2 on the 16th December. Thankfully the infection rate has fallen from just under six hundred to 329 per 100k
I have no interest in going back into the ground before having a vaccine.
Football in the stadium holds no appeal....yes i like the match, but i like the day, the pre/post match games...the banter.

gone down from 329 to 278 in a day....falling by 35% across the board in gt. Manchester/Lancashire
looking good for christmas games

 

[Laker]

Isnt that assuming that all Season ticket holders want to go? I imagine a lot will be nervous to go, especially if there is an option to watch at home on ifollow and if it means they will be separated from their usual mates at the ground.

It's a mammoth task though, I dont envy the clubs at this short notice.

Can’t you find yourself a field in Cornwall to play in then get 4,000 in instead? Massive opportunity there. ;-)

 

[shoddycollins]

In tier 3 rightly in my opinion, we will go into tier 1/2 on the 16th December. Thankfully the infection rate has fallen from just under six hundred to 329 per 100k
I have no interest in going back into the ground before having a vaccine.
Football in the stadium holds no appeal....yes i like the match, but i like the day, the pre/post match games...the banter.

What's allowed in tier 1/2?

 

[The Terminator]

Isnt that assuming that all Season ticket holders want to go? I imagine a lot will be nervous to go, especially if there is an option to watch at home on ifollow and if it means they will be separated from their usual mates at the ground.

It's a mammoth task though, I dont envy the clubs at this short notice.

From what I can understand is that it will be close for the reasons you've mentioned, I reckon we will have around 2,300 want to go and 300 will have to miss out.

We've already said that if you miss out on one, you'll automatically get a ticket for the next home game.

Our game with Bristol Rovers on Tues 8th December is now officially a pilot event for us - 1000 fans only will be allowed in, ballot on Monday - I'd like to think a ballot won't be needed for this one, but you never know.

 

[WH_Stag]

Dont think the crowd helped Cambridge last night... not seen your team play for how long and it was mostly moaning from the off.. Think it helped Mansfield in the end.

Was also nice how quiet it went once we scored haha

 

[shoddycollins]

Currently on course to go tier 1 when the tiers are next reviewed on the 16th, which will please Barrow immensely and infuriate Morecambe. A lot can change in two weeks mind you.

 

[Laker]

Dont think the crowd helped Cambridge last night... not seen your team play for how long and it was mostly moaning from the off.. Think it helped Mansfield in the end.

Was also nice how quiet it went once we scored haha

Yeah I think you’re right. I think it’ll get better once players are used to playing in front of home fans again. Sounds daft that home fans could actually be a disadvantage really!

I’ve obviously seen us play in front of small away followings previously but there’s always been some sort of sound when a goal goes in. Absolute silence is a new one to experience, very bizarre.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yeah I think you’re right. I think it’ll get better once players are used to playing in front of home fans again. Sounds daft that home fans could actually be a disadvantage really!

I’ve obviously seen us play in front of small away followings previously but there’s always been some sort of sound when a goal goes in. Absolute silence is a new one to experience, very bizarre.

Was a bit of a concern for us too. It was our second game with fans in but our other one was against Southend so we were never gonna not win that. A few pundits have speculated that Beech-ball could be working so well because there is less pressure on the players and they're more inclined to try creative things knowing they won't hear moans from the home fans if it doesn't come off.

The fact we're already doing so well this season has helped matters though, and last night it did seem like the crowd was a lot more tolerant of players trying something that might not work than they have been in the past. The occasional hollywood pass that went to a Salford player drew polite applause for the effort and vision rather than groans that the execution hadn't been ideal on this occasion.

 

[Greenacres]

Ballots for 3 of our 4 home games in December are being done next week.

The EFL trophy home game we have with Bristol Rovers on Tuesday 8th December will be our first game with fans since March.

Our fans living in Tier 3 Kent aren't allowed in ATM sadly.

Also our CEO has said that for now there will be no food or hospitality - You will literally go in, watch the game and go home. Obviously toilet facilities avalible and that is it, so we've been encouraged to bring own food and drink. This has put a number of our fans off, I don't know what other clubs will be doing, but it was always going to be small steps to begin with.

Our club is offering hospitality packages, but won't be opening the bars or food outlets, not sure how they have worked out that that will be safe...would think it far better for someone to buy a cuppa and tray of chips, then consume them at their place in the ground, than sit in a hospitality suite with goodness knows how many others.

We are in tier 2 so technically pubs and bars can open if they are serving substantial meals, though I guess Scotch eggs will be off the menu, but good luck enforcing the no socialising indoors with people who don't live together or belong to the same support bubble.

Large can of worms...lid removed!

 

[SVH]

Oliver Dowden has confirmed this week there will be more pilot games announced. Not sure if this is at our level but if it is I’d imagine we will be involved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/56566256

 

[valefan16]

Oliver Dowden has confirmed this week there will be more pilot games announced. Not sure if this is at our level but if it is I’d imagine we will be involved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/56566256

Would be nice to have it at Vale Park, huge stadium with a huge wide areas around it and 2 stands have an outside concourse area, would make sense.

 

[GTFCfish]

I would love a pilot game to be at Blundell Park just so I can see a League 2 game again before the inevitable wait to watch another game in League 2 of around 5-10 years.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Our plan is to have a number of summer spectator events, including open air cinemas and the Euro games on A big screen. Obviously, main aim is to make money, but suspect they will also serve the function of testing our systems. The club have also said they will probably have several pre-season games at Home Park, which is very unusual we rarely have more than one, again as test events for next season. The sense I got was that at the beginning of next season clubs won’t be able to go maximise attendance until they have had test events.

 

[Robshep]

I would love a pilot game to be at Blundell Park just so I can see a League 2 game again before the inevitable wait to watch another game in League 2 of around 5-10 years.

New owners might make a big difference. A bit of ambition goes a long way.

 

[GTFCfish]

New owners might make a big difference. A bit of ambition goes a long way.

The new owners are definitely a huge positive for us but I still think it will take us a long time to get back unfortunately.

 

[valefan16]

We’ve got something planned after the season that appears to involve Newcastle Town so possibly some kind of friendly or legends game maybe.

Their manager is also a Vale legend in the Dutch master Ooo ahh Van Der Laan of course!