When will large sports events return?

[tertius]

What are people's thoughts on when we will see large sports events (horse racing, football, rugby, motor racing, etc.) return following the Coronavirus shut down?

My fear is that these will be one of the last sorts of things to be permitted as they are perhaps one of the worst scenarios one can envisage - large numbers of people from disparate locations (including international for the major events) all compressed into relatively confined spaces, huge amount of milling about and interaction plus a heavy use of public transport - and so we might be waiting a long time.

Will we see anything like this back even next year - 2021?

Perhaps the economic impact of NOT allowing them will be such that we will find ways around it - temp checking at entrances, enforced tracking, etc.?

[robbieduncan]

There are two things here: major sporting events and large crowds. We may see the return of major sporting events with no crowds much sooner than we see the return of crowds

[tertius]

robbieduncan said:

There are two things here: major sporting events and large crowds. We may see the return of major sporting events with no crowds much sooner than we see the return of crowds

You raise a good point, I wonder how this will impact events in public spaces where the crowd can't be easily controlled, like the London marathon, Henley Royal, Tour de France, etc..

I see that the TdF are saying August for this year, but realistically will that actually be possible?

[robbieduncan]

tertius said:

You raise a good point, I wonder how this will impact events in public spaces where the crowd can't be easily controlled, like the London marathon, Henley Royal, Tour de France, etc..

I see that the TdF are saying August for this year, but realistically will that actually be possible?

Maybe. French laws on social distancing seem quite strict and policed. So if still in force and entire TdF teams/organisation are tested and shown to be clear could go ahead?

[danpalmer1993]

I think it will depend on if it's an international event (F1, etc) or a national event such as Premier League. I can see how national events may return behind closed doors, purely because of the economic impact of them not happening.

F1, etc is in trouble this year as with the amount of international travel and the size of the crowds it will be very difficult to do, even if you did it behind closed doors.

[Truckosaurus]

danpalmer1993 said:

I think it will depend on if it's an international event (F1, etc) or a national event such as Premier League.....

That's certainly a major distinction. Another thing that will have to be considered will be events that previously had low turnouts but would be extremely popular if they were the only sporting events taking place, for example non-league football or club motorsport races.

[WJNB]

Hopefully not this year & better still not at all until a vaccine has been found.
Let's get our priorities right, sport is NOT a right it is NOT essential for our health.
It is a glorified hobby & those who cannot cope without sport need to get a grip & find other ways to occupy & amuse themselves.
The fact that the Olympics may be cancelled should be of no consequence whatsoever & as for football the bleating in the media about how the big games cannot be played is pathetic & selfish.

[Rosscow]

WJNB said:

Hopefully not this year & better still not at all until a vaccine has been found.
Let's get our priorities right, sport is NOT a right it is NOT essential for our health.
It is a glorified hobby & those who cannot cope without sport need to get a grip & find other ways to occupy & amuse themselves.
The fact that the Olympics may be cancelled should be of no consequence whatsoever & as for football the bleating in the media about how the big games cannot be played is pathetic & selfish.

Sport is a business, just like any other. The lack of it is meaning thousands of people are out of work and will be until it resumes.

Not just the players - the coach drivers, the cleaners, the stewards, the catering staff (indeed the whole chain of supply for the catering itself), the broadcasting staff, the administration staff, security staff, the groundsmen, the people that service the mowers, the list is endless.

It's most certainly not a glorified hobby. They need to find a solution to be able to start it up at some point PDQ.

[tertius]

Rosscow said:

WJNB said:

Hopefully not this year & better still not at all until a vaccine has been found.
Let's get our priorities right, sport is NOT a right it is NOT essential for our health.
It is a glorified hobby & those who cannot cope without sport need to get a grip & find other ways to occupy & amuse themselves.
The fact that the Olympics may be cancelled should be of no consequence whatsoever & as for football the bleating in the media about how the big games cannot be played is pathetic & selfish.

Sport is a business, just like any other. The lack of it is meaning thousands of people are out of work and will be until it resumes.

Not just the players - the coach drivers, the cleaners, the stewards, the catering staff (indeed the whole chain of supply for the catering itself), the broadcasting staff, the administration staff, security staff, the groundsmen, the people that service the mowers, the list is endless.

It's most certainly not a glorified hobby. They need to find a solution to be able to start it up at some point PDQ.

Quite, I think WJNB doesn’t really understand the impact this is having and will continue have at all levels - even small community sports clubs employ people (cleaners, coaches, bar staff, etc.), spend money (equipment, suppliers, rent, etc.) and all those downstream businesses are also affected.