Managing Director David Burgess provides an update on the proposed return of fans to the Wham Stadium and season tickets for the 2021/22 campaign.
1 When will fans be allowed back into the stadiums?
We are meeting regularly with EFL with the return of fans top of the agenda. The government’s roadmap will shape as to when fans will be able to return with the government’s ‘all restrictions lifted’ date of June 21st being the catalyst as to when the stadium gates will reopen.
The EFL are currently looking at four different scenarios of 100%, 50%, 25% and 0% capacity being allowed back into stadiums. The Department of Public Health (DPH) will also have a say as to how many will be allowed back dependant on the local infection rates at that time.
2 When will Season Tickets go on sale?
We are holding off release dates for Season 2021/22 season tickets until we have EFL and DPH confirmation of when and how many supporters will be allowed back into the Wham Stadium. We don’t want to be in the same position as we were in late September 2020 when the government stated we were allowed 1,000 season ticket holders into a stadium test event only to put the Covid restrictions back in place a few days prior to the event taking place.
3 Will the current season ticket card be used to enter into the stadium?
We are going to have a clean start and provide NEW season ticket cards to ALL purchasers of season tickets for season 2021/22
4 Will the season ticket holder be able to purchase the same seat as last season?
Once on sale, those who purchased tickets in the main stand will have the opportunity of securing the same seat as in previous seasons. Once the new hospitality and supporters’ bars are completed in early 2022, we might need to move some season ticket holders from Blocks G and H to other parts of the HML Recycling Jack Barrett main stand or across to the Studio.co.uk Eric Whalley stand dependent what the season ticket holder wants. Season ticket holders in the Studio.co.uk Eric Whalley stand will still be able to purchase their current seats in Blocks A and B. As in previous seasons, we may have to move Studio.co.uk Eric Whalley season ticket holders over to the main stand seats for the odd game where the away club is well-supported.
5 Will social distancing requirements need to be put in place?
The government and DPH guidelines will determine what social distancing, if any, will need to be in place. This will then determine which seats can go on sale to season ticket holders. Ideally, we will be able to have 100% capacity and all season ticket holders will be able to re-purchase their current seat in the stands or for standing in the Farleys Solicitors Clayton End. If not, we will need to allocate seats until such a time where 100% capacity is allowed.
The club will continue to update supporters as and when information is released by the government, EFL and DPH.
In the meantime we cannot thank the Stanley fans enough for the continued support over what has been a really difficult 13 months. We cannot wait to open the turnstiles and bars/kiosks, hopefully in time for the start of Season 2021/22