Large events with a large number of spectators are prohibited until the end of October according to the political requirements. Exceptions may be possible if appropriate security concepts are available. But what is justifiable and realistic at large sporting events? “You can allow events, it gets harder the more people there are,” says virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit of the German Press Agency.
How is football doing at the moment?
“I have always said that spectators are very, very lacking,” said master coach Hansi Flick from FC Bayern. Since the restart of the Bundesliga in mid-May, the professionals have been kicking in the stands in front of fan cardboard stands at best. How things will continue in the new season is still uncertain. “It is too early to say anything about the new season, the corresponding concepts are still being developed and coordinated,” the German Football Association said recently. Also without spectators, the DFB Cup final between Bayer Leverkusen and champions FC Bayern Munich will take place on July 4th at the Berlin Olympic Stadium. There will also be ghost games at the final tournament in the Europa League from August 11 to 21 in North Rhine-Westphalia.
What is the situation like in other sports?
While in football the big money flows from TV revenues, most other professional and amateur sports are largely dependent on ticket sales – and are therefore particularly interested in viewers. The final of the basketball Bundesliga at the weekend in Munich, however, cannot, as recently discussed, be the first event of a German professional league since the Corona virus break, at least with some fans.
In the new season, the basketball Bundesliga hopes to play with fans soon. “We cannot play economically without spectators, or we get state aid to compensate for this,” said BBL Managing Director Stefan Holz of the German Press Agency in Munich.
The managing director of the German Ice Hockey League, Gernot Tripcke, recently said: “We take note that there is no general ban and will work together with the arenas to get as many spectators as possible into the halls.” The Handball Bundesliga also hopes to start the season in September with at least 2,000 spectators.
What are the special hurdles at sporting events?
With regard to the risk of infection, several factors are crucial, explains the virologist Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit: the amount of viewers, the amount of time they spend together, and their behavior. “There can be 300 people sitting in the stands, wearing a mask and not saying a word for two hours – the probability is very low. On the other hand, an hour maybe even sitting at a distance but without a mask and roaring for an hour – that helps then the distance of 1.50 meters is also very limited, because droplets can fly further. ” That distinguishes, for example, football games from large events, which are less emotional.
“Most of the time, the toilets are such a linchpin because there are just a few and because it often gets very tight,” says Schmidt-Chanasit. “It’s also difficult to regulate when there are a lot of people who have to use the toilet at the same time.” There must also be coherent security concepts for arrival and departure. Where are the risks particularly high?
“In principle, however, there are better conditions for virus transmission in closed rooms because aerosols also play a role,” explains Schmidt-Chanasit. “They don’t play such a big role outdoors because they dilute faster. Outside, the droplets play a role.”
So is the risk of infection in a well-filled handball hall necessarily greater than in the football stadium?
According to Schmidt-Chanasit, this cannot be said in general. “It is a fact that super spreaders events have already taken place outside, keyword Champions League game in Bergamo,” he says. “But the tendency is always that in closed, poorly ventilated rooms that are very full, the best conditions for transmission are of course.”
What does the virologist think is realistic?
The more spectators are present at a sporting event, the more difficult it becomes to implement hygiene and safety concepts, emphasizes Schmidt-Chanasit. “That’s why I always take the example of a large football stadium: If we let 300 fans in there, of course you can, you can argue with them, and you can also take a half step in.” With 10,000 fans, on the other hand, “there are also more and more people who just don’t follow the rules,” he explains. “I don’t see any realistic way to keep this up somehow.”
What ideas do organizers have?
In the Dortmund stadium, they want to test a special thermal imaging camera on the last day of the Bundesliga football match, which measures the body temperature of people entering at the stadium entrances without contact. In addition, 3D sensors are to be used to determine whether the distance rule in the grandstand block is being observed. “We have to wait and see whether the technology used will ultimately be useful and helpful,” said Carsten Cramer, head of marketing at BVB.
The Cologne Lanxess Arena has at least found a solution for concerts with which they can receive almost 900 spectators – and rebuilt it specifically: To comply with the corona rules, visitors are placed in small plexiglass boxes in the interior, which open up to the stage are. Sports events also take place in the hall – because the interior is then used as a play area, this solution is not suitable here, the organizers explain. Boxing events are an exception.
