Spectators will be able to watch a preseason match between Premier League teams Brighton and Chelsea on Saturday as part of the latest series of sporting events used to pilot the safe return of fans to England during the coronavirus pandemic.
The match will take place at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, with 2,500 tickets made available for fans, the club said Wednesday.
Other events used in the rider include a top division rugby match between Harlequins and Bath on 5 September, the St. Leger horse race – one of the so-called “classics” of flat racing – in Doncaster on 9 September, and a football match. of the women’s Super League between West Ham and Arsenal on 12 September.
The UK government said “capacity limits … will vary based on individual venues and events, with further pilot projects to be announced in due course”.
The government hopes there can be a full reopening of the stadiums for fans in October.
“I know fans and their teams are looking forward to coming together in stadiums across the country, but it is imperative that we take a cautious and gradual approach to getting fans back to safety,” said Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson canceled previously planned pilot events with some fans in attendance during the first two weeks of August amid fears over the coronavirus infection rate.
A new pilot trial began in the middle of the month, with around 300 spectators attending the final two days of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield.
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