The third Hampden meeting was on Thursday 3 June.  In addition to ATAC there was various representation from the Glasgow Council Host City Mobility Team, FSE, BTP, UEFA, Czech fans groups.

Key Point!

Food & Drink Kiosks to remain closed.


Full summary of meeting below.

Attendance

Percentage breakdowns of where Hampden ticket holders live was provided.  Unsurprisingly, the largest percentage for all four matches is Scottish.  In order of the four Hampden matches the Scottish percentage for each one is currently 60%, 38%, 56% and 65%.  Respectively these are for SCO/CZE, CRO/CZE, CRO/SCO and Last 16.  There are reasonable attendances for the Croatian and Czech support despite uncertainty of if these fans can travel.  It does sound like a lot of these PNA tickets are being transferred to CZE and CRO fans resident in UK who will not have to quarantine.  There are very few fans expected to travel from CZE and CRO to attend the matches owing to the required potential 10 day quarantine period on arrival.  If restrictions are eased then there is potential for airport shuttle transfers to be laid on.

An interesting point is that most Euro2020 matches have around 5% to 7% of German nationals.  This is a regular things apparently and is mostly ground hoppers.

Any unsold tickets will go on public sale via UEFA.  How many there will be and when this will be is unknown.  I’d expect this to be announced by UEFA if it is going to happen.

Transport

One of the meeting attendees is responsible for authorising the bus parking permit requests.  He will be doing that this week.  The expectation is that once authorised, the person who made the booking will get email confirmation which will contain a pass that can be printed off and displayed on each bus. The UEFA EURO 2020 app now contains some good info about what to expect for travelling to Hampden.  Note that industrial action by RMT will take place on Sundays for a period of time so be mindful if it affects your plans.  Trains in Scotland will be “dry” until we reach Level 0.

Stadium

Currently, no covid testing is required for matches at Hampden.

Your tickets will now show your entry slot.  Expect an email from UEFA for all matches next week.  There will be follow up emails and then a further one on Match Day -2.  We should expect the UEFA Apps to also start pinging notifications as the matches approach and even as individuals approach the stadium.

There will be a UEFA fan shop within the stadium perimeter.  The UEFA app states that no food and drink is to be brought in as “there will be plenty of options to choose from once you’re inside”.  It was announced at the meeting that the kiosks would be closed and that free bottles of water would be available inside.  A suggestion was made that fans can bring in a small snack, an energy bar was given as an example.  I pointed out that this was unacceptable.  I also advised that we would find it difficult to encourage fans to arrive for the early entry slots if they were to remain inside the stadium for potentially 5+ hours without any food.  The reasons given for no food outlets was that socially distanced queuing could not be guaranteed.  FSE pointed out the fact that UEFA fans shop were being permitted and this would pose the exact same challenge.  FSE are escalating this on our behalf and we will see how this goes at the start of next week.  I would suggest you make your members aware of this now – I am genuinely angered by this decision.  I have subsequently pointed out that this is unacceptable for fans with certain medical conditions and also that no other entertainment industry would enforce such draconian sanctions be it rugby, cinema, theatre etc.

We have had a few enquiries about the possibility of taking bagpipes to the game.  The UEFA rep will follow this up. 

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Reps from ATAC attended a further meeting this week led by the planning team at the MET, with some of the stakeholders including FSE, FA, UEFA, Greater London Authority groups and the Czech fans group.

Key Point!
COVID TESTING MAY NOW BE REQUIRED! Announcement expected in the coming days.

Full summary of meeting below.

Transport

The advice remains that fans without tickets should not travel.  For any that do then it is highly recommended that you book somewhere to watch the match as you will not just be able to squeeze into pubs like on previous visits.  Current restrictions in London still require table service at seated tables with masks to be worn while not sat down.

There has been very little demand for coach parking.  I advised that the lack of tickets, socially distanced buses and the pandemic had resulted in very few fans travelling from Scotland via this method.  If you are driving down then the advice is to park around Amersham or Watford Junction in the North and to use public transport from there.  As previously advised, trains are pretty much fully booked.  LNER trains on the East are currently running “dry”.  Avanti trains on the West line are not.

Fanzones

A reminder that the fanzones for the first few matches at Wembley are restricted to key workers and are ticketed events in Trafalgar Square.  Gatherings in Trafalgar Square will not be possible.  There is a football village which will be set up at Potters Field near Tower Bridge.  Note that this is a family friendly venue and will not be showing the matches.  Refreshments are available here and I’d recommend it for anyone looking for something to do with their family while down there.  Capacity is 1,250 and a good way to spend an hour or so.

Stadium

It is now looking likely that some kind of covid mitigation will be required for entry to Wembley.  This will apply to all fans, staff, police, etc.  What this will look like will be decided by the Westminster government.  Speculation on the call suggested this could be certification of 1 vaccination plus a certain amount of days, 2 vaccinations plus an amount of days or a lateral flow test.  What certification will be required is currently unknown and there seemed to be some confusion as to whether or not NHS Scotland certification would be acceptable.  I do not know any more than this at the moment so please do not ask.  Those on the call are as keen as us to know what this will consist of and I know they are pressing the government every day for a decision.  Expect the guidance to be issued imminently together with any test requirements.

There will be ticket checks around the perimeter and once the covid mitigation process is determined this will be in place too.  Wembley are increasing the amount of lanes and channels to be the equivalent of 100% capacity to ensure a quick flow of fans.  This is despite the stadium only being at 25% capacity for our first match there.  There have been plenty matches played with crowds at Wembley over the past month so they have a good idea of what to expect of the day of our first match there.

If there are any ticket issues on the day then there will be an office you can go to resolve these.  Note that this will likely require sight of the ID that was used to buy the tickets.  We will find out if photocopies of passports are acceptable.  Kiosks will be serving a full range of food and drinks.  Alcohol sales are still to be confirmed but there is no reason why they won’t be.  Worst case scenario is a pint of Heineken Zero mixed with a bit of alcohol based sanitiser. 

Again, I asked about bagpipes.  The Euro2020 Spectator Co-ordinator will investigate and confirm.

If anything else comes from these communications channels then it will be passed on.  The teams around both matches have been excellent to work with and the Wembley group have taken a lot of decisions with Scotland fans specifically in mind.

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The second Glasgow Host City / Hampden meeting was on Thursday 20 May and hosted by the Glasgow Council Host City Mobility Team.  In addition to us there was representation from Police Scotland, FSE, SFA, UEFA and Czech fans group.

Fanzone

The Glasgow Fanzone will  be at Glasgow Green.  This will be ticketed with capacity aiming to be 2,000 – 3,000.  This has not been fully signed off yet due to Glasgow still being in Level 3. All games throughout the tournament are intended to be shown, and each day will consist of several slots for viewing the matches. If all signed off, majority of tickets will be free.

Transport

Supporters Buses will be directed on approach to Glasgow so be mindful that you may be asked to use a different route than what you are used to. There are parking spaces for 70 buses and these will be at Langside Road and Jessie Street.  Again, parking will be via the UEFA app which is still to be shared.  ATAC had contacted the clubs who advertise their buses on the SFA website through the ATAC/SFA initiative and there will only be around a dozen buses coming from these groups most of which are at 50% capacity.  Granted some clubs did not reply but those travelling by bus would appear to be very low in comparison to previous matches.  The main reason for this will likely be vastly reduced tickets being available.

We were shown a presentation for travel to the stadium and once this is finalised we will be able to share it.  We asked about Hampden car park and was informed that around 50% of the car park footprint is taken up by broadcasting units.  A lot of the remainder is required for socially distanced queuing etc.  If clubs have elderly or supporters requiring assistance then they may be able to drop these people off closer to Hampden so long as this is well before kick-off times – suggest at least two hours before.  This will be at discretion of those in control on the day. 

There will be free shuttle buses for ticket holders from Glasgow City Centre and these will drop off at Queens Drive and Aitkenhead Road. 

Stadium

The first thing to emphasise here is that UEFA “own” the stadium for these games.  It was reiterated that approach to the stadium will not resemble what we are used to.  When we get to the last KM there will be soft ticket checks, “Disney Style” socially distanced queuing lanes and then further ticket checks.  The UEFA ticket app is now live although no PNA tickets appear to have been allocated at this point in time.  As such, we do not know which area of the stadium our PNA allocation will be for. 

Again we asked about requirements for ID.  Again this will be linked through the ID on the portal account and passport details supplied. Tickets will be synched to the phone and act as the ID.  If members do not have a smart phone then suggest checking UEFA terms and conditions for advice.

There are currently no plans for temperature checks or lateral flow testing.  Like everything it is subject to change.  Similar to Wembley only very small bags are allowed into the stadium.  Check the ticket terms and conditions if you need more info here.  Again, mask wearing is required inside the stadium.

Food and drink availability within the stadium is still to be confirmed and will be communicated.  Again, we expressed that this is one of the things that are key to getting fans into the stadium early.

Egress is aiming to be in a controlled manner but spectators are advised to leave by their nearest exit.  Keep an eye on the screens for information during and after the games.

We have asked the question about whether bagpipes are allowed inside the stadium, and await an answer from UEFA.

Next meeting planned for early June, and again, we will provide a subsequent update.

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The third meeting for the stakeholders of the London Host City / Wembley matches was on Wednesday 19 May.  In addition to ATAC there was various representation from the MET, FSE, BTP, GLA, The FA, Czech and Croatian fans groups.

Fanzone

As previously pointed out the Fanzone will be at Trafalgar Square.  For the first two England group matches the capacity will be restricted to between 750 and 790.  It will be ticket only, by invitation, and these first two matches are only open to key workers.  The intention for the Fanzone is that is will be a place to watch the matches rather than a pre-match venue.  Greater London Authority are aiming to secure the square from Thursday 17 June.  Post-21 June, they are aiming to accommodate around 7,500 if social distancing measures are relaxed.

Transport

It appears that trains from Scotland to London are sold out for matchday and also for matchday -1.  Currently, alcohol is permitted on Avanti trains but LNER are still dry.  British Transport Police are pushing for updates and are conscious that a level of relaxation would be well received by passengers. 

Bus parking zones will be bookable via a UEFA app.  Once we have the link to this it will be shared.  If driving to the match then the recommendation is to park North of London and to get an overland train.  There was a lot of emphasis on the fact that both driving and parking within London is not a pleasant experience.

For the Czech and Croatian fans under current Amber travel restrictions they face a 10 day quarantine with a test on day 2 and also on day 5. The UK government want to end restrictions on 21 June but the Indian/April 02/B.1.617 variant may prevent this. The Czech and Croatian reps both spoke about how difficult their current position is, and with continued uncertainty as to whether those with tickets will be able to attend. Some may travel, but the bulk of both supporters based outside of the UK remain in limbo.  We have sympathised with both fan groups, and really feel for the Croatian and Czech fans sitting in on these planning meetings knowing that there is a good chance they will not be attending the games.

Stadium

We asked which section our PNA tickets will be for.  This is not yet known.  We asked if photocopies of ID would be acceptable.  There seems to be a feeling that the tightly controlled UEFA ticket app may preclude this as it holds passport details.  Graeme pointed out that ID is a requirement within the UEFA ticketing terms and conditions but there is a feeling that this may be to cover all bases for the specific countries where this is law.

Currently there is no requirement to provide negative lateral flow tests but mask wearing inside is required.  Obviously current advice could change.  Food and drink should be available in the stadium.  We have asked if bagpipes are allowed and are waiting to find out.  Note that only very small bags are permitted to be taken inside the stadium.  There are no staggered egress plans for after the match.

Non-ticket Fans

If there are fans travelling to London without tickets then it is advised that they book pubs for watching the match.  Again, it was made clear by the hosts in London that this will not be a normal trip and fans without tickets would really be better staying in Scotland to watch the game.  Mass gatherings are not permitted in England under covid restrictions.  Places such as Hyde Park have additional complications given their Royal Park status, and should be avoided.

A further meeting is scheduled for early June, and we will continue to provide updates from these sessions.

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Last week, ATACs Chair and Vice Chair were invited to join the first of several meetings with the Glasgow Host City stakeholders, to discuss the plans for fans returning to Hampden for the Euro2020 matches, and some of the plans and mitigations in place. The meeting was attended by those on the Glasgow Host City team, SFA security, Police Scotland, and Football Supporters Europe.

Transport

We discussed the various plans for travelling to Hampden. It is expected that the majority of those heading to the stadium will begin their match day experience somewhere in Glasgow city and head to Hampden from there. Shuttle buses will be running from the City Centre.  Walking routes will be signposted and there will be volunteers and stewards similar to what was in place for the Commonwealth Games. Given the current situation, Walking from the city is the preferred option, and would avoid various stages of queueing for fans.

There will also be some supporters buses running direct to Hampden, although reduced numbers due to social distancing. There will be a parking tool launched on the UEFA website for bus organisers to claim a parking permit. There will be several areas where buses will be directed to. More info on when this parking tool launches will be forthcoming and ATAC will communicate this with all of our clubs, and the extended list of clubs we hold who run buses.

Fanzone

As was recently reported in the media, the Fanzone for Glasgow has now been relocated to Glasgow Green – plans still being finalised, but the intention is this is planning to be open for all 31 days of the tournament.  Similar to the one in London it will be ticketed and tickets will be free but applied for through a ballot.  It will show all matches and on tournament rest days there will likely be cultural type events.

Heading to the Stadium

The stadium itself will open 3 hours before kick off. Fans are encouraged to get in to the stadium as early as possible. There will likely be half hour entry slots for ticket holders, although we are unsure at present how these will be allocated.

On closer approach to Hampden there will be three perimeter entrances.  Your ticket will determine which one you should be heading towards.  We were told that stadium approach and entry will be different to what we are used to. There will be security checks on approach including searches with “wands” similar to what airport security use.  Your virtual ticket will be activated at a certain point as you approach the stadium.  Socially distanced queues will be in place to enter the stadium and there may be more than one search as you approach.

These security protocols will be in place for everyone that attends.  If you arrive at 10 mins to kick off then you will need to go through all these processes just as the fans who arrived 90 mins before you did.  Leaving entry to the last minute will risk missing a decent chunk of the match.  Do not leave it to the last minute.

Once inside the stadium we are unsure what facilities will be open, but as we are already aware, there have been no changes to the alcohol at football legislation.  We did point out that there needs to be something on offer to realistically attract fans inside two hours before kick off.  We did also point out that our 2pm match will have a totally different feel to our 8pm kick off. The organisation team agreed, and committed to continuing to work on this.

UEFA Euro 2020 Fans App

The team shared some of the excellent content available on the UEFA Euro 2020 Fans App, and we would encourage fans to download this

Future Meetings

For most of us this will be the first time we’ve been at a professional football match with a crowd for over a year. They will provide great opportunities to show that Hampden, Glasgow and Scotland are capable of delivering events, and we fully support the efforts of the Host City team to host these matches in the difficult circumstances we currently find ourselves in.  We are aiming to have joined up comms with the SFA and Host City teams as we go forward. ATAC have taken an action to approach the clubs on the Supporter’s Bus Lists to establish how many we are anticipating using that method of transport, and we will meet again with the stakeholders in a few weeks time.

As always, if any supporters have any points for us to ask or raise, or any concerns to get in touch with us wither through your ATAC Club rep, or with us directly, ahead of future meetings.

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