The final of this year’s World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre is set to go ahead without capacity restrictions after fan attendance plans for the event were unveiled.
The final is due to take place on May 2-3 and World Snooker said that social distancing will not be expected at the venue, which seats around 980 fans. Some guidelines will be in place to limit the potential spread of COVID-19, including the wearing of face coverings.
The World Snooker Championship gets underway on April 17 and spectator capacity will steadily increase throughout the event. For the first round, which runs until April 21, attendance will be capped at 33%, with social distancing and mask wearing to be required.
For the second round, which runs from April 22-26, capacity will increase to 50% and this will rise to 75% for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, which are scheduled to take place from April 27 to May 1. Social distancing will not be in place after round one.
The UK government confirmed earlier this week that the World Snooker Championship would serve as a test event for the return of fans in England. The FA Cup semi-final between Leicester City and Southampton, as well as the finals of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, will also be test events.
All fans attending the World Snooker Championship will be required to take a COVID-19 test before the event and additionally five days post-attendance. Both tests will be provided free of charge. Spectators will also be required to scan a QR code and check in using the NHS Track and Trace app upon entry to the Crucible.
Ticket holders for the event have received an email with further information on attending. Once current ticket holders have chosen their option, all remaining tickets will go on general sale on April 14.
Up to 4,000 fans are set to attend the Leicester vs Southampton FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 18. Wembley’s capacity will increase to 8,000 for the Carabao Cup final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City on April 25, and then to 21,000 for the FA Cup final on May 15.
According to The Guardian, Tottenham and Manchester City will each receive 2,000 tickets for the Carabao Cup final. Supporters will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test or evidence that they have had a vaccination.
Other tickets are set to be given to local residents in Brent and NHS staff.
Image: Peter Tarleton/CC BY-SA 2.0/Edited for size
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