Guidance on football stadium safety

Football brings people together, literally. Thousands of people congregate to watch and support their favourite teams battle on the pitch. When the capacity for football stadiums is sky-high, it’s crucial to have the right level of security and safety in place. This also means factoring in the safety controls we can implement during pandemics and seasons when illness is rife. As stadiums and large leisure facilities reopen, safety is still the focus. So, what can be done?

Heat-control lanes

With temperature detection and facial recognition speed lanes, you can monitor who enters the stadium, and who is safe and healthy to do so. You need to make sure people are warned, so they know what to expect. The idea is to make people more aware of their health and to take it more seriously. If they are showing symptoms, they should know that their temperature will be detected. Also, many may not realise or have obvious symptoms, but may have a temperature, therefore these heat-control speed lanes can filter out those with troubling temperatures to reduce the risk of transmission of germs and viruses.

Social distancing barriers

Along with clear signs to remind people to keep their distance from others, you can have barriers up to help with social distancing or to control areas that tend to get congregated. Where there are food stands or shops, barriers and markings can help with queue systems. Not only can this help with the spread of illness, but it can help with creating order and crowd control. 

Turnstiles

Turnstiles are one of the most effective and safe ways to control the entry and exit of visitors. Full-height turnstiles are also fully customisable with double-model options to ease congestion, especially at busier times of the day, and canopies and downlights to help in poor weather conditions. 

Anti-terrorism security

Anti-terrorism security is about keeping unauthorised, hostile vehicles off the premises. That means having robust, crash-tested bollards and road blockers in place that can withstand incredible force. For instance, the K4 Bollard can withstand up to 7.5 tonnes travelling at 50km/h. 

Security teams

Help keep your security teams safer and warmer with top-grade security kiosks. Security personnel need to be on the grounds to monitor crowds and be ready for any potential trouble. Provide them with shelter and comfortable kiosks to regroup, take breaks or to carry out work. 

Maintain high standards of hygiene

It’s now more important than ever to make sure your hygiene facilities are in tip-top condition. Make sure stock is always replenished and that hand sanitiser is available around the stadium and in staff rooms, kiosks and offices etc. The government and Sports Grounds Safety Authority state: “Additional facilities, such as hand washing and sanitiser stations, should be provided for spectators, particularly at entry and exit points to the competition venue and in seating/standing areas.”

Face coverings 

Where social distancing is difficult and where there is congestion, it’s mandated that people wear face coverings when indoors or in communal settings. You need to make sure you are following the government guidelines and warning people they need to obey your policy when entering the stadium. Face masks should be worn covering a person’s nose and mouth fully.

Space between seats 

Especially when it’s hard to police crowds of people, where many can say they’re exempt from wearing face coverings, it’s so important you have safe policies in place, like making seats off limits where appropriate. This is where your booking system can help. Make sure households are appropriately spaced apart from other households – from all directions. In the government guidelines for returning to spectator sports, it states: “Ticket holders will be required to confirm on entry that contact details of everyone entering under their booking (if in a group) were correct when submitted and any further information will be provided if required for Track and Trace purposes.” Again, follow the government guidelines and the data, as rules can change.

Ventilation 

Just like any other venue, ventilation needs to be adequate with the venues upholding wider BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) good practice on making them Covid-secure. The more air circulation, the better. Stadium seating is often outdoors, but you need to make sure that the indoor facilities are well-ventilated.

As we hope for a return to normality, we can only follow the data and official guidance to create safer transitions in line with the Covid-19 roadmap. Focusing on football stadiums, you need to follow the Sports Grounds Safety Authority policy guidance, which advises many of the points addressed above. For any help and advice with kitting out a stadium with safety in mind, don’t hesitate to contact Expert Security UK today.