Twickenham Stadium prepares to welcome 10,000 fans back for each EPCR final
Twickenham Stadium and EPCR are delighted to be able to welcome 10,000 fans for the European Challenge Cup final on Friday 21 May (KO 20.00 BST) and again for the Heineken Champions Cup final on Saturday 22 May (KO 16.45 BST).
RFU CEO & EPCR Board member Bill Sweeney said: "Having not
had any fans at Twickenham Stadium since the Autumn Nations Cup
final last December, we're delighted to be able to welcome back up
to 10,000 on Friday and again on Saturday for what should be two
exciting EPCR finals. The fans really do make the game and we hope
everyone is looking forward to attending live rugby again at
Twickenham.
"The RFU and EPCR teams have been working extremely hard since it
was announced Twickenham Stadium would host these matches to get
everything ready for the return of fans. I'd like to thank everyone
for all their efforts to put in place various measures to ensure
the safety and well-being of all those attending each match."
EPCR CEO Vincent Gaillard said: "Five out of 25 European champions
have been crowned in this historic stadium and so many people have
worked incredibly hard to make sure that it will happen once again
this weekend. We are very grateful for the collaboration with the
RFU and everyone at Twickenham Stadium and are delighted that so
many fans will be back to bring the colour and passion that are the
hallmarks of these tournaments."
The information below outlines arrangements in place for fans
visiting Twickenham Stadium for the finals this Friday and
Saturday, for which a very limited number of tickets remain
available.
Tickets and seating
Spectators will be seated in the lower seating bowl and in the East
middle tier in groups up to a maximum of six from a single
household or support bubble.
To comply with NHS Test and Trace and to ensure safety throughout,
every person attending either match will be required to have their
own mobile ticket on their own device, via the Twickenham Stadium
app. The only exceptions are for accompanied minors (those under 18
- where proof of age may be required) or for those people with a
disability attending the match with a companion.
An aggregate of 500 National Health Service (NHS) staff members
have snapped up tickets for the two matches offered by tournament
organisers EPCR, in partnership with Heineken. The gesture
recognises the dedication and bravery of health workers in battling
against the COVID-19 pandemic, acknowledging that without their
work playing in front of 10,000 fans would not be possible.
Entering the stadium
Tickets will direct spectators to enter the stadium via assigned
entry gates either - A, D or E - depending on which is closest to a
spectator's allocated seat.
Safety measures
The RFU has worked with Government and Richmond Council on the
safety plans and procedures to allow fans to safely return,
including the measures detailed below:
Over 130 sanitiser stations to encourage good hand hygiene.
Face coverings will be mandatory within the stadium, unless a spectator is in an assigned seat consuming food or beverages.
Social distancing will be required at all times.
Cleaning and waste collection regime will be increased.
Spectators will be advised, as per government guidelines, to avoid busy times and routes on public transport, encouraging fans to cycle, walk or use private vehicles; up to 1,000 parking spaces will be available for spectators in RFU controlled car parks for each of these matches.
All spectators are required to read and sign up to a code of conduct and watch a mandatory 'what to expect' video before attending the game. Video available here.
Staffing levels will be above normal for a crowd of this size to enforce social distancing and COVID measures.
Food and Beverage
Restaurant style service will be available in both Gate restaurants and Union Ale House in the East stand for event sponsors and hospitality guests. These will be pre-booked tables with household and support bubbles being able to sit together.
Food, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, tea and coffee will be available on the concourse at the Union 15 and nine other concessionaire units, while all ten bars on the concourse will be open to serve drinks. These are open two hours prior to kick off and will close 15minutes before the final whistle. All food and drinks must be consumed in a seat in the stadium bowl, in line with government guidance.
On a typical match day at Twickenham Stadium there would be 41 food/drink concessionaire units however for these matches there will be ten.