There has been a lot of chat and suggestions that this weekends game against Motherwell could involve 1000 supporters at Celtic Park to help pave the way back for more season ticket holders to attend in the future. Adding another 1000 people on top of those already permitted in a 60,000 seater stadium seems like an easy feat. Unless this number is confined to a specific small section of the stadium and it is then replicated with larger amounts in other areas of the stadium as we take further strides to the new normal with the ever threat of Covid-19.
At
the time of writing, a quick check of the club’s website and Twitter offers
nothing to support people’s hopes and substantiate what has been discussed on
various podcasts. Although, I suspect the club are way ahead in their
plans. However, if nothing is sanctioned before, then at least the
government’s indicative date of the 14th September
is not that far off to look forward to.
Although
I am bursting to get back, just as I am sure you are, I have some concerns as
to how it can affect the support negatively. My fear is that as initial
numbers of admittance will be low and people’s desperation to get back to the
place and watch the team they love increases, further divisions will
materialise within our support. In my opinion, our support can have an
unhealthy bond with one another and are all too often quick to react and turn
against their fellow supporters for what can mostly be through offering a
simple opinion.
This
season is far too important to add to existing rifts and cause further
disruption in the support. I fear dark forces could use this to their
advantage. I hope that some sense and equality is used for the allocation
of season ticket holders to specific games. I also hope some consideration
is afforded for the difficult task ahead and faith given in those who make the
choices.
I
believe that the allocation should be done on an equal basis. The value
of the pence and pounds used to buy everybody’s tickets is the same,
regardless if your ticket is a concession, middle of the road or at investor
level. Credit for those who go home and away, including overseas
trips, should not come into the equation as the ticket was sold for home games
only. The same goes for those in the Home Cup Ticket Scheme against those
who are not unless it happens to be a home cup game of course. Once you
have attended a game then you should go to the back of the queue, allowing
those who were not lucky in earlier ballots to get a chance. The luck of
the draw should determine your attendance at specific games. The more glamorous, sought after games should not be given to those who see themselves
in the ‘Ultra’ fan group at the expense of those who are perhaps less reserved
in their support for the team.
Should
the technology around ticketing and seat allocation be sophisticated enough, it
could allow several tickets from one household to be reallocated
together. This could help maximise the capacity, keeping those who are in
permitted groups stay together, allowing the juniors stay with their parents
while also getting a fair shot at attending games with a reduced
capacity.
Finally,
through responsible actions and fans adhering to the rules, more faith and
trust will be given, and enough fans are allowed entry that could see us attend
more games regularly which hopefully comes sooner than later.
Till
the next time. Hail! Hail!
M
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