Spectator return: Can sports fans in the country breathe a sigh of relief?

Fan chants, colorful hustle and bustle in the stands, dense crowds at the concession stand and shoulder to shoulder watching the action on the grass or ice. Many sports fans in South Tyrol no longer know what that feels like. But now the good old stadium experience is about to make a big comeback - despite Corona.

The current spectator regulations in Italy for professional and amateur sports are as follows: a maximum of 50% of the stadium capacity can be occupied outdoors, while indoors it is only 35%. However, this regulation is now likely to be overturned. The reason: the high vaccination rate and declining corona numbers in the boot state. “This is just an interim step towards fully opening the stadium gates.” Andrea Costa, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health is indeed considering significant easing of restrictions. “We want to increase capacity utilization to 75%,” says Andrea Costa, the Undersecretary of State for Health, in an interview with Rai Radio 1 . In closed sports facilities, including the ice rinks in South Tyrol, 50% of the spectator seats should be allowed to be occupied. Costa goes even further: “This is just an interim step towards fully opening the stadium gates.”

Unlike in Germany, where the 2G rule is being enforced these days, in Italy tested fans should still be allowed access to the stadiums. The prerequisite for attending a game is still the Green Pass (vaccinated, recovered, tested). Relaxation this week? In any case, the first relaxations in terms of spectator capacity should be decided this week and then come into force immediately. All restrictions could be lifted within a month – provided the overall Corona situation does not worsen drastically.

But what does this actually mean for the local clubs? The relaxation of the rules would apply to all events in South Tyrol, provided they are held in sports facilities with verifiable spectator capacity. No matter whether handball, football, volleyball, ice hockey or other sports.

This primarily affects FC Südtirol, which is expected to welcome almost 2000 supporters to the Drusus Stadium in the future instead of the previous 1400. HC Bozen, on the other hand, could allow an additional 1000 spectators (previously almost 2600) into the ice wave. However: With the exception of the Serie C derby between FC Südtirol and Trento, these two clubs have never fully exhausted their capacity limits. The four South Tyrolean halls of the Alps Hockey League have never been sold out. Great hope in Bruneck The situation is different in Bruneck, where - as of today - there are only expected to be around 1100 visitors at the opening of the new Intercable Arena in October. It wouldn't be more than that in the first derby of the season against HC Bozen on October 26th. If the hall capacity is increased to 50%, 1550 fans are likely to make a pilgrimage to the new Bruneck jewel box.

However, not only the financially struggling clubs and the athletes, who have repeatedly regretted the lack of spectators, but also the many sports fans in the country would breathe a sigh of relief. You can look forward – at least on Italian territory – to stadium experiences that are reminiscent of those from the times before Corona, including an atmosphere in the stands. Especially if the audience limitations should actually be completely lifted.

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Spectator return: Can sports fans in the country breathe a sigh of relief?

The call for full stadiums is becoming louder and louder in the domestic sports world. Now things are moving. The Corona restrictions are likely to be relaxed shortly, if not completely lifted.

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