New stadiums typically have a couple of practice events before the first full-size crowd, not just tours of the ground for supporters club members, or invitation only crowds for a mini match. Typically they have something like a U21 or a women's team match to check the routines, followed by a friendly or something to open up more of the grounds. Just ramping up the attendance in stages, first a couple of thousand, then twenty thousand, before getting to a full house.
It gives stadium staff, safety inspectors and everyone else a chance to find their way around and check things like how the doors and stairs need to be managed. Whether the PA system is set up correctly. What happens when all the food kiosks switch on their ovens. Boring stuff, but basic.
In August that gradual ramp up is a fairly easy thing to do. In March/April I think they'd have to do something pretty drastic to manage it - maybe even have a reduced gate at the first full match, or come up with a last minute friendly.
Incidentally, Spurs women play United women on the 31st March. What's the odds of that being the first practice match with not specially invited spectators. Too late for those early April fixtures, but then that's been the story so far really.
It gives stadium staff, safety inspectors and everyone else a chance to find their way around and check things like how the doors and stairs need to be managed. Whether the PA system is set up correctly. What happens when all the food kiosks switch on their ovens. Boring stuff, but basic.
In August that gradual ramp up is a fairly easy thing to do. In March/April I think they'd have to do something pretty drastic to manage it - maybe even have a reduced gate at the first full match, or come up with a last minute friendly.
Incidentally, Spurs women play United women on the 31st March. What's the odds of that being the first practice match with not specially invited spectators. Too late for those early April fixtures, but then that's been the story so far really.
