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Aviva Stadium has plans to host closed-door games if necessary, however the chance for fans to attend on-site matches in 2020 appears to be slim.
The stadium celebrates its 10th anniversary today and has witnessed some special days in Irish sport, but stadium manager Martin Murphy feels that behind-the-scenes games are unlikely to be the best stage in 2020 with the current pandemic of Covid-19.
“We are planning games behind closed doors,” he told RTÉ Sport. “We will follow the example of other sports. Ultimately, we want to see the stadium full again, but it will be some time before that can happen.”
“We foresee games behind closed doors, then partial numbers and then something that approaches complete numbers depending on social distancing and the measures implemented.”
Murphy says they could turn the arena into a socially distant location less than a week in advance.
“We would create a cocoon, a sterile and safe cocoon for teams and match officials with no other interaction than that cocoon. We have detailed plans.”
“We have done our research, what others are doing, what Germany is doing and much of that is still evolving. We have detailed plans drawn up with the FAI and IRFU behind closed doors.”
Plans are underway to keep that game going, but that’s beyond our control.
While the American Colleges football game between the Navy and Notre Dame at Aviva Stadium in late August has not yet been canceled, Murphy says events are being closely monitored.
“It really depends on things that are beyond our control.
“People are closely watching what is happening on both sides of the Atlantic. Plans are underway for that game to go forward, but that is beyond our control.”
“It is a little early to make a call about that, but as time goes by, that will remain under review.”
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