Bleak Prospects for Spectators

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 26/07/2020

Next season is slowly taking shape, although how many Town supporters are going to be able or willing to watch Grimsby's games is still surrounded by uncertainty. The new season will start on September 12 and nobody will be able to watch games in person until the following month, although they can be watched on iFollow.

The club are not selling season tickets yet until it becomes known how many fans will be allowed in BP when spectators can be readmitted.

Town chairman Philip Day in a statement said: "We do not know when crowds will be allowed back in stadia. The Government have indicated a desire that it should be sometime in October. We are ready with season tickets but will not be putting these on sale at the moment for two reasons.

"First, we do not know when crowds will be allowed and thus how many games the tickets will cover and hence the cost of the tickets. Secondly, we do not know how many fans will be allowed in the ground and whether away fans will be permitted.

Day also revealed that the capacity will be slashed, possibly as low as 17%, which would take it to around the 1500 mark.

That would reduce match income enormously and probably restrict home games to season ticket holders only, even if away fans are banned

The club are still waiting for new on a rescue package from the EFL to make up some of the shortfall and the extra costs they have to incur because of all the testing of players for the virus.

I have previously referred to the prospect of a financial rescue package from the EFL. Sadly, there is no further news of this and we await, in anticipation, any news of it. Over a season, our income from ticket sales, match sponsorship and related commercial income is approximately £1,700,000. It is not difficult to see why a financial rescue package is essential to keep clubs at our level afloat until such time as we can play before full crowds again. Whilst our income will be severely reduced our outgoings will be increased to comply with Covid 19 requirements and the EFL protocols.

In the meantime, fans can help by initiatives such as crowdfunding, buying shares, merchandise and iFollow subscriptions when they become available.

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