Football is struggling to navigate its way back to normality in a what is looking and feeling like an interminable post COVID-19 path. Judging by the high streets, the UK economy is sleepwalking into an economic meltdown. Stores local to me must be struggling to even meet operational costs, a car park at the local railway station has ceased trading entirely. Plus, I am told by pal of mine that he counted 24 empty retail units walking up New Bond Street earlier this week. Costa coffee are the latest chain to start letting people go…
Despite this wholesale reticence on the part of the public, Daniel Levy is hoping to get the crowds back into the Tottenham Stadium. Speaking at a Premier League shareholders meeting, The Guardian‘s David Hytner understands that the Spurs supremo has asked for 30,000 fans to be able to the Spurs ground – in a test event.
He [Levy] has previously said that he wants to explore scientific and technological solutions to pave the way for supporters to return; possibly digital health passports and smartphone applications.
One serious problem with all this, is that fans are still going to face the obstacle of getting to the stadium – and public transport remains decimated – down to a lack of confidence.
Another issue, is that since March, when the country effectively shut down, a lot of people have fundamentally changed their habits, as well as their working practices. Getting bricks and mortar trade going again is going to be a slow process with very few survivors.