Berlin (dpa) – More than two years after the first ghost game in the Bundesliga, the sport is again full house. According to the decision by the federal and state governments on Wednesday, all far-reaching protective measures against the corona virus are to be dropped from March 20th.
This also applies – albeit still depending on the pandemic situation – to the restrictions on the admission of spectators. “Most of the time there will be hardly any restrictions,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who emphasized that “basic protective measures as an option” should continue to be maintained.
The “peak” of the pandemic has probably been reached
From March 4th, significantly more fans than before will be allowed in stadiums and halls in the republic. The decision envisages large, national events outdoors with up to 25,000 spectators with a maximum utilization of 75 percent of the total capacity. A maximum of 6,000 spectators may be admitted to halls with a maximum occupancy rate of 60 percent.
“We can look ahead with more confidence than we have been able to in recent weeks,” said Scholz. The “peak” of the pandemic has probably been reached. “Many citizens are like me,” said the Chancellor. “Somehow, after these long two years, we deserved it to get better again.” The last matchday of the Bundesliga with full stadiums was played from March 6th to 8th, 2020.
One of the first major sporting events in front of a possibly full ranks is the test match of the German national soccer team on March 26 in Sinsheim against Israel. The Bundesliga pauses at the end of March for the international matches.
We need basic protection
The country is in a new phase of the pandemic, said North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU), who is currently Chairman of the Prime Ministers’ Conference (MPK). “If the Bundestag does not act actively, all protective measures will expire on March 20th.” The pandemic is not based on the calendar. Therefore, not all measures should be thrown overboard. “All countries therefore agree that we need basic protection to secure the openings.” This included the obligation to wear masks, hygiene concepts, tests and distance rules.
Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, sports clubs have been struggling with sometimes significant spectator restrictions. For months, only ghost games were possible, and after a decision by the heads of the state chancellery, up to 10,000 spectators were generally allowed outside again. In some stadiums of the Bundesliga, there were already 15,000 fans again after the approvals in the respective countries were effective.
Spectators will not flock everywhere again
The umbrella organizations of the various sports had vehemently advocated further opening steps. Donata Hopfen, the new managing director of the German Football League, had already reported alarming figures that club losses in the pandemic could increase to 1.3 billion euros. In some cases, income from spectators is vital for clubs to survive – especially in areas other than football.
In all sports, it will also be a question of whether the fans will actually flock to the venues again immediately, should it be allowed again. “It won’t be done with a snap of the fingers. The spectators won’t be pouring in everywhere again. We’ll have to do some reworking on one point or another,” said Frank Bohmann, Managing Director of the Handball Bundesliga.