Big events to be trialled in Liverpool

Liverpool will pave the way for events with big crowds to start taking place across the country again.

It's one of three cities selected to host some pilot events which will be crucial to how venues - from major sport stadia to comedy clubs, theatres to live music spaces, wedding venues to conference centres - could operate this summer.  The government says it will be key to allowing the British public to get back safely in large numbers to doing some of the things they love.

Settings will include small indoor venues that have a capacity of circa 200 people, where a gig or comedy night would take place, to large outdoor venues.    

Decisions on the number of spectators allowed into the pilot events are yet to be taken and will be subject to discussions with event organisers and local authorities.   

Alongside London and Sheffield, Liverpool will be part of the pilot programme with test events being lined up to happen at a nightclub, comedy club and business events venue. 

Venues participating in the programme will test specific settings to collect evidence and best practice.

At the World Snooker Championships, Sheffield’s world famous Crucible will test a theatre setting, for example. The evidence will then be shared across the event economy so that venues can prepare to accommodate fuller audiences.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

"These test events will be crucial in finding ways to get fans and audiences back in safely without social distancing.

"We will be guided by the science and medical experts, but will work flat out to make that happen. We want to get the people back to enjoying what they love and ensure some of our most important growth industries get back on their feet.

"These are important steps towards the safe and special summer we all crave and that I’m fully focused on delivering."

Claire McColgan MBE, Director of Culture and Tourism in Liverpool said:

"Liverpool is an event city. They are a critical part of our economy, culture and community and so we are delighted to be working with partners across Government, our colleagues at University of Liverpool and a number of local venues and promoters to plan this series of pilot events. 

 "Our experience as the pilot city for mass testing means we have the knowledge and infrastructure in place to deliver complicated projects safely, and we really hope we can help provide the evidence needed to ensure the wider sector is able to open across the country in the coming months."

To build up the evidence base, a number of pilots will include spectators and fans not socially distanced under carefully controlled medical supervision.

The pilots will also test a range of non-pharmaceutical mitigating interventions during non-socially distanced events such as layout of the venue, face coverings and ventilation.

The study of each event will be overseen by a team of researchers who will be closely monitoring audience movements and interactions.  

Attendees will be required to have a negative test ahead of the event and they will also be tested afterwards to ensure any transmission of the virus is properly monitored.  

They will have to adhere to an agreed code of behaviour at the point of ticket purchase. This will include following existing Government guidance on the use of face coverings and adhering to event specific rules.  

Attendees will not be permitted if they have symptoms of Covid-19. They will also have to provide contact details of everyone in their group for NHS Test and Trace.

The events research programme will include looking at risk factors in indoor and outdoor settings; small and large venues; seated and standing events and different forms of audience participation.  

Transport to and from events; duration of events and catering and alcohol will also be factors that are looked at. 

The trials will result in a report to Ministers which will be presented by the end of May to help inform government decisions on step four of the roadmap. It will also feed into the Government’s COVID certification review, announced in the roadmap.