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- COVID-19 has seen sports played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future
- 72% of fans say they won’t return to a stadium until a vaccine is found
- The International Well Building Institute (IWBI) is working to find solutions to keep fans safe during this uncertain time
With the English Premier League returning last week after its longest break since the second World War, things seem to be returning to some sort of normality.
Yet no fans were present at any of the games. A trend which will only continue for the near future.
In fact, one poll found that seven in ten (72%) of fans would only return to stadiums once a COVID-19 vaccine is found. Whereas technology has changed the face of the stadium experience (read here for more), not even technology can solve this issue.
At Business Of Sport, I spoke with Rachel Gutter, President of the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) about the future of stadium health and safety.
IWBI & Sport
The IWBI is a organization seeking to transform buildings and communities. It is responsible for the “WELL Building Standard”. This is a global rating system focused on the ways that buildings, and everything in them, can improve comfort, drive better choices, and enhance health and wellness.
Most recently, it announced that a council of industry leaders – including executives with the NY Yankees, SF 49ers, Seattle NHL and others – have come together to ensure stadiums and sports facilities will take all necessary precautions to make safe spaces for players and fans to return when the time is right.
The group launched the Well Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management of Sports and Entertainment Venues. This is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating focusing on operational policies, cleaning protocols, and design strategies to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
So why is IWBI’s work important in this area?
“We think that we can create a powerful designation and seal to help restore confidence in fans and beyond,” said Rachel.
“Third-party validation is so important, especially in this moment, because it says, ‘someone checked my work. I did what I pledged I was going to do.’ IWBI has a long history of creating evidence-based interventions complemented by a rigorous third-party review.”
What Are The Challenges To Opening Stadiums Up
Research has found that COVID-19 spreads by respiratory droplets when someone (with the virus) coughs, sneezes or talks. This makes social distancing essential to any large scale gathering of people.
Rachel explained: “What COVID-19 has taught us is that public health is everyone’s responsibility and a space is only as healthy as the way people interact with one another and the space itself.”
Rachel outlined this further.
“The biggest challenge for stadiums is the notion that there are large groups of people seated and standing in one place for extended periods of time – cheering, screaming, yelling, chanting, and generally interacting with one another,” she said.
“One major premise of sports is connecting with one another. Figuring out how to do this from six feet apart while maintaining the magic of the game is what I believe led advisory members to approach IWBI and ask for our support.”
According to Rachel, empty stadiums may be the only solution, currently available.
“No one is excited about the prospect of empty stadiums, but it may be one of the best opportunities to keep games going in the interim,” she said. “Since sports are such a huge part of what holds us together, we’re excited to work in partnership with owners and operators, leagues, and teams to help them map the best path forward, one that is informed by the best and latest science and research.”
Sports Stadiums’ Designs Are Set In Stone
A key factor facing sports stadiums is also that they lack the flexibility of other large outdoor events, such a festival venues.
“You can’t design your way out of Covid-19,” Rachel continued.
“But you can put in best practices, protocols, and policies that reduce the risk of transmission, and aim to educate occupants on the ways in which they can engage most safely in the spaces they enter. The mark of confidence we believe the WELL Health-Safety Rating represents demonstrates to employees, fans, and players that key considerations have been taken into account.”
“Every space will have unique concerns and a different set of considerations. WELL doesn’t attempt to prescribe these things, instead it offers a roadmap and a network of qualified professionals, or WELL APs, who they can call upon to directly support them in addressing these space-specific characteristics.”
Yet Each Sport Stadium Has Different Conditions
Rachel detailed, that crucially, there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to the COVID-19 conondrum.
“Every stadium and arena has to make a space-specific choice about the right time to reopen and the right conditions under which to do it.”
One thing we do know about avid fans is that there’s not much that can keep them away.
Rachel Gutter, President, International Well Building Institute
The environment must be taken into to consideration in her opinion.
“Is the stadium enclosed or outdoors? If it’s indoors, what kind of ventilation and air exchange exists? How close are the seats from one another?“
So where do we go from here with fans returning to stadiums?
One thing we do know about avid fans is that there’s not much that can keep them away. Covid-19 requires everyone to manage their own risk.“
“Many venues will reopen prior to a vaccine, and many already have.“
