Update from Vince at the Supporters Club.
Main points from the SLO meeting last night down the club
1. No more E cigarette smoking to be allowed inside the stadium or the bowl, E cigarette to be used in the designated smoking areas of the stadium only outside of the bowl.
2. Abuse on social media to be added to the fans charter
3. Southampton and Newport will have home supporters only allowed and tickets go on sale Tuesday 20th of July 10.00am online only first come basis. There will be no Covid testing required however fans will have to follow the club code of conduct. Supporters will also be asked to arrive at the ground at staggered times which you can choose your slot when purchasing your tickets.
4. The Newport and Southampton fixtures are both subject to the latest Welsh government restrictions level 1 which allow social distancing of 1.5mt when supporters are sat down hence a capacity restriction of just over 8,000; 1mt social distance would have enabled 11,500 capacity which has been the guidance in England for months.
5. To maximise the capacity the club have asked if we can purchase in groups of 6 which will be sold in a random fashion generated by the computer to maximise capacity. You will not be able to choose your season ticket seat. Anyone can buy a ticket and you can also purchase tickets for your bubble, however everyone attending will have to be on the club data base. You will be given a choice of a e ticket to your phone, or a paper ticket posted to your address.
6. Barnsley and future home games currently will be restriction free regards capacity if Welsh government bring the covid level to Zero as promised on 7th August, however if restrictions are put in place by Welsh government which enforces the club not to be able to satisfy spaces for all its season ticket holders, home games will be done through a ballot system. Those who are successful in a ballot will be given the option to go to the game and if they attend will then go t the back of the queue for the next game, as was in place for many clubs in England during the end of last season.
7. Away fixtures: the club are waiting for the EFL to make an announcement once restrictions end in England on Monday 19th July.
8. The stadium museum project is progressing well on level 3 of the Ninian Stand and the club will be hopeful of it opening in the coming months once complete
9. Peter Whittingham tribute; The club are looking to hold tributes for the first home fixture against Barnsley for Peter Whittingham with also Aston Villa being approached to take part in a game in the future for him. It was also discussed naming a stand after Peter Whittingham which we will canvass our members for their views and the wider fan base views to assess if there is a desire amongst fans for it. We will work with other fans groups to see what level of support there is for the idea and then put the proposal to the club, with some of the Supporters club and the Trust members already expressing their support for the idea to our respective committees.
10. Safe standing: new legislation is coming into football allowing safe standing in the premier league, and Championship. Clubs will need to install certified seating systems that allow people to stand safe. For the time being things will be the same where the club risk assess each game and allow standing in the Canton stand only.
11. Season ticket sales are going well in the first two weeks and are ahead of last season at the same time