The Government has announced that Liverpool will be part of a programme which paves the way for big crowds to attend events this summer.
The city – world-famous for cultural events – will stage a series of test events across music, comedy, outdoor performance and business which will form part of a science-led Events Research Programme (ERP).
Along with Liverpool, the Government will work with a small number of other event organisers and local authorities to get fans safely in to around a dozen events this spring. These include the World Snooker Championships and the FA Cup final at Wembley.
The ERP will be used to provide key scientific data into how small and large-scale events could be permitted to safely reopen in line with the Prime Minister’s Roadmap out of lockdown as part of Step 4, commencing no earlier than June 21.
This review will be crucial to how venues – from major sport stadiums to comedy clubs, theatres to live music spaces, wedding venues to conference centres – could operate this summer.
It will be key to allowing the British public to get back safely in numbers to doing some of the things they love.
Plans in Liverpool are currently being developed, with the ambition that they will take place throughout April.
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.
Venues participating in the programme will test specific settings to collect evidence and best practice.
The evidence will then be shared across the event economy so that venues can prepare to accommodate fuller audiences.
Liverpool’s Director of Culture, Claire McColgan MBE, 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 the 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.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “These test events will be crucial in helping us find out what works so we can get fuller audiences back safely into venues across the country this summer.
“We will be led by the science, but will work flat out to make that happen to help venues’ revival and the British people back to enjoying some of their passions.”
Full details of the Liverpool events will be announced soon.