Town are asking season ticket holders to fill in a survey as they work towards facilitating their return to Portman Road in October.

Earlier this month, prime minister Boris Johnson outlined plans for a phased return of supporters in October “in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots”.

Among those pilots was yesterday’s Surrey-Middlesex county cricket friendly at the Oval which was attended by 1,000 fans.

The guidelines set out by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority include strict social-distancing between supporters in seats and around the stadium, a one-way system to restrict face to face contact, the avoidance of fans gathering in concourses, the possibility of staggered times of arrival to reduce queuing, the streamlined service of food and drink outlets and the use of hand sanitiser stations on entering the stadium.

Town are after feedback from season tickets holders as they look to meet these criteria.

“We have not far short of 9,000 season ticket holders and it’s clear that with social distancing still at the forefront of battling the threat of Covid-19, many season ticket holders will not be able to sit in their chosen seat when supporters do return,” club secretary Stuart Hayton told the official website.

“With no seats being used next to stairwells and every other row being left empty for instance, we are going have to reconfigure the stadium in many respects.

“That’s just one of the many challenges the club faces in getting Portman Road ready to meet the strict protocols that have to be in place.

“While the health and safety of all is clearly our number one objective, we obviously want to get as many supporters into the stadium as possible so any information we can get from season tickets holders about who they sit with at the stadium.

“Are they family members? Are they in their social bubble? Where would they prefer to sit if not in their allocated seat will help us going forward as well as mode of transport to games?

“We are sending a survey to season ticket holders by email to ask for that feedback and will continue to communicate with supporters as we develop plans for the safe return of fans to Portman Road.”

The survey for season ticket holders can be found here with the deadline Friday 31st July.

The Blues have a little under 9,000 season ticket holders, all supporters who renewed from last year, three quarters of the 2019/20 total. Season tickets have not been put on sale to those without one last season. Portman Road currently has a capacity of just under 30,000.

Photo: Action Images

Bergholt_Blue added 16:46 - Jul 27 Looks like non season ticket holders won't be able to see a match for a long time
1

Kickingblock added 17:24 - Jul 27 There was not a "do you mind where you sit" Lower, mid, upper option. You had to pick one. There was not a "would you be happy to forfeit your seat for a match credit" for supporters who might not wish to attend straight away but we're happy to help ease the seating problem for those that are desperate to attend. Would this be because refunds / match credits or frozen accounts are extra hassle?

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DebsyAngel added 18:41 - Jul 27 I would like to see the option given for holders who cannot or do not feel ready to return to the stadium to be given a pass (with the match ticket price used as payment) to see the match online. I know there is IFollow but that means paying another fee on top.
2

Blue_75 added 18:59 - Jul 27 Can anyone confirm the wording of Question 5: 5. Will you attend matches at Portman Road in a Covid-19 Government guideline suggested social bubble (yourself and no more than two other households of 6 people)? * That sounds like 3 Households? I usually go with my daughter (1 household), father-in-law (2 households) and nephew (3 households). Or are we OK as only 4 people?

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SitfcB added 20:05 - Jul 27 No more than 2 = er, no more than 2. So not 3.
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ArnieM added 20:23 - Jul 27 Are season ticket holders meant to have had some form of communication from the Club about this then ? Because I certainly haven't. When did others get a letter ?
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Blue_75 added 20:34 - Jul 27 SitfcB - er “yourself and no more than 2 other households” implies a maximum of 3 households!
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yogiblue added 20:57 - Jul 27 Arnie M: Emails came out today from the club
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ArnieM added 21:38 - Jul 27 Thanks for that . All Ive had so far ( couple days ago) was an email about my schedule of ST payments, nothing else so far .
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bigron added 09:48 - Jul 28 Didn't received a season ticket renewal for me and my boys, so not got a season ticket now, and ticket office closed, club is run so poorly it doesn't deserve the support it gets.....
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alfromcol added 10:07 - Jul 28 bigron. could have chased up if you really cared?
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Dire_Straits added 10:30 - Jul 28 1. What happens if you haven't got an e-mail address? 2. In my opinion the survey isn't comprehensive enough 3. What happens if you don't reply to the survey?
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Freddies_Ears added 10:53 - Jul 28 Survey questions are very poorly drafted - I'm not sure in several cases whether I should respond yes or no! For example, sometimes I go by myself,, sometimes I go with one other person from my household, sometimes I go with that one other person + one other. It varies mbm, all are season ticket holders. I appreciate they are trying to work out how to configure seating, taking into account households and social bubbles, but the questions are so badly drafted that they will get inconsistent and unhelpful responses.

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