30,000 fans to return to Edgbaston and Royal Ascot in Government pilot events

Pilot events for the return of crowds are set to include an England cricket Test match and prestigious horse racing fixture Royal Ascot.

Edgbaston Stadium’s second match of the LV= Insurance Test series between England and New Zealand will be the first to test the new arrangements.

As part of the Government’s Events Research Programme, the ground will be able to accommodate around 18,000 spectators each day, from June 10-14.

Ticket holders will be expected to give a negative Covid-19 test within 24 hours in advance of their attendance, while

The pilot event will be used to analyse testing protocols for spectators, social distancing and face coverings when moving around the venue.

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive at Edgbaston, said: "Edgbaston is unique as a cricket venue in having such a large stadium footprint, but we also have a vastly experienced operational delivery team, which has hosted many major events and a spectator pilot last summer.

"We have always been hopeful of featuring in the pilot programme and are delighted for the thousands of ticket holders who will now be able to attend."

Royal Ascot, which runs from June 15-19, will permit 12,000 fans to attend on each of the five days.

The Berkshire track was previously limited to a crowd of 4,000, although officials had hoped to receive a boost to the numbers – and they have now been given the green light.

This means there will be general admission tickets and royal enclosure badges available, as originally owners, hospitality and members were only included in the allocation.

Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse, said: “We are delighted that Royal Ascot has been accepted to play its part in the next phase of the Government’s Events Research Programme. We much look forward to welcoming 12,000 racegoers each day.

“Our thanks go to our industry bodies, the British Horseracing Authority and the Racecourse Association, which led the preparation of the submission to Government.”

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said: “It is excellent news that Ascot will be included in the Events Research Programme as a pilot event.

"It is an opportunity to demonstrate how racing events are perfectly suited to safely hosting spectators in greater numbers as we progress through the Government’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions.

“We are grateful to DCMS and this outcome reflects the strong and positive relationship between racing and Government.

"Working with colleagues we will ensure that our participants remain protected to the same degree that has been achieved with racing’s bespoke coronavirus protocols since resumption in June 2020.”

The schedule for cricket and horse racing will be added to plans for 20,000 fans to attend England's first two games of Euro 2020 at Wembley.

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