London’s Wembley stadium welcomed 8,000 fans to watch Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur in the English Football League’s Carabao Cup final as part of a UK pilot scheme that aims to test how live events can safely help fans return.
The northern club took the cup home with a 1-0 defeat of its London rival. The game follows on from last weekend’s Football Association Cup semi-final when 4,000 people watched from their seats at the 90,000-capacity stadium in London.
Meanwhile, an outdoor cinema showing, expected to draw about 1,000 people and scheduled for the weekend in Liverpool, reportedly did not go ahead. No details were given by the organisers or the city council but the Liverpool Echo newspaper said that “due to circumstances beyond control” the screenings will take place instead over the weekend of May 14-16.
The government scheme, which includes the Wembley games, aims to attract more attendees and test how to hold sport competitions, theatre shows and gigs safely and without social distancing or masks. Local authorities and organisers are working with health authorities to encourage crowds safely back this summer.
Elsewhere, Hollywood will host the 93rd Academy Awards show on Sunday, where, for the first time in the ceremony’s history, two women are up for an Oscar for best director.
Part of the ceremony was due to take place at Union Station in Los Angeles, while part will continue at its usual venue, the Dolby Theatre.
Meanwhile, WarnerMedia’s Mortal Kombat, which gets a simultaneous HBO Max release, and anime hit Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train battled it out at the US box office this weekend. With about 58 per cent of cinemas open in North America, Mortal Kombat took in $22m at the weekend, according to Comscore, while Demon Slayer brought in $19.5m.
This week in England a business event in Liverpool will open its doors to 1,000 attendees indoors while next weekend about 3,000 ticketholders will be able to go to the Circus nightclub for an indoor club night.
The Brit awards on Thursday set up a ticket ballot as organisers envisage welcoming as many as 4,000 fans next month for the first live music show at London’s O2 arena since coronavirus-induced restrictions kept attendees away more than a year ago.
The UK scheme, which will test specific settings, began last weekend with up to 1,000 people a day watching the world snooker championship indoors at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield and 300 in a comedy club in Liverpool. Enthusiasts wearing masks were also at the Crucible for the snooker championship this weekend.
Participants will be tested for Covid-19 before and after the events.