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Leicester City and Leicester Tigers are to be banned from playing home games on the same day next season because of safety concerns.
Watchdogs say the combination of the bigger Welford Road stadium - plus the predicted rise in attendance if City make it back into the Championship - could lead to gridlock.
They fear 999 crews could struggle to get to the scene of an emergency because of the numbers of fans' cars on the roads.
Tigers will be able to house 24,500 fans when the first stage of re-development is complete and plans are in place to take the capacity up to 30,000.
City's average attendance in League One this season has been under 20,000 but this will rise in the Championship.
The decision by Leicester City Council's Safety Advisory Group leaves the two clubs having to thrash out the issue of alternative dates.
The demands of satellite TV broadcasters is also likely to have an impact on when games are played.
Adrian Russell, the group's chairman, said: “If we have gridlock around the two grounds and there is an emergency situation, it would be difficult to cope.
“It's a unique situation with the grounds being in such close proximity to each other and we have taken an early decision that it is prudent not to play on the same day next season.
“We have discussed it with the clubs and they will now have to work together when the fixtures come out to avoid clashes.”
In previous seasons, the two clubs have had staggered kick-offs on the same day, but this does not go far enough, according to Russell, who added: “The emergency services may have concerns over public safety so there needs to be a greater degree of separation.”
Cliff Ginnetta, chairman of the Leicester City Supporters Club, said: “It's already a problem when Tigers are at home as well and I can only see it getting worse next season so I'm not surprised by this move.”
City chief executive Lee Hoos said the issue was first raised at a fans meeting in December.
He said: “The Safety Advisory Group indicated that we are not going to be able to play on the same day as Tigers, or operate staggered kick-offs, next season because the paramount concern is safety.”
David Clayton, Tigers managing director, said: “Every season we work closely with Leicester City and our respective governing bodies with the aim of minimising any fixture clashes. This will continue.”
http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/detail...572631&parentkey=1D29|0|2185366269754|p|536|0
Watchdogs say the combination of the bigger Welford Road stadium - plus the predicted rise in attendance if City make it back into the Championship - could lead to gridlock.
They fear 999 crews could struggle to get to the scene of an emergency because of the numbers of fans' cars on the roads.
Tigers will be able to house 24,500 fans when the first stage of re-development is complete and plans are in place to take the capacity up to 30,000.
City's average attendance in League One this season has been under 20,000 but this will rise in the Championship.
The decision by Leicester City Council's Safety Advisory Group leaves the two clubs having to thrash out the issue of alternative dates.
The demands of satellite TV broadcasters is also likely to have an impact on when games are played.
Adrian Russell, the group's chairman, said: “If we have gridlock around the two grounds and there is an emergency situation, it would be difficult to cope.
“It's a unique situation with the grounds being in such close proximity to each other and we have taken an early decision that it is prudent not to play on the same day next season.
“We have discussed it with the clubs and they will now have to work together when the fixtures come out to avoid clashes.”
In previous seasons, the two clubs have had staggered kick-offs on the same day, but this does not go far enough, according to Russell, who added: “The emergency services may have concerns over public safety so there needs to be a greater degree of separation.”
Cliff Ginnetta, chairman of the Leicester City Supporters Club, said: “It's already a problem when Tigers are at home as well and I can only see it getting worse next season so I'm not surprised by this move.”
City chief executive Lee Hoos said the issue was first raised at a fans meeting in December.
He said: “The Safety Advisory Group indicated that we are not going to be able to play on the same day as Tigers, or operate staggered kick-offs, next season because the paramount concern is safety.”
David Clayton, Tigers managing director, said: “Every season we work closely with Leicester City and our respective governing bodies with the aim of minimising any fixture clashes. This will continue.”
http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/detail...572631&parentkey=1D29|0|2185366269754|p|536|0
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