Spectator announcement
Discussion
Hopefully this 'hot off the press' email from the ACO to the press will finally put everything to bed:
And to add further credence to the info, Graham has posted it:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/07/16/important...
ACO Email said:
Having been rescheduled for 19–20 September, the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans will be somewhat different for racegoers this year, in keeping with French government guidelines in force for large sports events in the current health context.
Working closely with the public authorities, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has thus opted to split the circuit enclosure into a number of “villages”, each with capacity for a maximum 5,000 spectators. Each village will be indicated by a colour (e.g. the Red Village) and will be strictly self-contained to prevent contact and movement between groups of fans. They will all offer a view over the racetrack and a big screen, along with special entertainment, eateries, car parking and some will have grandstands or camping pitches. Our priority is to help spectators enjoy the race as much as possible, despite the unusual circumstances.
A strict health protocol will apply throughout the event, with face masks compulsory for anyone over the age of 11. Shared facilities such as the toilets and grandstands will be thoroughly cleaned ahead of the race and disinfected regularly throughout the event. There will be hand sanitizer dispensers all around the circuit enclosure and signs to remind people of good hygiene and social distancing practices. There will be a specific protocol for competitors and their staff.
Due to the current restrictions and the streamlined schedule for the 2020 race, spectators may arrive at the circuit from 8 am on Thursday 17 September, while the campsites will be open from 2 pm on Wednesday 16 September. The scrutineering process (technical and administrative checks) will take place on Wednesday 16 September, unfortunately behind closed doors this year.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TICKET OR PASS HOLDERS
From 17 August, the ACO ticket office will start contacting everyone who has already acquired a grandstand ticket or general enclosure pass or who has booked a car park or a camping pitch, regardless of whether they are ACO members or not, with information on:
how to access the circuit this year, providing a detailed plan of the site
how to purchase any additional tickets they require
which village they are assigned to
In order to process all the files, the ACO will not be able to respond to spectators’ and members’ enquiries before the end of August. We ask for your patience and understanding in this respect and ask you to avoid contacting the ACO ticket office. You will be contacted individually between 17 and 31 August.
Spectators must acquire a ticket before arriving at the circuit. They must also wear a face mask as soon as they enter the site. Due to health requirements, there will be no tickets on sale at the circuit entrance.
Ticket sales have now been suspended as previously announced.
So from that, I'd say you're not going to be able to wander freely as the clouds as per previous years, so more than likely a small Heras fencing enclosure for each village with a bunch of CRS standing outside with batons Working closely with the public authorities, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has thus opted to split the circuit enclosure into a number of “villages”, each with capacity for a maximum 5,000 spectators. Each village will be indicated by a colour (e.g. the Red Village) and will be strictly self-contained to prevent contact and movement between groups of fans. They will all offer a view over the racetrack and a big screen, along with special entertainment, eateries, car parking and some will have grandstands or camping pitches. Our priority is to help spectators enjoy the race as much as possible, despite the unusual circumstances.
A strict health protocol will apply throughout the event, with face masks compulsory for anyone over the age of 11. Shared facilities such as the toilets and grandstands will be thoroughly cleaned ahead of the race and disinfected regularly throughout the event. There will be hand sanitizer dispensers all around the circuit enclosure and signs to remind people of good hygiene and social distancing practices. There will be a specific protocol for competitors and their staff.
Due to the current restrictions and the streamlined schedule for the 2020 race, spectators may arrive at the circuit from 8 am on Thursday 17 September, while the campsites will be open from 2 pm on Wednesday 16 September. The scrutineering process (technical and administrative checks) will take place on Wednesday 16 September, unfortunately behind closed doors this year.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TICKET OR PASS HOLDERS
From 17 August, the ACO ticket office will start contacting everyone who has already acquired a grandstand ticket or general enclosure pass or who has booked a car park or a camping pitch, regardless of whether they are ACO members or not, with information on:
how to access the circuit this year, providing a detailed plan of the site
how to purchase any additional tickets they require
which village they are assigned to
In order to process all the files, the ACO will not be able to respond to spectators’ and members’ enquiries before the end of August. We ask for your patience and understanding in this respect and ask you to avoid contacting the ACO ticket office. You will be contacted individually between 17 and 31 August.
Spectators must acquire a ticket before arriving at the circuit. They must also wear a face mask as soon as they enter the site. Due to health requirements, there will be no tickets on sale at the circuit entrance.
Ticket sales have now been suspended as previously announced.
And to add further credence to the info, Graham has posted it:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/07/16/important...
Edited by Red Firecracker on Thursday 16th July 09:20
Looks like there will be lots of people posting "will swap Village X tickets for Village Y tickets" so they can get to meet their friends who are on a different campsite.
On the plus side for the ACO, this seems a good way of keeping numbers down as a lot of people will just not bother going if there's not the usual access.
On the plus side for the ACO, this seems a good way of keeping numbers down as a lot of people will just not bother going if there's not the usual access.
I guess that'll see them try to give each campsite a chunk of the trackside. There'll be no "village" as that'll be for the teams to use and they won't want us mingling. My best guess as yet is that:
- Maison Blanche is penned in, everything from the MB entrance to the Porsche Curves;
- Bleu Sud gets the Ford Chicane chunk from the MB entrance up to the start/finish where the main "walk in GE" is;
- Bleu Nord has from the main "walk in GE" up to the main "drive in GE";
- Tertre Rouge has the main "drive in GE" to the top
- Houx gets the stretch by the kart track
- Epinettes gets the stretch at the top where the village normally is up to the Dunlop Bridge
- Annexe gets the bit opposite TR
Output Flange said:
Will be interested to see what that means for those of us with grandstand tickets, particularly in T18.
I suspect the grandstands are going to be re-allocated depending on which campsite you are in. If you are lucky they'll let you keep a certain grandstand and move campsite.I can't see them having all the main straight stands open and making the area behind them a No Mans Land.
JT3K said:
I guess that'll see them try to give each campsite a chunk of the trackside. There'll be no "village" as that'll be for the teams to use and they won't want us mingling. My best guess as yet is that:
That would only allow 35,000 people in and your second scenario would have 10,000 - Maison Blanche is penned in, everything from the MB entrance to the Porsche Curves;
- Bleu Sud gets the Ford Chicane chunk from the MB entrance up to the start/finish where the main "walk in GE" is;
- Bleu Nord has from the main "walk in GE" up to the main "drive in GE";
- Tertre Rouge has the main "drive in GE" to the top
- Houx gets the stretch by the kart track
- Epinettes gets the stretch at the top where the village normally is up to the Dunlop Bridge
- Annexe gets the bit opposite TR
davidd said:
That would only allow 35,000 people in and your second scenario would have 10,000
Don't forget there are other campsites that are self contained: Beasejour; Mulsanne; and Arnage. Those put us up to 50,000.My point is, can you get 5,000 people on the dregs of MB that are left nowadays and Bleu Sud combined? If the two are less than 5,000, you'd probably join the MB/Bleu Sud viewing to one colour.
JT3K said:
Don't forget there are other campsites that are self contained: Beasejour; Mulsanne; and Arnage. Those put us up to 50,000.
My point is, can you get 5,000 people on the dregs of MB that are left nowadays and Bleu Sud combined? If the two are less than 5,000, you'd probably join the MB/Bleu Sud viewing to one colour.
Yes of course fair point. Hopefully it will become clear soon.My point is, can you get 5,000 people on the dregs of MB that are left nowadays and Bleu Sud combined? If the two are less than 5,000, you'd probably join the MB/Bleu Sud viewing to one colour.
I assume some logic will be applied;
- camping allocation will probably dictate your village and any stand seat may be moved or refunded.
- GE tickets only you could be placed anywhere.
- Grandstand only + entry. Hopefully you’ll go where allocated or in a similar area, or a move to different village.
I’ve got ACO stand / GE and parking only, so hoping that will default to my ‘village’ area.
Let’s see how the roll of the dice goes!
Going to be very odd, but just pleased to have a chance to go.
- camping allocation will probably dictate your village and any stand seat may be moved or refunded.
- GE tickets only you could be placed anywhere.
- Grandstand only + entry. Hopefully you’ll go where allocated or in a similar area, or a move to different village.
I’ve got ACO stand / GE and parking only, so hoping that will default to my ‘village’ area.
Let’s see how the roll of the dice goes!
Going to be very odd, but just pleased to have a chance to go.
I was going on the original June dates, and decided to miss the revised Sept. dates, got full refund so happy there and with voucher for ferry for 2021 event. Looking at these new arrangements I would have not gone, mainly as the virus is still prevalent in the population, and concentrating the fans in this manner isn't ideal, and as we always browse the course at LM, with the vast majority of our spectating at the corners, so to be herded into one of the main area stalags would be most disappointing. To those going, may your God protect and keep you safe from the bugs, and may your sleeping bag be rated 4 seasons.
LM 2020 will be a talking point in later life.
LM 2020 will be a talking point in later life.
Edited by icepop on Thursday 16th July 11:56
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff