32,000 Spectators To Attend Royal St George’s Open Championship

When the UK government announced a delay to lifting Covid-19 restrictions there was uncertainty regarding the crowd numbers allowed to attend The Open at Royal St. George’s next month. But it has now been confirmed by organisers that 32,000 fans will be able to attend the event each competition day.

A statement from the Open organisers the R&A read: 'We can now confirm that we will be able to welcome up to 32,000 fans on each championship day of the 149th Open at Royal St George’s and that this will include those existing ticketholders and hospitality guests who have already purchased tickets.'

The 32,000-spectator total is 80 percent of the maximum 40,000 capacity organisers would have been planning under normal circumstances at St. George’s. Still to be announced are details on face masks and other protocols that fans might encounter.

R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers said: “We are pleased to now be able to proceed with our plans for having a significant attendance at this year’s championship.

“These fans will play a huge role in creating a very special atmosphere as the world’s best players compete for the Claret Jug and we look forward to welcoming them to Royal St George’s.”

The R&A has confirmed that The Open will be included in the government’s ‘Events Research Programme’, alongside this year’s Wimbledon tennis championship and the latter stages of the Euro 2020 tournament.  

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “We have always said we will do everything possible to return fans to our iconic cultural and sporting events as soon, and as safely, as possible – and thanks to the phenomenal success of our vaccine rollout and uptake of the NHS app we’re able to take another step forward through our flagship Events Research Programme.”

The Open week will begin on 11th July with the tournament itself starting on 15th July.