Coronavirus, How Is It Affecting the Business of Football In Nigeria: Stadium Attendance, Viewing Centers and Pay TV Subscriptions


With the more cases of coronavirus announced by the day, does the disease pose a real threat to the business of football in Nigeria?

As Coronavirus sweeps across the world, governments and health officials are recommending the next steps, not only for citizens who may be going to watch football matches around the world but to the players and staff of the clubs themselves.

With the coronavirus likely to be labelled as a worldwide pandemic imminently, is the virus threatening business of football as we know it here in Nigeria.

What's Happening the World Over
With a number of cases of coronavirus across Europe and entering Africa in such a rapid sweep, governments and health institutions are keen to prevent the spread of the disease as much as possible. As a result, self-isolation and the postponement of major sporting events has been advised.

In Italy - where the highest number of cases have been reported in Europe - a number of Serie A matches have been postponed due to a spike of cases in northern Italy, including a title clash between Inter Milan and Juventus. It’s been announced that all Serie A matches will now be played behind closed doors until April 3 - as will Inter’s Europa League clash with Ludogorets.

The Swiss Super League has postponed weekend fixtures after a government ban on large public events, while the start of the Chinese Super League and South Korea’s K-League have also been postponed.

Premier League Matches
Premier League games are yet to be affected by the coronavirus crisis, though the Premier League and the FA are looking into a contingency plan, should matches need to be postponed or played behind closed doors.

Talks are currently taking place to try and ensure that the Premier League season can continue

It is extremely unlikely that any immediate decisions will be made by the Premier League regarding coronavirus. Cases in the United Kingdom of the virus have been minimal and there are currently no plans for the government to ban mass gatherings.

Uefa Champions League Matches
Coronavirus is yet to affect much of Europe. Though the worst-hit area is northern Italy, much of the Champions League knockout action should resume as planned next week - whether or not that is in front of crowds though, remains to be seen.

The Spanish government have recommended that Barcelona’s home leg against Napoli is played behind closed doors, following the news that Valencia’s own home game against Atalanta will be. France's minister of sport Roxana Maracineanu has reportedly claimed that Paris Saint-Germain's home match against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on March 11 could be played behind closed doors, too.

There are rumours that Juventus could face Lyon at a neutral venue, rather than in their Turin home. This has yet to be confirmed.
While most fixtures across Europe are going ahead as planned, keep an eye out for specific match information for any game on the continent that you’re looking to attend.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends avoiding all nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy - countries which have been issued with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice. If you have tickets to a match in Serie A, you’re probably well aware of the warnings - it’s best to check whether the fixture you were going to see is affected by coronavirus.


How Is It Affecting Football Business in Nigeria
Here in Nigeria, there have been several suspected cases quarantined, but only one case of an Italian confirmed to have been infected by the Covid-19 (coronavirus). So there may be no cause for alarm really, but health ministry has advised for citizens to cocktail mass gathering. Talks are underground to postpone National Sports Festival-  Edo 2020

Viewing Centers and Stadium Attendance
Going to viewing centers to watch matches is highly labelled as dangerous even more than going to an open air stadium. Viewing center may be the most likely place to contact the disease. So football fans are advised to isolate themselves and watch matches in their household tv.

The same have been advised on stadium attendance too. But government or Nigeria football federation (NFF) haven't come out to outrightly ban viewing centers or stadium attendances.

Pay tv Subscriptions
The threats of Covid-19 is real and may become pandemic worldwide in the following days. Therefore, people here in Nigeria will out of fear avoid mass gatherings as much as they could. Going to viewing centers and sports bars could be avoided. That may lead to many fans subscribing to pay tv and watch matches from their homes.

Pay tv operators are foreseeing increase in subscrisptions nationwide. Multichoice has already started a kind of sales promotion where they upgrade subscribers to GOtv Max where they can access premiership, La liga and Seria A matches. There are also discussions to probable reduction of DStv Subscription prices.

StarTimes are also planning to start a sales promotion campaign in support to the prevention of Covid-19. But nothing could confirmed at this point.




No comments

Theme images by rami_ba. Powered by Blogger.