FC Midtjylland Propose Drive-In Approach For Return Of Football

Danish club FC Midtjylland have given an indication fo what the immediate future of football may look like, after erecting giant screens at their MCH Arena and proposing a plan to invite fans to watch games in a ‘drive-in’ style environment as they continue to chase the title.

While we all pine for the return of football and the roar of the crowd as we all cheer our team on shoulder to shoulder, the reality is that when it does come back, the way we watch will be very different, as countries inevitably take a gradual approach to the return to normality. But several countries are beginning to make the first tentative steps towards bringing the game back, and amongst them are Denmark.

Many people believe that crowds and atmosphere are integral to what football is, and as such, Danish side FC Midtjylland have tentatively revealed plans that would allow fans to attend the stadium. The club is planning to erect big screens in the car park of its stadium and allow 2,000 vehicles to enter the ground and listen to commentary through their car radio using a special local frequency. Singing and car horn honking would be encouraged, with cameras capturing fans in the parking lot and the footage relayed inside the stadium to give the players a sense of atmosphere. Admission would be free and away fans would be invited to attend in their own area of the car park.

Preben Rokkjaer, marketing director of FC Midtjylland explained: "We are working hard to create the best possible experience. We have a stated goal of creating the best stadium experience. Coronavirus does not change that, it just provides some other preconditions."

Preliminary plans also suggest that there will also be prizes for ‘best dressed’ cars in club colours as part of a car carnival, with a parade through the local town, with the prize for the best car being the best position in the car park to watch the match. The screens usage will not be limited to football matches, with the possibility of additional events to take place whilst social-distancing measures are still in place in Denmark.

Jens Carstensen, CEO ProShop Europe, who are installing the screens, said: "We are talking with local people who want to make a drive-in cinema evening using the same screens, so we are allowing them to use the screens in the days in-between football matches."