I was one of the first 1,000 people to attend live sport in the UK since coronavirus hit. Here's what it's like to watch a game in the middle of a pandemic.

Will MartinJul 29, 2020, 14:25 IST

Yes, that is a Taylor Swift cap.Insider/Will Martin

Professional sport has returned after a long hiatus around the world because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For the most part, sports are still being played in empty stadiums, with fans absent to help slow the spread of the virus.
In the UK, however, the government is trialing small scale crowds at a limited number of professional events in the next few weeks.
Insider was able to attend the first such event, a two-day friendly cricket match in London, last weekend.
We found clearly signposted instructions, hand sanitizer aplenty, and a generally safe, comfortable environment. It all felt very encouraging for when sport does eventually return with crowds.
Read on to find out more about what it was like.

In just months, the idea of watching our favourite teams while packed into a stadium with tens of thousands of other fans has gone from a normal, fun thing to do, to something completely alien, and frankly, a somewhat terrifying idea.

After a substantial hiatus, sports in most European and North American countries have now restarted. The English Premier League season has concluded behind closed doors, and the NBA tournament in Florida is about to kick off,and in Abu Dhabi, the UFC has just concluded a three-week extravaganza of fighting.

What is still missing from all these sports, however, is fans.

While leagues like the Premier League and the NBA are being carried out in so-called "bubbles" — where no one involved is allowed in or out of a designated area — crowds will eventually return to sport at some point, and in some places that point could be sooner rather than later.

In the UK, as part of the government's plan to get life back to something like normal, several sports are carrying out experiments with reintroducing crowds, bringing back small numbers of fans in a controlled, and hopefully safe, environment.

Events with pilot schemes for the reintroduction of crowds in the UK include horse racing, snooker, and a professional cricket game.

As a die-hard fan and long-time member of the mighty Surrey County Cricket Club (C'MON THE REY!) I had the opportunity last week to take part in a crowd pilot that was being carried out during a specially arranged friendly game of cricket between Surrey and their rivals Middlesex.

The game saw 1,000 fans attend professional sport in the UK for the first time since March. Here's what it was like.

The venue for the first professional sporting event with a crowd in the UK since March was The Kia Oval, a cricket stadium in the south London district of Kennington.

Insider/Will Martin

The event being held was a two-day friendly game of cricket between Surrey CCC and Middlesex CCC

Insider/Will Martin

Rather than just reintroducing fans on a normal scale, the government in the UK is allowing only small crowds to attend pilot fixtures.

Getty Images

To secure a ticket, members had to take the very old-fashioned step of calling Surrey's ticket office. No online tickets were available. Getting through was a nightmare. I called 14 times before getting an answer.

Insider/Will Martin

To secure a ticket, members had to take the very old-fashioned step of calling Surrey's ticket office. No online tickets were available. Getting through was a nightmare. I called 14 times before getting an answer.

While games themselves are possible a flashpoint for coronavirus cases, getting to the stadium is another area that authorities are worried about.

S.C. Leung / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images

One of the great joys of cricket is that you can basically turn up whenever you want and not really miss much action. Play on Sunday started at 11 a.m, but I turned up at around midday.

Insider/Will Martin

One of the great joys of cricket is that you can basically turn up whenever you want and not really miss much action. Play on Sunday started at 11 a.m, but I turned up at around midday.

Upon arrival, the entry process was pretty much the same as normal. Turn up, show your ticket to a steward, and then walk into the ground. One small difference was that entry points were more spread out than before.

Insider/Will Martin

Upon arrival, the entry process was pretty much the same as normal. Turn up, show your ticket to a steward, and then walk into the ground. One small difference was that entry points were more spread out than before.

Once inside the ground, there was ample signage encouraging social distancing, plentiful hand sanitizer stations, and a well signposted one-way system for walking around the stadium.

Insider/Will Martin

Once inside the ground, there was ample signage encouraging social distancing, plentiful hand sanitizer stations, and a well signposted one-way system for walking around the stadium.

A (masked, of course) steward asked to see my ticket, told me exactly where my seat was, and then pointed me into the right part of the one-way system.

I guess I'll go this way. Insider/Will Martin

I was to walk down the left-hand side of the path around the ground, while anyone going the other way, had to walk on the other side.

Insider/Will Martin

On the concourses behind the stands, a wide variety of bars and food stalls were open, with clearly labeled queuing systems, friendly, attentive staff, and contactless payments. Pie anyone?

Insider/Will Martin

On the concourses behind the stands, a wide variety of bars and food stalls were open, with clearly labeled queuing systems, friendly, attentive staff, and contactless payments. Pie anyone?

Most of the stadium concourses are uncovered, so while masks are encouraged, they're not compulsory. However, in covered parts of the ground, signs politely reminded fans to cover their faces.

Insider/Will Martin

Most of the stadium concourses are uncovered, so while masks are encouraged, they're not compulsory. However, in covered parts of the ground, signs politely reminded fans to cover their faces.

As I queued for a beer, a friendly volunteer asked me if I could answer some questions about my experience getting to the ground, how I was enjoying the game, and what I thought of the safety measures in place. Clearly fan feedback is crucial for the trials.

Insider/Will Martin

As I queued for a beer, a friendly volunteer asked me if I could answer some questions about my experience getting to the ground, how I was enjoying the game, and what I thought of the safety measures in place. Clearly fan feedback is crucial for the trials.

Beer purchased, it was time to watch some thrilling action. I entered the stadium bowl and was guided to my seat by two friendly stewards.

Insider/Will Martin

As I mentioned before, the Oval seats 23,000 people when full across five separate stands. For this trial game, only a small portion of one of the stands was open to spectators.

Insider/Will Martin

As I mentioned before, the Oval seats 23,000 people when full across five separate stands. For this trial game, only a small portion of one of the stands was open to spectators.

I'd normally sit in the Pavilion — an area of the stadium reserved just for members — but for the friendly, I was sat in the 1845 Stand, the largest and usually the loudest in the stadium.

Insider/Will Martin

I'd normally sit in the Pavilion — an area of the stadium reserved just for members — but for the friendly, I was sat in the 1845 Stand, the largest and usually the loudest in the stadium.

The social distancing measures in place in the stands were impressive — in theory at least. Alternate rows were in use, and there were meant to be at least two empty seats between each fan.

Insider/Will Martin

The social distancing measures in place in the stands were impressive — in theory at least. Alternate rows were in use, and there were meant to be at least two empty seats between each fan.

When I arrived, however, there was only one empty seat between my allocated seat and the group next to me. Luckily, the seat along from mine was also empty, so I just sat there instead.

Getty Images

When I arrived, however, there was only one empty seat between my allocated seat and the group next to me. Luckily, the seat along from mine was also empty, so I just sat there instead.

One thing that shocked me in the ground was how few people were wearing masks. Sure it's an outdoor venue, but there were 1,000 of us crammed into a single stand. I kept mine on the whole time just to be safe.

Insider/Will Martin

One thing that shocked me in the ground was how few people were wearing masks. Sure it's an outdoor venue, but there were 1,000 of us crammed into a single stand. I kept mine on the whole time just to be safe.

Watching the game itself was pretty much as normal. Red ball cricket isn't exactly frenetic at the best of times, but in a non-competitive match, it felt very languid indeed.

Getty Images

Watching the game itself was pretty much as normal. Red ball cricket isn't exactly frenetic at the best of times, but in a non-competitive match, it felt very languid indeed.

When nature called, going to the bathroom was pretty much like going to any public toilet is nowadays.

Insider/Will Martin

Sadly, the action was cut short by a rainstorm at around 5 p.m, so I departed the ground.

Insider/Will Martin

The English Premier League's final day of 2020 included a great escape, a sleeping giant's return to the big time, and a farewell to a league legend

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I was one of the first 1,000 people to attend live sport in the UK since coronavirus hit. Here's what it's like to watch a game in the middle of a pandemic.

The venue for the first professional sporting event with a crowd in the UK since March was The Kia Oval, a cricket stadium in the south London district of Kennington.

The event being held was a two-day friendly game of cricket between Surrey CCC and Middlesex CCC

Rather than just reintroducing fans on a normal scale, the government in the UK is allowing only small crowds to attend pilot fixtures.

To secure a ticket, members had to take the very old-fashioned step of calling Surrey's ticket office. No online tickets were available. Getting through was a nightmare. I called 14 times before getting an answer.

While games themselves are possible a flashpoint for coronavirus cases, getting to the stadium is another area that authorities are worried about.

One of the great joys of cricket is that you can basically turn up whenever you want and not really miss much action. Play on Sunday started at 11 a.m, but I turned up at around midday.

Upon arrival, the entry process was pretty much the same as normal. Turn up, show your ticket to a steward, and then walk into the ground. One small difference was that entry points were more spread out than before.

Once inside the ground, there was ample signage encouraging social distancing, plentiful hand sanitizer stations, and a well signposted one-way system for walking around the stadium.

A (masked, of course) steward asked to see my ticket, told me exactly where my seat was, and then pointed me into the right part of the one-way system.

I was to walk down the left-hand side of the path around the ground, while anyone going the other way, had to walk on the other side.

On the concourses behind the stands, a wide variety of bars and food stalls were open, with clearly labeled queuing systems, friendly, attentive staff, and contactless payments. Pie anyone?

Most of the stadium concourses are uncovered, so while masks are encouraged, they're not compulsory. However, in covered parts of the ground, signs politely reminded fans to cover their faces.

As I queued for a beer, a friendly volunteer asked me if I could answer some questions about my experience getting to the ground, how I was enjoying the game, and what I thought of the safety measures in place. Clearly fan feedback is crucial for the trials.

Beer purchased, it was time to watch some thrilling action. I entered the stadium bowl and was guided to my seat by two friendly stewards.

As I mentioned before, the Oval seats 23,000 people when full across five separate stands. For this trial game, only a small portion of one of the stands was open to spectators.

I'd normally sit in the Pavilion — an area of the stadium reserved just for members — but for the friendly, I was sat in the 1845 Stand, the largest and usually the loudest in the stadium.

The social distancing measures in place in the stands were impressive — in theory at least. Alternate rows were in use, and there were meant to be at least two empty seats between each fan.

When I arrived, however, there was only one empty seat between my allocated seat and the group next to me. Luckily, the seat along from mine was also empty, so I just sat there instead.

One thing that shocked me in the ground was how few people were wearing masks. Sure it's an outdoor venue, but there were 1,000 of us crammed into a single stand. I kept mine on the whole time just to be safe.

Watching the game itself was pretty much as normal. Red ball cricket isn't exactly frenetic at the best of times, but in a non-competitive match, it felt very languid indeed.

When nature called, going to the bathroom was pretty much like going to any public toilet is nowadays.

Sadly, the action was cut short by a rainstorm at around 5 p.m, so I departed the ground.