ROTTERDAM (ANP) - During the Eurovision Song Contest in May in the Rotterdam Ahoy, the audience occupied about 60 percent of the seats. The other 40 percent remains empty, says a spokesperson for the organization. As a result, around 20.000 fewer people than usual can come and watch the song festival, spread over nine shows. On Thursday it was announced that the Eurovision Song Contest will be the next trial event of Fieldlab Events. During all rehearsals, the semifinals and the grand final, a maximum of 3500 people are allowed per show, it was already clear.

Ahoy's capacity had already been drastically reduced because the organization decided to set up the Green Room on the auditorium floor at the beginning of this year. In the event that no audience could be present at all, the performers would therefore not look into an empty hall. It would also help the participants keep their distance from each other.

All available tickets for the three live shows and the six dress rehearsals were sold out last year. People who bought a ticket got their money back sooner, but still get a unique code with which they can try to book tickets for the same shows they already had tickets for. People who were previously unable to get tickets cannot participate.

Knowledge

Program manager Pieter Lubberts of Fieldlab Events said earlier that he was happy to be able to apply the knowledge gained during the Eurovision Song Contest. "We can further deepen and broaden the research that we previously conducted in a similar setting in the Ziggo Dome."

Media minister Arie Slob said it was “nice” that “in this way we can organize a larger event like the Eurovision safely and responsibly in this special time”.

Exactly how the research will be completed during the Eurovision Song Contest is still to be determined. The decision to admit it to the public can still be reversed if there is a new peak in corona infections.

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