SHL's 14 clubs have agreed that they want to introduce vaccine passes in order to be able to take in more spectators in the stands until the start of the season on 11 September.

Similar plans exist in the United Kingdom, among other places.

There, it may be relevant to have vaccine passes in arenas with over 20,000 seats from the end of September.

And in Sydney, Australia, vaccine passes will be required at major sports venues from next year.

At various baseball and basketball arenas in the United States, they have already begun to demand proof that the audience has been vaccinated or that they can show negative corona tests.

At the beginning of the summer, the government also commissioned the Swedish Public Health Agency (FHM) to review the vaccine passport issue.

The investigation has not yet been presented and Sara Byfors, unit manager at FHM, says that there are no plans for vaccine passes right now.

- It may change in the future when everyone has had an opportunity to get vaccinated, but I will really leave that unsaid, she tells TT.

Settlement is delayed

The reason why SHL is pushing the issue of vaccine passes right now is that the infection situation in Sweden is high and that the next step in the abolition of the restrictions, as you can fill the sports arenas completely, therefore seems to be delayed.

Last season, a maximum of eight people were allowed in the audience.

According to the current rules, there are 300 people per section, if other coronary restrictions can be met.

- Today, our clubs can accommodate from 750 to 2,500-3,000 people.

With vaccination passes, we could take in very many more, but also keep a part of the arena where current restrictions still apply, says SHL's CEO.

Message urgent

Silfverstrand says that it is very important to get the audience back.

- Financially, it is important, audience revenue is a large part of the revenue we have.

But for us, it is also important to get the audience back for the whole, the audience is another dimension of the hockey matches.

A message on the issue of vaccine passes is urgent.

- There are periods of change in the organizations how to handle it, it is quite large processes to work around sections and different entrances.

Therefore, information is needed now to be able to meet this until the start of the season, says Silfverstrand.

She also hopes that the introduction of vaccine passes to go to sports, but also cultural activities, will be able to get more people to get vaccinated.

- And then we can return to normal more quickly.

CLIP: Ekman-Larsson on the third: "Do not want to stand in the way" (August 16)

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Ekman-Larsson on the third: "Do not want to stand in the way"