FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Facilities Management at Chelsea Football Club



Facilities Management at Chelsea Football Club

Background

I am a Facilities Manager at Chelsea Football Club in South West London. My site will be hosting a very important home game, with a well known rival team in two weeks time. As a facilities manager, I have to make the venue highly safe and secure so that there will be no problem faced by players or crowd of people. I have to manage the event in a way that it will be a successful one. However, firstly, the facilities - the stadiums, arenas, and other facilities in which the sports are played - have to be secure. Past tragic events and current elevated terrorist activity serve as constant reminders that sporting and entertainment venues are vulnerable to disasters that can result in significant damage to property, personal injury and loss of life.

Inside and outside the stadium, the supporter groups are our biggest opportunity. They add life to the entire event, inspire the players and create an unmatched atmosphere in domestic sports. The supporters are our most avid fans who are located in a designated section, who sing and cheer throughout the 90 minutes of action. At the same time, the supporters are our biggest challenge. Their passion sometimes translates into misconduct, and approximately 90 percent of our violations come from these sections. We constantly work to elevate the enthusiasm while ensuring behavior does not conflict with our Fan Code of Conduct (David 2009, 121).

Crowd management is a significant element in the planning process for any type of major event, whether it's an office building, school, sporting event, concert, or retail store opening. Crowd management involves implementing proactive measures to prevent problems at a venue, whereas crowd control involves taking measures after an incident to prevent further damage.

Spectator Violence

Every event has its own unique set of circumstances, differing in fan demographics, number of spectators and unanticipated outcomes. The U.K. Department of Justice Spectator Violence in Stadiums Guide has identified six event characteristics associated with spectator violence, including crowd demographics, event significance, performance quality, alcohol availability, crowding, performer behavior and event duration. The guide indicates that males are more likely to engage in violent behavior; therefore, events that attract males are more likely to experience violence. In addition, events that attract a lot of visiting supporters and have highly dedicated fans can experience acts of violence. Event significance also plays a role in spectator aggression. Events of known significance, i.e. a championship match, can provoke celebratory rioting. Poor performance quality by a team may provoke crowds to engage in verbal abuse and throw objects at each other or onto the playing/event area. Some of these incidents may occur (or escalate) because of alcohol consumption (Evans 2008, 14).

Crowding plays a factor in aggressive behavior and the likelihood for violence. Crowding limits a spectator's mobility, increases likelihood of unwanted physical contact among spectators, and increases wait times for entry/exit and purchases. Pre- and post-event activities, such as tailgating, can also ...