Match Day Info Pack: Kent Spitfires vs. Sussex Sharks
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence for our final Vitality Blast group-stage tie against Sussex Sharks on Sunday 18 June.
Please find below:
- A pre-match information pack for those attending the game
- Confirmation of the parking process for this match for our Spitfire Ground Car Parking Pass Holders and Life Members
We want your visit to be as safe and comfortable as possible. As Covid-19 remains a part of our lives everyone – including the players, officials, staff, stewards, Members and supporters – will need to adhere to some Covid-19 protocols.
It is important to understand that we have been operating a bio-secure stadium and are governed by elite sport guidelines.
We have to make specific arrangements for managing large crowds and have been working with local Public Health officials, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and the Safety Advisory Group at Canterbury City Council which includes representatives of the local emergency services.
All this impacts on the space we have available in the stadium for parking, toilets and moving around. To help us manage this, we have created two Zones; your e-ticket will show which Zone you are sitting in.
• Zone A: The Northern side of the ground with entry via the Old Dover Road gate by Sainsbury’s
• Zone B: The Southern side of the ground with entry via the Nackington Road gate
These safety measures will mean that your matchday experience will be different to normal, and you will need to plan and prepare for the common-sense measures that will be in place.
We accept that this does create challenges and we have been doing our very best to make your day at the cricket as enjoyable and comfortable as well as safe as possible.
Information about your matchday will be communicated and it will be important that you keep updated with that information and share those updates with everyone in your matchday bubble.
If someone has claimed or purchased tickets on your behalf, you should also keep in contact with them and be aware that you will need to use an e-ticket which you should print at home or download on your smart phone.
Please find your Match Day Pack below, with all you need to prepare and plan for when you’re at Kent Cricket. It is important you have read this information and that you adhere to the entry point assigned to your ticket; Zone A or Zone B.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE GROUND:
CHECKLIST
- Print or download your Members’ Match Day Ticket
- This is downloadable via your Invicta Membership portal here
- Please click on VIEW ALL TICKETS CLAIMED – SEE DETAILS – PRINT
- Your 2021 Membership Card
- If your Membership Card does not contain a photo, please also bring a form of ID with you, as ID checks will take place prior to entrance
- The name on the Members’ Match Day Ticket must match the ID
- An Umbrella, warm clothes and sunscreen to protect against the changeable British weather
- Your bank card for cashless payments: Please remember The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence is a cashless venue.
- The Kent Cricket Shop, Membership and Ticket sales, sales of Scorecards and food and beverage payments at all outlets will now be conducted without cash
- Check you have read, understand and can comply with the COVID-19 Code of Conduct
WHAT IDENTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ENTRANCE?
- Driving licence
- Passport
- Previous Kent Cricket Membership card (in the unlikely event that your new card has not arrived)
- Bank card
GETTING TO THE GROUND
• What should I think about when I plan my journey to and from the ground?
- Private travel will reduce the COVID risk and you should take a common-sense approach to your journey to and from the match
- Keep your journey as simple as possible – avoiding unnecessary stops on the way to the venue or on the way home – and adhere to latest Government guidance around social distancing and wearing a face covering while you travel
- We don’t want you to miss a minute of the match action so give yourself plenty of time, gates will open at 16:30
- Entry to the ground may take longer than normal and you should keep updated with any travel information that may affect your journey to avoid delays
PARKING – CARS, MOTORCYCLES & BICYCLES
- Parking is extremely limited at The Spitfire Ground itself so we have worked hard to provide alternative arrangements.
- Car parking is available at the nearby Simon Langton Girls Grammar School. Parking pass Members can secure this for free. Non-members can purchase a ticket for £10. Follow this link to secure your tickets.
- Bicycles are permitted into The Spitfire Ground, but must be locked and stored at the owner’s risk.
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NEW DOVER ROAD PARK AND RIDE
– The New Dover Road Park & Ride (CT1 3EJ) will be in operation as usual and costs just £4 per car and a bus transfer which will drop you off outside The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
– There will be a frequent service between the ground and the New Dover Road Park and Ride Car Park
For further details, please see: New Dover Road Park & Ride, Canterbury – CT1 3EJ
BLUE BADGE ACCESSIBLE PARKING
– Limited parking on ground will be exclusively available for accessible parking for blue badge holders only
– Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and will not be available to purchase on the day
– Blue badge holders with a valid Spitfire Ground Car Parking Pass will not be charged to park – but must book a space in advance
– Blue badge holders without a valid Spitfire Ground Car Parking Pass will be charged a daily rate of £15 – and must book a space in advance
Please note: You are unable to move between Zone A and Zone B within the ground. Therefore, you are not able to enter via the alternative gate and walk through the ground to access your seat.
- Park & Ride Drop Off for Entrance Zone A
- The New Dover Road Park and Ride bus will drop you off outside the ground on Old Dover Road.
- The pick-up point to return to the Park and Ride is at the bus stop on the other side of the road to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in the junction with Nackington Road.
- Park & Ride Drop Off for Entrance Zone B
- The New Dover Road Park and Ride bus will drop you off nearby the Junction of Nackington Road and Old Dover Road – you will then walk up Nackington Road to Entrance Zone B, which will be signposted. The pick-up point to return to the Park and Ride will be at the same location.
ON ARRIVAL
- What time do the gates open?
– You should also prepare to be patient and give yourself plenty of time when arriving at grounds this summer.
– To reduce queues and give more time to find your allocated seat, gates will open at 16:30, two hours before the start of play
– To reduce queuing times at the gate, please have your ticket, Membership card and form of ID ready to show our team when you arrive. - Can I change the name of my friend/guest on my ticket?
– For the purposes of Track and Trace, it is essential that the name on your ticket carries the name of your Friend who is attending the match
– Please note, you will need to click PRINT which will take you to the ticket showing the original name and when you close the ticket, a RENAME button will appear.
- What should I do if I feel ill on the day of the match?
– If you, or anyone in your match-day bubble, is feeling ill or has COVID symptoms on the day of the match then you should not attend the match. Please stay at home and follow NHS and PHE guidance on self-isolation. - Do I need to go a Lateral Flow Test before arriving at the ground?
– No, in line with government guidance, lateral flow tests are NOT required although we do recommend taking a test at home before you travel in the interests of your own safety and your fellow spectators. - Will I be temperature-checked on arrival?
– No, in line with government guidance, temperature checks are not required although we do recommend in the interest of your safety and your fellow Members that you take your temperature before you leave for the ground.
AT THE GROUND
- Seating Allocation – Specific seating plan is in operation for match days at The Spitfire Ground.
– This is to comply with Public Health England and the Government capacity restrictions in place. We are operating a 1m social distancing rule, and by leaving a 1 space gap in between seats, in a checkerboard formation, means that we can comply to these regulations.
– We therefore ask that you sit one seat apart from the next person, even if you are in the same social or family bubble. This is to protect the person who will be sat behind or in front of you, as by sitting next to each other would mean the person sat behind or in front would not be 1m away.
– We understand the requirement to sit next to children or vulnerable adults, so please speak with a steward on arrival if you do need to sit next to the person in your group.
- Will I need a face covering when inside the ground?
– You will need to bring a face covering with you.
– You must wear your mask when queuing; whether this is to enter the ground, for food and drink or use the toilet facilities
– Inside all buildings including any hospitality areas, masks must be worn except when eating or drinking at your table - Will hand sanitisers be available at the ground?
– Hand sanitiser stations will be available for your use, provided by new Club Partners, Defender Labs.Defender Lab Hand Sanitiser stations are highly engineered to look as good as they perform.High-quality brushed stainless steel units combine with class-leading technology to ensure that precise amounts of sanitising liquid are dispensed accurately and in rapid succession to meet the demands of high footfall areas.COVID-19 remains part of our lives and so practicing the same hygiene ‘Hands, Face, Space’ habits we have become accustomed to remains important whilst inside our venues
- What is the Kent Cricket Spectator COVID-19 Code of Conduct?
– We all want to enjoy a day out at the cricket again as safely as possible and so respecting everyone around you is important
– Taking a common-sense approach to how you behave and ensuring that you adhere to social distancing when inside and outside the stadium will ensure everyone can feel safe and enjoy themselves.View the code of conduct here
- Will I be able to use cash and/or cards inside the venue?
– All match day payments at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence and The County Ground, Beckenham will be cashless. The Kent Cricket Shop, Membership and Ticket sales, sales of Scorecards and food and beverage payments at all outlets will now be conducted without cash.
– Members will simply use their usual bank debit or credit card for payment. The move to cashless transactions is all part of the Club’s work to safely allow as many Members and Season Ticket holders as possible to watch live cricket this season. With the introduction of cashless payments, Members should always carry their bank card. - Will I be able to move freely around the ground?
– As part of our safety plans, we have created two Zones.
• Zone A: The Northern side of the ground with Entrance Old Dover Road
• Zone B: The Southern Side of the ground with entrance at Nackington Road
– You will be unable to walk through the ground to access the other Zone.
– Your e-ticket will show which Zone you are sitting in and, provided you follow social distancing guidelines, you will be able to move around within this zone.
– Restricting movement around the stadium to a minimum will keep everyone safer. Match-day stewards and signage will help direct you around the venue and to facilities when you do need leave your seat.
– If you need to move around the venue please adhere to any two-way systems, practice appropriate social distancing, respect others and wear a face mask. You will be allocated a seat which you should remain in whenever possible to ensure you, and everyone around you, can safely enjoy all of the match action.
• Can I leave the ground and come back?
– For Vitality Blast matches, re-admittance is not permitted.
• Where am I allowed to smoke in the ground?
– Smoking is not permitted in any of the seated or covered areas. There is a smoking zone outside The Colin Cowdrey Stand in Zone B.
– Smokers in Zone A will be allowed the smoke behind the Big Screen.
• What if I feel unwell when I am inside the ground?
– If you feel unwell, please speak to a Steward. There is a trained medical team on-site.
• Can I bring in my own alcohol?
– No alcohol is permitted at Vitality Blast games. You may however bring sealed soft drinks and snacks.
• Will I be able to buy food and drink at the venue?
– Food and drink options will be available. We want to make this process as simple and safe for you so there will be measures in place and it will be a take-away service only.
– As we all want to avoid large gatherings you will only be able to consume food and drink once you have returned to your allocated seat. If you are queuing for food or drinks please wear a mask, maintain social distancing and respect other supporters and matchday staff
• What food outlets will there be?
– There will be outlets serving a range of food and drink and refreshments. All offer a vegetarian option. Food and drinks must be consumed outside.
– For this game, on Southern Bank, we will have RAD Burger, Taste of Thai, an Ice Cream van and a Coffee and Doughnut offering.
– Oriole Cafe, on the North Bank, will be serving:
Pulled beef brisket in brioche buns with creamy coleslaw and crispy onions
Pulled BBQ Jackfruit in brioche buns with creamy coleslaw and crispy onions
A selection of in-house baked cakes and treats and our famous giant sausage rolls.
Also serving a selection of Kentish beers and wines. Delicious locally roasted coffee and a selection of teas and soft drinks.
– We will continue to review our food and drink options on a match-by-match basis, and options on the day will be confirmed via The Spitfire Ground, Stadium Announcer.
• Can I bring food and drink into the ground?
– You are allowed to bring food and sealed soft drinks into the ground in a small bag. We reserve the right to search bags.
• Will I be able to bring my own chair?
– The ground is operating under a limited capacity in line with government guidelines and all seats must be allocated. This means that you will be unable to bring your own chair into the ground.
• Can I bring my dog?
– Unfortunately, dogs will not be allowed into the ground with the exception of trained Assistance dogs. We are currently operating under a limited capacity in line with government guidelines. With restricted movement around the ground and pre-allocated seating, there is reduced space and it is impossible to balance the needs of the dog, their owners and other Members.
We will continue to review this policy through the season.
• Can I bring in an Under 5 for free?
– All seats must be allocated and therefore under 5s are not allowed in the ground without a valid Members Matchday Ticket in their name.
• Can I sit on the seat directly next to my partner, friend or guest?
– All seats are be allocated and the seating plan has been developed in line with social distancing guidelines. Please leave one seat between you and your neighbour – even if you are in the same household or bubble.
• If it rains, where can I go?
-If rain is forecast, you should be aware that under-covered areas are all restricted. We need to avoid large groups and you will not be allowed to gather together. Please bring appropriate clothing and an umbrella.
• Can we get an autograph or a selfie with the players?
– Sadly, we know that is not possible this summer. The players, team staff and officials will be adhering to their own COVID-19 protocols and must remain in their own team and staff environment.
– Supporters must respect those team environments which will help us ensure safety and allow us to play a full summer of cricket in front of fans.
• What do I do if the ball is hit over the boundary fence near me?
– Protocols are in place to ensure the ball is sanitised should it be hit into the crowd which will allow play to continue.
– If the ball is hit to you and you do pick it up but do not let other crowd members touch the ball. You should return the ball to the field of play immediately, but do not hand it to a player or official.
Finally, we would like to reassure you that everyone is working hard to make things as safe and comfortable as possible so that we are able to welcome Members back to The Spitfire Ground despite still operating under restrictions associated with the Roadmap out of Lockdown.
We hope you enjoy your day with Kent Cricket.