Uefa screen supplier speaks (Industry)
Manchester City Council is to conduct a full inquiry into why a screen failed to relay Wednesday’s Uefa Cup final clash against Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.
Violence broke out among Scottish football fans, who had swarmed to Manchester to see their club play, following a technical problem which rendered the giant screen inoperable. (17 May '08)
Instead of broadcasting the game’s kick-off a screen saver message claimed that the the failed transmission was being resolved. Around 10,000 fans then saw all images vanish as the game prepared to start. The fighting continued after Rangers' 2-0 defeat to the Russians with supporters and police in running battles.
The outdoor screens were the responsibility of Bradford-based Lightmedia Display and were deployed throughout the “fan zones” where supporters gathered. “We deeply regret and are very disappointed at the failure of the signal to the screen in Piccadilly Gardens,” said Lightmedia Display MD, Eddie Smith. “It was due to a technical signalling problem that we are still investigating. Despite all our efforts to strengthen the signal to the screen, it proved impossible. Our other screens in the city centre worked perfectly. We are extremely sorry and we fully recognise what a blow this was to the thousands of fans hoping to watch the match."
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, suggested that the task of resolving the screen failure became impossible when technicians examining the problem were themselves attacked by the crowd who pelted cans and bottles at them. “"We are sorry to disappoint Manchester United fans but it is obvious that because of the impact on residents, businesses and city centre users, there can be no big screen showing of the Champions League final."
Vicky Rosin, assistant CEO of Manchester City Council, told RedKarpet : “There were five large outdoor screens in total and only the one at Piccadilly Gardens failed through a technical problem. When that happened, our contingency plans to screen the match at The Manchester Velodrome at Sportcity were brought into action. Coaches with a police escort were used to take fans from the city centre to the Velodrome. Large numbers of fans also walked there.”
The violence has scuppered any outdoor broadcast of next week’s game. “Following Wednesday night’s events, we have decided that the Uefa EUFA Champions League Final on Wednesday next week involving Manchester United will not be screened outdoors in the city centre, although we are discussing with partners how fans might be able to watch the match in significant numbers in a safe indoor environment,” said Vicky Roisin.
However, Roisin stresses that Manchester will continue drive forward the rest of its outdoor events schedule “We are reviewing the events of Wednesday and will learn any lessons necessary to help us make future major events a success,” she said “We will continue with our major events programme, building on Manchester’s track record as a capable host of big occasions, which bring major economic benefits and support thousands of jobs.
“Our Manchester World Sport 08 programme continues on Sunday with the BUPA Great Manchester Run, when tens of thousands of people will take to the city’s streets to take part in and support the run.”
Event organisers and suppliers will keenly await the outcome of the official investigation into the problems which beset Lightmedia Display’s screen. “"We are having a full inquiry into the failure of the screen in Piccadilly,” promised council boss Sir Richard Leese.
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