Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 9:50 AM• Chris Meijer

Vitesse has also decided not to broadcast the cup final on large screens in GelreDome next Sunday. The people of Arnhem communicate through the official channels that this decision is based on ‘various reasons’. Earlier, Ajax also announced that it is renouncing the possibility to allow 5000 spectators into the Johan Cruijff ArenA during the final battle of the TOTO KNVB Cup.

“We notice that the cup final in Arnhem and the surrounding area is very alive. The entire city is turning yellow-black thanks to initiatives from supporters, sponsors, retailers and the municipality of Arnhem. At the same time, the past few days have shown that the enthusiasm among our supporters to watch the match on large screens in GelreDome is limited ”, explains Pascal van Wijk, general director of Vitesse, on the Vitesse website. 3000 supporters were allowed to watch the cup final against Ajax on large screens in GelreDome. The several hundred supporters who had registered were personally informed on Wednesday morning.

“In addition, in recent days we were confronted with additional restrictions (including the limited test capacity on Saturday in Arnhem, which meant that our supporters had to travel many kilometers for a test and not be allowed to serve alcoholic drinks after 8 p.m.) and a number of significant unforeseen costs. ”Continues Van Wijk. “That is why we have concluded that, given the various impeding factors, it is impossible to organize an event in GelreDome that matches what we have in mind. The high costs in relation to the limited interest also leave us no choice, at a time when we have to use our resources sparingly. ”

It was initially reported that, unlike Ajax, Vitesse did make use of the option to organize a so-called ‘public viewing’, an event that is part of a large-scale pilot by the government to open up society with the use of access tests. Ajax immediately called the ‘public viewing’ ‘too complex and too short a day to organize now’. No audience is allowed to attend the final in De Kuip, which will kick off on Sunday at 6 p.m.