Glasgow residents launch objection to TRNSMT's plan to show Scotland at the World Cup
City centre residents have urged Glasgow City Council (GCC) to give the red card to TRNSMT music festival organisers’ bid to show Scotland’s World Cup match against Morocco live on Glasgow Green, a game due to finish well after midnight.
Lodging an objection to the licensing application, Merchant City and Trongate Community Council (MCTCC) said the screening “would create serious disturbances to residents, entail safety and security risks, and add to public transport concerns.”
Concerts at the annual TRNSMT festival must end at 11 pm. However, organisers have applied to show the Scotland-Morocco World Cup match on giant screens afterwards. It will kick off in the USA on Friday 19 June at 11 pm UK time. The earliest it will end is around 1 am UK time on Saturday 19th.
The Community Council, the residents’ forum for that part of Glasgow, stated: “Noise from those watching the match will be substantial. In a press release issued by DF Events - before its licensing application had even been lodged - its Director said it would be displayed ‘on the largest screens in the country’ and promised to 'bring the Hampden roar to Glasgow Green.’ In the early hours of a Saturday morning in a public space fringed by residential accommodation this is totally unacceptable.”
The Community Council noted that all pubs and bars in Glasgow would be allowed to remain open until 30 minutes after the final whistle of Scotland’s World Cup matches provided they had televised sports in their operational plan. This was not the case with TRNSMT. The game would also be live on TV for home viewing.
A spokesperson commented: ”Such pubs and bars are plentiful and safer environments in which to watch this match, with trained staff used to dealing with alcohol consumption … There is a risk to public safety as the TRNSMT audience will be reduced to those watching the late night football within a very large footprint which will be very difficult to secure.”
It has asked the City Council to advise what public transport, designated pedestrian routes and security would be in place in order to safeguard property and public safety and what public transport would be available at that time of night.
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