So, here we are, racing headlong through Spring, knowing that Summer’s just around the corner. Summer – the season of outdoor drinking and dining, the season of tennis and cricket, flat racing and football.
Er, sorry? Football? Oh yes – the ‘Beautiful Game’ is shaking off its seasonal break to play a central role in our Summer with the staging of Euro 24. Germany is hosting this edition of the quadrennial football fest, which will see 24 nations battling it out from mid-June to mid-July to decide who takes the honours as European champions.
Unlike World Cups held halfway across the world, the European championships won’t play havoc with our sleeping and waking, working and leisure habits. Germany is on Central European Time, one hour on from the UK, which means kick-off times are similar to those we’re used to.
England – who came so close last time, when they lost the final on penalties to Italy – are again among the favourites and will be joined by Scotland. Plenty of interest for British football fans, then, which offers great potential for licensees to put on their own Euro show and draw in the punters.
Many of the games kick off in the early evening, meaning they fall within existing licensing hours. But many more – including, potentially, five involving England, kick off at 9pm UK time. With extra-time and penalties always a possibility, players – and fans – could be caught up in matches until close to midnight, which means licensees need to start thinking about temporary extensions (TENs).
As we explained in a previous blog in December 2023 (Think again – and act fast – on TENs), applications for extensions are now limited to 15 per year, with a maximum of 21 days covered, and must be submitted at least 10 days before the required extension date.
So, June may seem like some way off, but this is the time to get plans in order. Complete Licensing can help with every aspect of TENs applications, including addressing those perhaps less obvious issues – security, noise concerns, safeguarding vulnerable people…
The football is bound to pull in customers wherever it’s shown, which makes this a no-brainer. Roll out the big screens, book the extra staff, buy in the supplies – but only after you’ve sorted the admin.