An Aberdeen venue says it will change its offering for future Euro 2024 matches after criticism following Scotland’s opening game.
Resident X at Marischal Square venue hosted a Euro 2024 fan zone for supporters to watch Germany v Scotland on Friday night.
Hundreds turned out to see the national team’s 5-1 defeat at the sold-out event.
The owners billed it as a “family-friendly fan zone” with tickets costing £5, including a free drink.
However, the venue said some families complained about seating arrangements.
In a Facebook post, Resident X said that while many people enjoyed their time watching the match, they received complaints that were “all from families”.
The statement said: “We could have filled this venue four times over with ticket demand from adults only and people that would spend money behind the bar.
“We decided to try and make it family-friendly and allow families to enjoy together. Possibly a mistake.
“Police Scotland got involved and wanted a distinct family area and segregation for the children to protect children from harm.”
Resident X says event ‘could have been covered by adults’
The post said the venue could not allow children into the main area in case they were hurt from crushing or trampling by the “lively” crowd.
Instead, families were allocated an area at the back of the venue where they “could see mostly”.
The statement added: “For the people that are saying their kids couldn’t see, how would they have seen anything in a crowd of people, where some of you wanted them to be?
“All they would have seen were backs and behinds.
“And the amount of times we were told that people paid ‘good money’ for this is a joke. It was £5 and you got it back in a free drink.
“These events cost thousands of pounds to put on and again, could have been covered by adults not complaining.”
Resident X says it will limit tickets for the remaining Euros games and will “try something else” next time.
In response to the post, several parents replied to say their children had enjoyed the event.
Resident X is one of three fan zones for people to watch the Euros in Aberdeen, along with Codona’s and the OGV Taproom.
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