A petition has been started calling for Wales fan zones to make a comeback in time for the 2022 World Cup.
They were a feature of the 2016 Euros, allowing football fans of all ages back home to enjoy the matchday atmosphere.
Now with Wales at their first World Cup in more than 60 years, supporter Mark Jones says he can’t understand why so little has been put in place.
“Wales has lots of big events and concerts lately so there is no excuse,” he said.
This is the second time that Mark, 30, from Blackwood, Caerphilly county, has found himself lobbying for fan zones.
In 2016 while he was a student, he started a petition which finally led to Cardiff council agreeing to a fan zone in the city’s Bute Park, 10 days before the start of the Euros.
Now despite the success of those events, he’s launched his petition again, when he and friends realised no plans were in place for fan zones this time round either.
Mark, who says he’s “too skint” to go to the World Cup in Qatar in November. said there had been a “crazy whirlwind” as he got his latest campaign off the ground.
But so far, only one council in Wales has told the BBC it definitely has plans for fan zones.
He describes his campaign as the “kick-up the backside” for Wales to make them an important part of national culture to bring supporters, young and old, together.
“In 2016, over 60,000 people used the fan zones so there is no excuse for them not to come back,” Mark said.
“Wales has had lots of big events and concerts.”
He describes his campaign as the “kick-up the backside” for Wales to make them an important part of national culture to bring supporters, young and old, together.
“In 2016, over 60,000 people used the fan zones so there is no excuse for them not to come back,” Mark said.
“Wales has had lots of big events and concerts.”
Mark said it has been estimated that a trip to Qatar to watch the World Cup could cost more than £5,000 to cover flights, accommodation, match tickets and food.
There were other obstacles, including the cost of living crisis and ticket availability.
“It would be a major shot in the foot if we don’t rally behind this team,” said Mark.
“We need to grasp this – it’s our chance to brand Wales on the world’s biggest days and bring people together. We might not get an opportunity to present ourselves to the world like this again.”
Mark added: “Imagine Wales score and you cut to Queen Street in Cardiff – and there are a couple of people walking with a carrier bag? No, let’s get the fan zones back.”
What is a fan zone?
- Fan zones are areas outside or away from a sports stadium for people to watch the game on a large screen.
- Some larger, licensed venues are already organising event nights for fans to watch the matches, but fan zones are free to attend and can hold a large capacity and be open to everyone.
- Mark has created a website that has all the relevant information on it and where he has started the petition.