Stripped this discussion out of the 'what next' thread by deano as it was off topic but a very interesting topic.
I just don't see, as we will be approaching winter when there will obviously be flu and normal colds/bugs/viruses as well, how we can return this year, especially when you look at the spikes worldwide and the ever increasing death figures.
You could have one row empty, you could have a space between each fan (so an empty seat) but we'd still have to queue, how bottlenecked would that be at even 1 m apart? Then what, straight to your seats not standing in the concourse? No drink or food? If there is drink/food you can take your mask off, so that doesn't work. And then you go to your seat, at a distance from the next fan BUT to get to your seat, you have to go by other fans and that is close contact.
For me, since the re-location, I'm in corporate. Can they do a reduced capacity service and make it profitable? Doubt it, no idea, but .. and then again, inside, eating, so no masks, then outside, there is a bit more space seat wise, but you still have to squeeze past others to get to your seats.
And bearing in mind at this level, as we discussed in the original thread about re-starting the PL, the gates don't matter £ wise when compared to tv revenue.
Then there is the question, would you want to go back? I'd go, I think (as did my doc but no tests then) that I have had it, but then, we don't know yet if we can get it again, then if you are in contact with others who are found to have it, track and trace then kicks in and you have to stay in quarantine for 14 days, how many times will that happen, how willing would you be to risk that several times over? I'd not really want my dad going either, which would not be nice for him, but he's 81 and so at risk, and then could catch it and take it back to mom who is also at risk age and health. So then even if I wanted to go, and I do, if I then get track and trace restrictions, they are my bubble, I do their shopping etc, so I'm risking that side of things as well.
All very complicated isn't it?