Viking can secure the club’s first league gold since 1991 if the blue shirts win the last Eliteserie game of the year against Vålerenga on Sunday.
The interest among the Viking fans is enormous before the decisive match, which can send the whole of Stavanger into a frenzy of golden euphoria.
– We could easily sell out Lyse Arena two, maybe three times for the match on Sunday. It is pouring in with ticket requests all the way. I am quite confident that we could pass 40,000 tickets, says Viking director Eirik Bjørnø to TV 2.
CAN SMILE: Viking director Eirik Bjørnø is guaranteed to appear at the Vikings’ gold party if the team beats Vålerenga on Sunday Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB
– It will be the folk festival of all time in Stavanger
If Viking does as the whole city is hoping for and beats Vålerenga, an electric golden celebration awaits at Torget in Stavanger on Sunday evening. It is expected that up to 50,000 wild Viking supporters will gather to participate in the gold party.
– It is likely to be the biggest folk festival of all time if Viking wins gold
Naturally, this has led to hectic planning in the Sørvest police district.
– The police are prepared for the gold match this weekend. We know there will be a lot of people at the stadium and in the city center in connection with the match, police inspector Kathrine Sæland Rotseth points out to TV 2.
– It is likely to be the biggest folk festival of all time if Viking wins gold. We have gained some experience from previous events. The best-attended free concerts in Vågen have gathered around 10–25,000 people. There will therefore be significantly more on Sunday. We expect up to 50,000 people, confirms police inspector Kathrine Sæland Rotseth.
POLICE INSPECTOR: Kathrine Sæland Rotseth Photo: Politiet/Sørvest police district Facebook
Drones in the air and closed to all traffic
Therefore, the Police naturally take several measures to ensure the safety and security of those present in the city centre.
– The city will more or less be closed down in terms of car traffic from early Sunday afternoon, says Sæland Rotseth, before making a clear call to the Viking fans:
– When it comes to alcohol, we encourage moderation. Remember that the party is for everyone of all ages. Noise and disturbances in connection with the football match and the event will result in double fine rates, she says.
Because of the possible gold party, the police are calling in extra crews, and warn that they are well prepared for various incidents that may occur in the crowd.
– We are heavily manning up, and believe that we must be well equipped to handle these large crowds and any situations that arise, says Sæland Rotseth.
And adds:
– The police work closely with the municipality, the nightlife industry, fire, health and other actors to ensure that Sunday is as safe as possible. We want to prevent unwanted incidents, she says.
High risk match
Also during the match itself, which can therefore culminate in the Vikings’ first series gold in 34 years, the police are present with significant crews.
We also want drones in the air
– An additional challenge for the police is that Vålerenga is defined as a high-risk match, reminds Sæland Rotseth.
– We know that a good group will come from Oslo. It is natural to think that they might want to recharge in the center before the match, and we will therefore have an extra eye on the supporters both before, during and after the match. We will also have drones in the air, warns the police inspector.
And although the police, along with everyone else in Stavanger, hope the gold goes in the box for Viking, there won’t be much time for celebration at the police station.
– It is of course great that a local team can win gold in the Eliteserien, but there will probably be no time for celebration for us who work, says Sæland Rotseth.
