[Albion] Safe Standing Survey...

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Although I’m in the SEE NO BENEFIT category, I would vote in favour of it to give supporters a freedom of choice, sadly I’m now A SEATED DULLARD despite being a time served vocal singing supporter since the 70’s.

 

[amexer]

As somebody who would not want to stand would like to see a standing area if it would create an atmosphere in an area like was in the Goldstone north stand.
May I ask if any supporters have spoken to fans of clubs that have installed this to ask if they are pleased with outcome and if it has added to atmosphere

 

[Baldrick]

If clubs/stewards allow fans to stand in parts of a ground/stadium (e.g. in the north and south stands at The Amex) then safe standing should be provided in order to comply with the law.

Standing areas at football grounds in England’s top two divisions have been banned in England and Wales since Lord Justice Taylor’s report into the Hillsborough disaster, and the subsequent 1989 Football Spectators Act. However the UK government announced last July that Premier League and Championship football clubs can introduce licensed safe standing areas at stadiums for the 2022/23 season onwards. This means English fans can stand in allocated spaces behind barriers, as in other countries such as Germany. These typically have fold-down seats, known as rail seating.

Surely the survey is a bit pointless as either the club wants to abide by the law or force all fans to sit down in the north and south stands. Turning a blind eye to fans standing in an all seater stadium is no longer an excuse for not abiding by the law. Is safety of fans of paramount importance for the club or is ensuring the safety of fans as far as possible just confined to banning bottle tops?

 

[Brian Fantana]

The way the whole thing is phrased (essentially opening with arguments against implementing it) leads me to believe that the club have essentially already decided not to pursue this (we know that they've previously been on record as being pretty strongly against it).

IF I was being cynical, I'd suggest it was a convenient opportunity to give the FAB a potentially 'big ticket' item to be seen to involved in and influencing club policy on.

In general, I'm not against the idea of safe standing being installed. However, as others have said, my preference would be for an outside fanzone (if budget-wise it is a straight shoot out between that and safe standing).

 

[Baldrick]

The way the whole thing is phrased (essentially opening with arguments against implementing it) leads me to believe that the club have essentially already decided not to pursue this (we know that they've previously been on record as being pretty strongly against it).

IF I was being cynical, I'd suggest it was a convenient opportunity to give the FAB a potentially 'big ticket' item to be seen to involved in and influencing club policy on.

In general, I'm not against the idea of safe standing being installed. However, as others have said, my preference would be for an outside fanzone (if budget-wise it is a straight shoot out between that and safe standing).

If as has been reported, the club is financially sound enough to turn down a bid of £70m for Caceido, then surely safe standing and other stadium improvements are affordable. Can the club be open and upfront by saying what the costs would be? Bearing in mind we are likely to sell both Caceido and MacAlistair within the next few months for somewhere between £120m and £150m, surely all improvements including safe standing would cost a fraction of the transfer fees raised.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I thought everyone stood in the North and South stands regardless.

 

[Baldrick]

I thought everyone stood in the North and South stands regardless.

The club is breaking the law in allowing this to happen.

Quote from Paul Barber in a national newspaper two days ago: “Our values are: Aim high, treat people with respect, exceed expectations, act with integrity, and make it special,”

Surely the club doesn't condone breaking the law by allowing unsafe standing?

 

[SAC]

The club is breaking the law in allowing this to happen.

Quote from Paul Barber in a national newspaper two days ago: “Our values are: Aim high, treat people with respect, exceed expectations, act with integrity, and make it special,”

Surely the club doesn't condone breaking the law by allowing unsafe standing?

Not true. It would be against the law for the club not to provide seats, it isn't against the law not to use them.

Standing is against the rules on entry to the ground, it is therefore up to the club if they want to insist fans sit.

More details are on the FSA website https://thefsa.org.uk/news/the-legalities-of-standing/

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

As somebody who would not want to stand would like to see a standing area if it would create an atmosphere in an area like was in the Goldstone north stand.

Chalk n cheese I’m afraid. One was terracing the other is safe standing. There is no comparison to be made.

 

[Baldrick]

Not true. It would be against the law for the club not to provide seats, it isn't against the law not to use them.

Standing is against the rules on entry to the ground, it is therefore up to the club if they want to insist fans sit.

More details are on the FSA website https://thefsa.org.uk/news/the-legalities-of-standing/

Good point and news to me. That was an interesting read. As the article says there is only a breach of civil law and not criminal law if standing fans do not adhere to a club's terms and conditions.

The FSA opinion was posted back in 2012. It mentions " pending more formal revision of the regulations relating to standing, we support sensible approaches such as these as a way of improving the matchday experience for supporters and stewards alike" when referring to club's ticketing terms and conditions.

Clubs can now be licensed to have safe standing. Bearing in mid 3000 away fans and probably another 3000+ home fans (that's 20% of the attendance) stand in the south and north stands for Amex home matches, it would make sense for the club to put formal arrangements in place for safe standing and improved safety.

 

[drew]

The club is breaking the law in allowing this to happen.

Quote from Paul Barber in a national newspaper two days ago: “Our values are: Aim high, treat people with respect, exceed expectations, act with integrity, and make it special,”

Surely the club doesn't condone breaking the law by allowing unsafe standing?

They are, as are every club in the EPL when they allow away fans and home fans to stand. I can't recall one case of a club being prosecuted. So, the fact remains, how does sticking a bar in front of people that already stand improve their contribution to the atmosphere.

 

[Midget]

No, if even a single season ticket holder gets shafted as a result.

Especially one who got to choose their seat when the ground was built as a reward for their loyalty in harder times.

This shouldn't be about what the majority want. Why should the thousands of people in the East and West Stands, say, or non-STHs, be able to influence the introduction of something that only impacts certain people in the North or South?

If every person directly affected agrees happily to either stand or move, fine.

If any current STHs are going to get screwed over as a result, safe standing areas can f off.

 

[RM-Taylor]

General question - for those who travel to away games frequently like myself. When was the last time a steward asked you or anyone near you to sit down? Honestly I don’t remember that happening for at least 10 years now

 

[dazzer6666]

Chalk n cheese I’m afraid. One was terracing the other is safe standing. There is no comparison to be made.

100%. Safe standing is LESS ‘old school’ than current ‘unsafe’ standing. The rails stop any kind of bundling over etc when that last minute winner goes in.

 

[dazzer6666]

General question - for those who travel to away games frequently like myself. When was the last time a steward asked you or anyone near you to sit down? Honestly I don’t remember that happening for at least 10 years now

Can‘t remember. Only game I have sat down at in years was at Saints - and only then because I was in the front row and there were people in the row behind unable to stand.

 

[drew]

General question - for those who travel to away games frequently like myself. When was the last time a steward asked you or anyone near you to sit down? Honestly I don’t remember that happening for at least 10 years now

Agree, they don't. I would also add that the atmosphere at Spurs when we beat them was no better than the atmosphere when we beat Arsenal. One has safe standing the other doesn't.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

General question - for those who travel to away games frequently like myself. When was the last time a steward asked you or anyone near you to sit down? Honestly I don’t remember that happening for at least 10 years now

I think it happened at Orient one Sunday lunchtime when Peter Shilton played his 1000th match

 

[studio150]

General question - for those who travel to away games frequently like myself. When was the last time a steward asked you or anyone near you to sit down? Honestly I don’t remember that happening for at least 10 years now

Leeds away in the championship, Derby away, which was stupid because we were next to home fans who were standing and not being asked to sit down.

 

[Deleted member 37369]

Newcastle fans have 'voted' for safe standing sections ...

"An 1,800-capacity section for home fans will be introduced in the stadium's south-east corner, with a similar area for away supporters in the Leazes End".

Newcastle to trial safe standing at St James' Park

Newcastle United are to trial safe standing at St James' Park at the start of the 2023-24 season following a supporter consultation process.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JonnyComeEarly]

We need this at the amex. Time to give fans what they want. Even if its just one stand behind the goal to allow the "sitters" to still have seated areas and the "standers" to finally stand