Safe Standing and Rail Seating

[Charly]

Does that take into account social distancing?

[baitman]

Manchester City are to install 5,620 rail seats this summer to "enhance supporter safety" at Etihad Stadium.

The seats, which can be folded away to create a 'safe standing' area with barriers, will be installed in the lower tier of the South Stand.

Standing at grounds in the top two tiers of English football is banned, but City say this work means they will be ready should the rules change.

The seats will be installed in time for the start of the 2021-22 season.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56507974

[Roboklopp]

I’m sure the cardboard cutouts, empty seats and hired influencers will be overjoyed.

[Alex]

Influencers to curate the best matchday experience that the brand can offer.

[baitman]

Government plans to lift football standing ban.

Plans to lift the ban on standing in the English Premier League and Championship are set to be announced by the government, the BBC has learned.

It is thought a handful of grounds will be able to use designated safe standing areas before the end of the season.

It would mean for the first time in over 25 years, fans of some top flight football clubs would be legally allowed to stand and watch their team play.

An official announcement is expected as soon as next month.

The chairman of the Football Supporters Association, Malcolm Clarke, said it was a "welcome" development that would benefit all fans.

He added: "People who want to stand should be able to do so in safety. Those who want to sit should be able to do so without having their view blocked."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58357046

[baitman]

Premier League and Championship clubs invited to trial safe standing

Premier League and Championship clubs have been asked for expressions of interest to pilot safe standing areas this season.
Clubs have until 6 October to submit an application to the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA).
"If approved, they will be able to offer licensed standing areas from 1 January 2022," said the SGSA.
"With independent research now complete, and capacity crowds back at grounds across the country, now is the right time to make progress."
Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves have all had rail seating installed at their grounds.
Manchester United and Wolves are likely to apply for the safe standing scheme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58648153

[baitman]

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss says 'good moment' to consider safe standing.
It is a "good moment" to consider bringing in safe standing at stadiums, says Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Premier League and Championship clubs can apply to pilot safe standing areas from January 2022.
Standing in English football's top two divisions was outlawed after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
"I'm pretty sure the people are now responsible enough to do it in the right way," said Klopp.
"The stadiums are completely different to the time when really sad, sad things happened.
"The construction is different, all these kind of things. I like the idea and I'm especially excited about how much better could the atmosphere be at Anfield if we have safe standing.
"I would be really surprised if it could be even better but I'm open for that so let's see."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58676829

[baitman]

Chelsea v Liverpool to mark return of standing after near 30-year absence from top two tiers.

Chelsea's Premier League game against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on 2 January will mark the return of standing to the English top flight after nearly 30 years.

Premier League clubs Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea and Championship side Cardiff have all had their applications to be part of a safe standing trial approved.

Since 1994, grounds in the first and second tiers of the English football pyramid have been required by law to be all-seaters.

"I'm pleased to approve these five clubs as early adopters of licensed safe standing areas for the second half of the season," said sports minister Nigel Huddleston.

"The time is now right to properly trial safe standing in the Premier League and EFL Championship ahead of a decision on a widespread roll-out.

"Safety is absolutely paramount and the SGSA [Sports Grounds Safety Authority] is working hand-in-glove with the clubs on this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59206130

[baitman]

Safe standing in Premier League: 'My opinion has completely changed'

For most of the past 33 years, Margaret Aspinall has been opposed to standing at football matches.

On 15 April 1989 her 18-year-old son and Liverpool fan James went through the turnstiles and on to the terraces at the Leppings Lane End at Hillsborough.

He and 96 others were killed by a crush caused by police failures, a poorly designed, regulated and maintained venue, and delays in the emergency service response.

As Chelsea prepare to host Liverpool on Sunday in the first English top-flight game in front of standing fans in almost 30 years, Aspinall is now in favour of supporters standing.

"I never believed in any form of safe standing whatsoever, but my opinion has completely changed," she told BBC Sport.

"Those who want to stand should be allowed to stand.

"Fans are treated completely differently now to what they were in the 1970s and 1980s. They are really monitored. They are more careful. They've learned lessons because of Hillsborough."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59842679

[ChesterDave]

Chief Constable of Cheshire Police opening his yap before engaging brain.

Who knew that standing up in the ground makes it easier to sneak alcohol in?

***Warning*** If you are upset or angered by the lazy stereoypes of football fans that demonised them post-Hillsborough it would be a good idea not to play the video.

[ame]https://twitter.com/BBCNWT/status/1477607416053309440[/ame]

[Buzzo]

WTF - “Take cocaine”

He just starts listing crimes. What else was there? “Standing at stadiums makes it easier for people to Murder babies…”?

[baitman]

Safe standing has had 'positive impact' on fan safety - report.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61194765

[baitman]

Liverpool to apply for safe standing licence as Anfield rail seats increase to 13,300.

The initiative has been trialled successfully by several Premier League clubs over the past two years.

Liverpool installed 7,800 rail seats in the summer of 2021 and a further 2,500 during last season's World Cup break.

Another 3,000 will be added this summer, meaning Anfield will have safe standing sections in the Kop and the newly redeveloped Anfield Road end.

The latter will open for the 2023-24 season, taking the ground's capacity to 61,000.

The rail seats to be installed this summer will all be in the Kop, taking its total to 7,425 - about 55% of the famous stand's capacity.

Liverpool have plans to add more in the Kop next year.

Enforcement recommendations from the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) state that stadiums with rail seating for more than two years must apply for a licence.

Six Premier League clubs currently have a licence - Brentford, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves.

"Following an extensive review of our rail seating trial we're delighted to confirm it has been successful and is now a permanent feature at Anfield Stadium," said Liverpool managing director Andy Hughes.

"The health and safety of our supporters when attending matches at Anfield is, and always will be, paramount."

Concerns over "persistent standing" by supporters in the Kop and Anfield Road stands were highlighted in a 2021 review by the SGSA.

Chelsea's Stamford Bridge became the first top-flight stadium to allow licensed standing in almost 30 years as part of a trial in January 2022.

Since 1994, grounds in the first and second tiers of the English football pyramid have been required by law to be all-seater.

That followed a recommendation of the Taylor Report following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 97 fans died following a crush.

However, after new guidance from the SGSA, rail seating has been developed at some grounds to provide seats that can be converted to standing areas when desired.

Liverpool wrote to all the families of the Hillsborough victims before installing the first rail seats at Anfield.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66061736

[baitman]

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2023/06/liverpool-introduce-safe-standing-from-next-season-plus-3000-extra-rail-seats-in-kop/

[peterbread]

I saw something that in Germany with the safe standing they can sell two tickets for one seat. Is that going to be possible at Anfield? I can only imagine how good the atmosphere would be plus it would a way to help increase the capacity without having to redevelop.