'As A City Fan', Would You Like To See Safe Standing Introduced At The Etihad?

[Ban-jani]

What do you mean with "safe" standing places?

Here is a traditional standing terrace, as seen by this photo of Manchester City's old Kippax stand:

As you can see there's huge gaps in-between the railing, which whilst being able fit more people in, can run the risk of injury by crushing.

Below is the modern "safe standing" railing system, seen at Celtic:

You can get twice as many people in as a seated section but there isn't a risk of the crowd moving or crushing, due to the sheer amount of railing.

 

[1.618034]

Anyone who thinks that standing won't improve the atmosphere has never been to a seated gig.

Indeed.

If they do introduce the rail seats then the capacity could increase by 1.8, so more potential voices/noise, whilst actually being stood up would surely mean that you're, physically, more likely to shout or sing, or dance. Being seated has to make you more restricted.

But the other consideration is that you would then also potentially have 1.8 times the number of people going through the turnstiles and using the facilities/concourses/transport and tbh they're not that great/big enough now, so the club(s) would certainly need to consider that in their planning. They should perhaps also consider changing the "alcohol in view of the pitch" regs, so then instead of the half-time stampede, more people could get/have a drink during the game..?

It probably needs some clubs to be allowed a trial period of a season or two, to see how it goes. It's certainly not as simple as just changing the ground regulations and installing a load of rails. Unless they just go with the apparent Celtic model of leaving the seat numbers/capacity the same. They could then look at increasing capacity later, if and when they're ready or comfortable that it's working out.

We'll see. But in principle I'm all for it.

 

[Ban-jani]

Indeed.

If they do introduce the rail seats then the capacity could increase by 1.8, so more potential voices/noise, whilst actually being stood up would surely mean that you're, physically, more likely to shout or sing, or dance. Being seated has to make you more restricted.

But the other consideration is that you would then also potentially have 1.8 times the number of people going through the turnstiles and using the facilities/concourses/transport and tbh they're not that great/big enough now, so the club(s) would certainly need to consider that in their planning. They should perhaps also consider changing the "alcohol in view of the pitch" regs, so then instead of the half-time stampede, more people could get/have a drink during the game..?

It probably needs some clubs to be allowed a trial period of a season or two, to see how it goes. It's certainly not as simple as just changing the ground regulations and installing a load of rails. Unless they just go with the apparent Celtic model of leaving the seat numbers/capacity the same. They could then look at increasing capacity later, if and when they're ready or comfortable that it's working out.

We'll see. But in principle I'm all for it.

I think it'll definitely start with the same number of people as before, until the powers that be are comfortable.

I'd love it if it got to a stage where you'd be allowed to have 1.8 times as many people and can choose to stand where you want.

 

[Gary James]

Gary James posted footage of thenatmosphere at a Maine Road before and after the all seater introduction. There was no comparison with the standing days being a lot noisier.

IMHO, Maine Road used to be louder (except on a Derby day) when we were going for promotion with a lot of rivalries with the likes of Leeds, Sheffield teams, Newcastle, Sunderland, Chelsea etc.

The footage was showm as part of the "Boys in Blue" film show I did at Dancehouse earlier this year (and at Cornerhouse in previous years).

 

[Manchester33]

Seriously, I don't get how anyone in their right minds could be against the introduction of standing at football. It's win/win/win for fans, clubs and health and safety.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

The footage was showm as part of the "Boys in Blue" film show I did at Dancehouse earlier this year (and at Cornerhouse in previous years).

Thanks Gary for the reminder. It was a great show.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Indeed.

If they do introduce the rail seats then the capacity could increase by 1.8, so more potential voices/noise, whilst actually being stood up would surely mean that you're, physically, more likely to shout or sing, or dance. Being seated has to make you more restricted.

But the other consideration is that you would then also potentially have 1.8 times the number of people going through the turnstiles and using the facilities/concourses/transport and tbh they're not that great/big enough now, so the club(s) would certainly need to consider that in their planning. They should perhaps also consider changing the "alcohol in view of the pitch" regs, so then instead of the half-time stampede, more people could get/have a drink during the game..?

It probably needs some clubs to be allowed a trial period of a season or two, to see how it goes. It's certainly not as simple as just changing the ground regulations and installing a load of rails. Unless they just go with the apparent Celtic model of leaving the seat numbers/capacity the same. They could then look at increasing capacity later, if and when they're ready or comfortable that it's working out.

We'll see. But in principle I'm all for it.

We will get standing sorted and then go for the alcohol ban lifted ;)
As for the increase in capacity and time getting in / concourses etc - don't forget when there is a concert on, there is an even greater capacity at the stadium. Yes they have portoloo's on the pitch and of course thousands are on the pitch but the concourses hold out well given the extra volume

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Each row would have a barrier separating it from the next row. That would prevent people falling down the terraces and crushes/surges happening.

The term 'Safe Standing' was pioneered by the Football supporter's federation (FSF) here in England. They use the phrase to combat the perception that standing on terraces has to be unsafe (something that's patently wrong anyway).

Almost!
At the time of the campaign being started (by myself) it was ''SAFE'' (Standing Areas For Eastlands) as I wanted such an area incorporated into our then unbuilt new stadium (the year 2000)
I then linked in with the Football Supporters Association (FSA) and the campaign became SAFE - Standing Areas For England!
In 2002, the FSA joined with the National Association of Football Supporters Federation (NatFeds) and became the FSF and Safe Standing was one of the first campaigns taken on by the newly formed fans group.
And yes, we chose the term safe standing because the media kept saying we wanted a ''return to terracing'' (which immediately sent shivers down on Merseyside, understandably) and we made a significant point of saying we did not want a return of terracing but were campaigning for the introduction of safe standing areas. We never used the word terrace / terracing in any of our approaches, apart from stating we did not want a return to traditional terracing.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Exactly. Same for me and some of the away games were worse. That's why it will always be a NO from me.

But safe standing areas will be nothing like the ''good / bad old days'' of the Kippax....

 

[True_Blue69]

Funny some of the people on this thread reminiscing and making out that standing on the Kippax was dodgy and dangerous. I used to stand on it from being 6 years old and never felt unsafe. Being stood near the front of a lively gig is 10 times more dangerous than standing on the Kippax ever was for me.

Also regarding the safety difference between seating and standing. Do those referring to Hillsborough think that if the days events happened in exactly the same way, but there were seats in the stand, think the tradgedy would have been avoided?