This. People who, ironically stand, want a standing area to make noise. How will that work? And what nobody has considered. Who will sit near the away fans? I sit in the NS now and I don't want to be near them. Some people who go to the game go just to be near the away fans for their own reasons. They won't move. So will that area just become a second standing area? If safe standing was introduced and these people didn't relocate the club would insist that this are would be for sitting and they would then moan that the away fans can stand and they are told by the "twats from Showsec" to sit down. If safe standing was introduced why not install it where fans stand now and move the displaced seats to the new extended NS?
That’s why the club are looking at so many options.
Safe Standing proposed sections.
NS lower level, NS new level 2 at the front, SS level 3 at the back, back of the NS lower, etc. See my screen grabs from the email posted further back.
Those of us, including me, I’ll be honest, want to see a home end full of singers and City fans. Yes I like being stood near the away fans, but the SS is a total mess, with home fans, away fans, a corporate block, a restaurant, etc. That’s not a home end. And it isn’t generating an atmosphere, bar the big games. The 2 singing sections either side of the away fans can’t hear each other, and the don’t sing together. Different chants, different times, etc. If we could unite both those singing sections into one area of the NS, that would be better. Saying that, I expect many of those in those areas to stay there, because they are close to the away fans, and because of the easy access in and out of the stadium. No need to walk around it.
I agree, and understand the concerns of the family stand. Where is the best place to move it, if it is moved? If it isn’t moved, then the final chance of creating a proper home end, explained above, won’t work, and will be gone, as you can’t have a safe standing singing stand/section mixed in with the family stand?(see below)
Either way, fans are going to be unhappy whatever the club decide. That was the case when fans were turfed out of the original NS to make way for the family stand. And when fans were moved out of level 2 to make way for corporate seating. As the club has the final say, and from past experience, City fans have to accept the clubs final decision and move. The club will give fans new seats, or fans will eventually find the right seats via the relocation window.
As I keep on saying, we don’t know the number of fans, and the amount of seasts and blocks involved, if the family stand is moved. It certainly won’t be the whole of the current lower or upper North Stand.
