Safe Standing and Atmosphere

[TJB.]

It goes back to AE which is 57 rows i believe.

*AF...unless my row has disappeared

 

[jt64]

Yes, 10 rows seems very small. Based on the figures above that would be about 1,800 standing - less than 6% of the ground.

One thing to bear in mind is that, unless regulations have changed recently, any implementation of safe standing in home areas needs to be matched by an equal amount in away areas of the ground. So if they were to do that much in the Kop, they'd need to do the same in the BLLT - which would be more than half the capacity of that area. Presumably they wouldn't want to do too much more there just to maintain a seating option for away fans who want to do so without amending where they are actually allocated

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

*AF...unless my row has disappeared

Apologies, for the new season your row has been removed, to make space for a huge flag inscripted with the words “Thank you Steven Rosen”.

 

[Champagneblade]

Just as a matter of interest, does safe standing increase stadium capacity or have no impact?

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

One thing to bear in mind is that, unless regulations have changed recently, any implementation of safe standing in home areas needs to be matched by an equal amount in away areas of the ground. So if they were to do that much in the Kop, they'd need to do the same in the BLLT - which would be more than half the capacity of that area. Presumably they wouldn't want to do too much more there just to maintain a seating option for away fans who want to do so without amending where they are actually allocated

The requirement is that safe standing must also be provided for away fans, but not that it has to be for the same number of away fans as home fans:

2. Licensed standing areas must be made available to both home and visiting supporters.

In achieving this, visiting supporters should also be offered seated accommodation within the provision.

The ground management must be able to demonstrate active engagement with supporters, which has helped inform decision making on the size and location of those licensed standing areas. The final decision will be based on a range of factors, most notably the nature and scale of spectator safety risk associated with persistent standing in conventional seated accommodation and the associated SGSA Persistent Standing Enforcement Approach.

Note that it is recognised that the capacity of licensed standing areas, whether for home or visiting supporters, may vary according to the event and the likely demand, and that allocations will require continual review.

 

[relish]

Just as a matter of interest, does safe standing increase stadium capacity or have no impact?

My understanding (which could be outdated) is that in England safe standing is only allowed to be introduced on a one-for-one basis, so has no impact on overall capacity.
But I believe in other countries they are squeezing in more safe standing places than there were previously seats.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Yes, 10 rows seems very small. Based on the figures above that would be about 1,800 standing - less than 6% of the ground. When Bramall Lane used to have seating and standing areas available, my memory is that more chose to stand than chose to sit. The long period of only seating being available (and perhaps changes in society?) will have had an impact on that of course, but 6% still seems low. Half the Kop would be about 16% of the ground, which sounds nearer the mark.

In the old days I stood on the kop but that was because it was the cheapest stand.
You get a far better view from the South or John St or BLUT and the facilities are far better in these stands, but its purely down to cost for me why I still go on the kop