Safe Standing

[jt64]

Please stop with this greatly improved atmosphere its a myth. Pre 80's was a different breed of football fan than to what we have now.
Also what went wrong in the 80's when we had terrible atmosphere most of the time, and you could stand on 3 sides of the ground. I'll tell you what went wrong we were shit for most of that time and no amount of standing did anything to improve the atmosphere.

So then, just like now, there's a certain breed of fans that have no intention of creating atmosphere unless we're 3-0 up and can join in with other people. That's fine. The point is to try to cater for people who want to create atmosphere regardless.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

So then, just like now, there's a certain breed of fans that have no intention of creating atmosphere unless we're 3-0 up and can join in with other people. That's fine. The point is to try to cater for people who want to create atmosphere regardless.

It's the myth that people in favour of safe standing peddle out that it will improve the atmosphere that I have a problem with.

 

[Stand United]

It's the myth that people in favour of safe standing peddle out that it will improve the atmosphere that I have a problem with.

Out of interest, why do you believe this is a myth? It doesn’t act as a magic wand to inject atmosphere if that’s what you mean, as ultimately atmosphere relies on people to generate it, but does help encourage the environment for a more vocal atmosphere. Where it’s been introduced the reports have been that it’s had a positive impact on atmosphere.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Out of interest, why do you believe this is a myth? It doesn’t act as a magic wand to inject atmosphere if that’s what you mean, as ultimately atmosphere relies on people to generate it, but does help encourage the environment for a more vocal atmosphere. Where it’s been introduced the reports have been that it’s had a positive impact on atmosphere.

Because we have been there with standing. I have been inside Bramall Lane loads of times when you could stand on 3 sides of the ground and you could hear a pin drop.
The Atmosphere at a match is determined by how well United are playing, the opposition and the amount of away fans, nothing to do with sitting or standing.
The improving the atmosphere is peddled out by people who want safe standing because they know in the grand scheme of things there is only a small percentage of fans that want it, most fans are not bothered either way. But to get the club to listen they need more of the fan base on board, and the only way they can get fans who aren't really bothered either way on board is by saying it will improve the atmosphere.
No amount of safe standing is going to create a better atmosphere on a Saturday in January against Shrewsbury.
I'm not totally against it and if the kop ever gets redeveloped then if it's something that can be incorporated into it and it's cost effective then fine, but spending money just on introducing safe standing is a no, that money should be spent on the team.

 

[Charlieblade]

Safe standing seems inevitable, whether fans want it or not! I’m ambivalent about it to be honest, but as I have aged, I have also witnessed changes in social entertainment over the years, mostly driven by safety measures.
Some of that comes from individuals or groups established to improve safe standards for ever bigger crowds.
From my early days attending a 3 sided ground with minimal safety, I found crowd surges quite exhilarating. Looking back, it’s a wonder that more weren’t injured.

Like it or not, along with seemingly heavy handed safety changes, there has been a big shift in demands for a better all round experience when attending any event with large crowds. People expect decent facilities, food and toilets like you might expect in a big shopping mall like Meadowhall. Pissing against a brick wall with no roof and a choice of Bovril or no Bovril quite rightly belongs in the past.

Advanced grounds like Spurs will be the template for the future, even if the atmosphere is totally lost by new bowl type stadia. It’s might not suit fans personally, but the safety and social demands of the new century are inevitable. People demand choices and choices require changes.

I hope we can keep the iconic Bramall Lane stadium, but I also expect an improved social experience and that means better facilities all round. If that includes safe standing, then so be it. No one wants a repeat of the Hillsboro or Bradford disasters, and the cost of that may well undermine what little atmosphere is left.

Times have changed, and football is expected to change with it. My experience as a nipper was exhilarating, but I can see why us older farts are more risk averse as we get older.

 

[Katzenjammer]

I really don't see why everyone keeps insisting on referring to it as 'safe' standing.

Is anybody calling for dangerous standing? Bit dicey standing? Dodgy standing? No, I don't believe that they are, so please stop using bellendish terminology unthinkingly.

Furthermore, anybody scared of standing can rest assured that a good 95% of the stadium would still remain arse-friendly (technically 100% with rail seats). That gives you plenty of room to mind your own fucking business and enjoy the sporting event in the cosy middle-class manner that you've become accustomed to in this sanitised post-Taylor Report nightmare era.

Here endeth the fucking lesson.

 

[jt64]

No amount of safe standing is going to create a better atmosphere on a Saturday in January against Shrewsbury.

Again, you are talking from your own experiences and are assuming that what happened when BL last had standing will be repeated today. I'm generally in agreement with you - there is far, far too great a percentage of our support that don't make any noise until the team seemingly gives them permission. Nothing's going to change them. But a lot's changed in football in the last 30 years, from when the only real thing we could understand about other footballing cultures is the occasional game on Football Italia - there's plenty of us that have seen or been to games outside of England and realised that, in comparison to elsewhere, the atmosphere at our grounds is universally shit, and would like to try to change that. A redevelopment (or, for that matter, allocation of an area similar to what Crystal Palace have done) which would allow said like minded fans to congregate together and drive the atmosphere cannot possibly hurt things, can it?

 

[reedy63]

It Won,t happen, but it would be great to rip all the out from row Z row AF. row to be made safe standing.

 

[reedy63]

Sorry I mean row Z to row AF.

 

[Rodley]

 

[Chris the Blade]

If we're all standing up then how on earth are we going to enjoy our Costa and pie at half past 3.

 

[Loco Blade]

To all the bellends in the Lower Shed row 4 fuck off …. Back to the seats you were given to start . Usual shambles / Stone Island contingent who can’t read row numbers .
Can’t wait for City safe standing next

 

[Cheesebored]

To all the bellends in the Lower Shed row 4 fuck off …. Back to the seats you were given to start . Usual shambles / Stone Island contingent who can’t read row numbers .
Can’t wait for City safe standing next

They weren't singing and creating an atmosphere as well were they the bastards.

 

[Grey Blade]

To all the bellends in the Lower Shed row 4 fuck off …. Back to the seats you were given to start . Usual shambles / Stone Island contingent who can’t read row numbers .
Can’t wait for City safe standing next

Similar on row 12. At least 4 extras tried to squeeze in with their mates. It worked out OK because some of them stood in the small gap behind the seats. They all cleared when we went 2 down.

 

[Chris the Blade]

Everyone should sit in their own seat. Uneducated yobs all of them.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Yay, safe standing. Nice one Chelsea.

 

[raul]

We'll sniff what we want.

 

[Chris the Blade]

We need to represent our club properly in the capital. Have they no standards?

 

[S64 Blade]

Was in the lower tier and didn’t see any issues at all. Enjoyed being able to stand.

 

[derbysufc]

Disagree with many aspects of this thread / post .
80s blades had the west terrace on john Street which was full of young trendy lads who gave the away fans hell.
The Sunderland game we won won 2_1 very last minute winner David frain goal I've never seen scenes like it in there. It was mental .
Funnily enough that night a few Sunderland came into the turf tavern in handsworth , they were from Peterlee they said they've never known such passionate support.
H_block was our hotbed of support and away fans felt intimated. At its peak both west terrace and h_block was a nightmare for away fans .

 

[prince albert]

To all the bellends in the Lower Shed row 4 fuck off …. Back to the seats you were given to start . Usual shambles / Stone Island contingent who can’t read row numbers .
Can’t wait for City safe standing next

I was on lower shed row 4 and there were about 6 lads all in stone island gear stood on row 3 but they were all Ajax fans who had gotten tickets from a friendly blade. They were all good lads who were happy to have a chat when I spoke to them in the pub pre match.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

The re-introduction “safe” standing at BDTBL would be pretty much a natural transition for me. The Kop is still basically a standing area with seats put in it, and with its shallow rake and poor sight lines I believe standing on the kop (or at least the back half) would largely enhance the match day experience at that end of the ground.

 

[Loco Blade]

I was on lower shed row 4 and there were about 6 lads all in stone island gear stood on row 3 but they were all Ajax fans who had gotten tickets from a friendly blade. They were all good lads who were happy to have a chat when I spoke to them in the pub pre match.

Yeh I think I saw them no issue . Just same old last minute seat bandits . See em all the time

 

[Dkc]

Are people still standing at the back of the kop? Not been this season and hard to see on TV.

I've mentioned it before, but given our (lack of) budget for ground improvements, the easiest way to introduce safe standing at the Lane would be to convert the Pukka Pie corner, or the top half of it at least.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Are people still standing at the back of the kop? Not been this season and hard to see on TV.

I've mentioned it before, but given our (lack of) budget for ground improvements, the easiest way to introduce safe standing at the Lane would be to convert the Pukka Pie corner, or the top half of it at least.

Yes. The problem had been people going there who weren't supposed to, so it being overcrowded. Still stand up.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

…but saying that, the essence of standing at a football match was always about being able to move around. This “safe standing” malarkey isn’t really that much different from just standing up in your seat.

 

[SwissBlade]

Are people still standing at the back of the kop? Not been this season and hard to see on TV.

I've mentioned it before, but given our (lack of) budget for ground improvements, the easiest way to introduce safe standing at the Lane would be to convert the Pukka Pie corner, or the top half of it at least.

Yeah was terrible the last game

 

[Rodley]

https://x.com/standunited1889/status/1747657024500818420?s=46&t=dAnnJwFkQ3m7N-qcRnL6rQ

Whilst I’m unsure on the figure quoted, interesting that the two other promoted clubs are implementing this.

Gerritdone!

 

[Stand United]

https://x.com/standunited1889/status/1747657024500818420?s=46&t=dAnnJwFkQ3m7N-qcRnL6rQ

Whilst I’m unsure on the figure quoted, interesting that the two other promoted clubs are implementing this.

Gerritdone!

It’s a conservative estimate based on the figures the club got from a quote last season for a much smaller section of the Kop (before other developments put that on ice).

Luton are starting work on converting the Oak Road end, first with the away section. Should be up and running for our away game next month. They’d already committed to introducing it in their new Power Court stadium.

 

[Rodley]

It’s a conservative estimate based on the figures the club got from a quote last season for a much smaller section of the Kop (before other developments put that on ice).

Luton are starting work on converting the Oak Road end, first with the away section. Should be up and running for our away game next month. They’d already committed to introducing it in their new Power Court stadium.

It’s sensible. The average age of fans in the ground is getting older, safe standing is a way of providing a different offer (experience, price point, etc) to 15-30 year olds along with people who just want the different experience. Re: the former if you hook them in at that younger age, they’re hooked for life.