Safe Standing with new owners?

[Silver Fox]

I hope we don't

why not? the stadium is big enough for you to take a seat along with the quiet folk elsewhere. hell, bring a thermos flask and you'll fit right in.

Ahhh, the old chestnut that anyone not fervently campaigning for safe standing is a non-singing thermos drinker, nice one

[Red]

why not? the stadium is big enough for you to take a seat along with the quiet folk elsewhere. hell, bring a thermos flask and you'll fit right in.

those of us that want to stand again for 90 minutes will be able to do so. everyone's a winner.

How would you answer critics that argue it would take away from our status as family club of the year Friday's Legacy

Of primary concern would be the foul and abusive language that often emanates from terracing.

the whole stadium wouldn't be made safe standing, i would envisage two stands, possibly three (west stand remaining family/thermos fans stands. it wouldn't have any impact on our status as a family club.

You haven't really addressed the concern. Would they put sound proofing in the stands or something?

[Svlad Cjelli]

For information, the safe standing campaign suggests standing areas of around 15% - 25% of total ground capacity.

[Dare to Dr£am]

For information, the safe standing campaign suggests standing areas of around 15% - 25% of total ground capacity.

Why suggest a %? Surely that is the clubs choice. Yes there will be supporters who want just a standard seat, so two stands of both, or three standing one seated. 15%-25% is not very much, it's not even the East Stand.

[Svlad Cjelli]

For information, the safe standing campaign suggests standing areas of around 15% - 25% of total ground capacity.

Why suggest a %? Surely that is the clubs choice. Yes there will be supporters who want just a standard seat, so two stands of both, or three standing one seated. 15%-25% is not very much, it's not even the East Stand.

It is only a suggestion, as part of the debate. Individual clubs will have different levels of demand and different ground suitability, so will want to do different things. But as much as anything it's to dispel the image of a return to old-style, large, "terraces".

[Caskeys Lovechild]

I want to be able to stand at football. Ever since they've introduced seats, and pies at Reading, I've just gone from big, to bigger......

[Barry the bird boggler]

First and foremost the authorities have to agree to it as it would mean a change to the licencing of the stadium

An 80-20 ratio in favour of seating sounds a reasonable way to go.

Away end should remain all seated of course.

STAR need to raise this with the new owners citing the Aston Villa example as the way to go.

Oh and a poll of supporters in the local media might be useful.

[Ian Royal]

Ideally, I reckon the club should go for a block in each of the North and East, probably the two next to each other inthe corner.

Away from the away fans so reduces risk of trouble. Allows people who want to go in both an end and in a side stand up.

That or one block directly behind the goal in the North, and another one or two around Y22.

Assuming there was a demand for it and the necessary changes were passed obviously.

[Jobbo no.11]

Have to agree the north east corner would be spot on! Would be a win win for both sides, would allow the fan to stand up and will also benefit the club as should prevent the problem that can on the very rare occasion occur in the south east corner.

[Friday's Legacy]

Have to agree the north east corner would be spot on! Would be a win win for both sides, would allow the fan to stand up and will also benefit the club as should prevent the problem that can on the very rare occasion occur in the south east corner.

and what about the fans that was to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?

i think each stand should be considered (west excluded), perhaps the lower halfs only, so the best of both worlds could be considered. on a purely selfish note i want to stand in the east stand. it's where the vocals are, and where what appears to be the majority of those wanting to stand are housed.

[Jobbo no.11]

Have to agree the north east corner would be spot on! Would be a win win for both sides, would allow the fan to stand up and will also benefit the club as should prevent the problem that can on the very rare occasion occur in the south east corner.

and what about the fans that was to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?

i think each stand should be considered (west excluded), perhaps the lower halfs only, so the best of both worlds could be considered. on a purely selfish note i want to stand in the east stand. it's where the vocals are, and where what appears to be the majority of those wanting to stand are housed.

Very good point and have to agree! tbh i dont really care where its put, i currently am at the back of y25 only because its where i can stand and be vocal but if everyone was moving somewhere else i would happily move!

[Ian Royal]

Have to agree the north east corner would be spot on! Would be a win win for both sides, would allow the fan to stand up and will also benefit the club as should prevent the problem that can on the very rare occasion occur in the south east corner.

and what about the fans that was to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?

i think each stand should be considered (west excluded), perhaps the lower halfs only, so the best of both worlds could be considered. on a purely selfish note i want to stand in the east stand. it's where the vocals are, and where what appears to be the majority of those wanting to stand are housed.

Last time I went Y19 was in the East stand.

[Friday's Legacy]

Have to agree the north east corner would be spot on! Would be a win win for both sides, would allow the fan to stand up and will also benefit the club as should prevent the problem that can on the very rare occasion occur in the south east corner.

and what about the fans that was to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?

i think each stand should be considered (west excluded), perhaps the lower halfs only (or top halfs), so the best of both worlds could be considered. on a purely selfish note i want to stand in the east stand. it's where the vocals are, and where what appears to be the majority of those wanting to stand are housed.

Last time I went Y19 was in the East stand.

"and what about the fans that want to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?" - how can you confuse that with y19 being the heart beat of the atmosphere? that is largely/mainly y24/25/26. casual clapping and shouting "blue army" is not what i was referring to.

the key to making this work is to be fair to all.

if you put the safe standing in a corner nowhere near the away end, and you will worsen the atmosphere in the stadium.

[West Stand Man]

"and what about the fans that want to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?" - how can you confuse that with y19 being the heart beat of the atmosphere? that is largely/mainly y24/25/26. casual clapping and shouting "blue army" is not what i was referring to.

the key to making this work is to be fair to all.

if you put the safe standing in a corner nowhere near the away end, and you will worsen the atmosphere in the stadium.

How many grounds have/ had the opposing 'cops' at opposite ends of the ground? The best atmospheres tend to be where they are behind opposing goals, I suggest?

[Friday's Legacy]

"and what about the fans that want to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?" - how can you confuse that with y19 being the heart beat of the atmosphere? that is largely/mainly y24/25/26. casual clapping and shouting "blue army" is not what i was referring to.

the key to making this work is to be fair to all.

if you put the safe standing in a corner nowhere near the away end, and you will worsen the atmosphere in the stadium.

How many grounds have/ had the opposing 'cops' at opposite ends of the ground? The best atmospheres tend to be where they are behind opposing goals, I suggest?

i would relocate from y25 for that, but not safe standing in a corner only. to be fair to all i feel every stand should be considered to have safe standing, even if it be just the back 10 rows of north, north east and east stands.

id like to think the club will write to all member card holders and try and poll the demand for safe standing before they decide how much will be converted and where.

[Ian Royal]

and what about the fans that was to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?

i think each stand should be considered (west excluded), perhaps the lower halfs only (or top halfs), so the best of both worlds could be considered. on a purely selfish note i want to stand in the east stand. it's where the vocals are, and where what appears to be the majority of those wanting to stand are housed.

Last time I went Y19 was in the East stand.

"and what about the fans that want to stand and sing currently in the east stand? move? lose out?" - how can you confuse that with y19 being the heart beat of the atmosphere? that is largely/mainly y24/25/26. casual clapping and shouting "blue army" is not what i was referring to.

the key to making this work is to be fair to all.

if you put the safe standing in a corner nowhere near the away end, and you will worsen the atmosphere in the stadium.

It's extremely unlikely the club would put safe standing in next to the away fans. It just has far to much potential for problems and exacerbating tensions. The chances are plenty of fans who want to use it are going to have move anyway. Putting it in B18 & Y19 allows those most likely to use it to be able to stay in the same side of the ground and keeps them away from the away fans which will be a big safety plus side.

Last 10 rows round East and North is a decent idea, but I wonder how practical and more castly it would be to do that rather than by the block. My inclination is it wouldn't really work.

[Friday's Legacy]

It's extremely unlikely the club would put safe standing in next to the away fans. It just has far to much potential for problems and exacerbating tensions.

i don't buy that at all. usually large away followings choose to stand, as do much of the y25/26 home support (in waves) and it doesn't increase tensions in the stands whatsoever. more so when we play away from home. you can even delve into the past when we had oxford here. they stood for the most part, we stood for much of it, i know i certainly did, and in a game where it swung both ways and tensions were high, there was no hint of trouble because of those stood. that is merely your opinion, and you're entitled to it. just because you have a seat you can sit on but you choose to stand in front of it does not increase the likelihood of trouble - my opinion. we choose to differ.

[Ian Royal]

It's extremely unlikely the club would put safe standing in next to the away fans. It just has far to much potential for problems and exacerbating tensions.

i don't buy that at all. usually large away followings choose to stand, as do much of the y25/26 home support (in waves) and it doesn't increase tensions in the stands whatsoever. more so when we play away from home. you can even delve into the past when we had oxford here. they stood for the most part, we stood for much of it, i know i certainly did, and in a game where it swung both ways and tensions were high, there was no hint of trouble because of those stood. that is merely your opinion, and you're entitled to it. just because you have a seat you can sit on but you choose to stand in front of it does not increase the likelihood of trouble - my opinion. we choose to differ.

It's as much about those in charge's perceptions as reality though. But if it would stop the children in Y25/26 banging their seats like retarded monkeys it'd get my vote.

[Pseud O'Nym]

Should be relatively safe standing with the new owners providing you take some sensible precautions; carry a Geiger counter, be alert to spots of laser light etc.

[Silver Fox]

Oh and a poll of supporters in the local media might be useful.

Wouldn't it be funny if fans who didn't want safe standing actually bothered to vote?