If the North Stand did become home to our fans, then I hope in any future stadium expansion, the North Stand would be extended by adding more rows of seats (not another tier). The West Stand is the Family Stand right? I can't imagine they would want the away supporters next to the Family Stand.
Based purely on atmosphere, the best place for away fans would probably be the South-East Corner. However, that is simply not feasible, with the stairs to the pedestrian footpath directly outside, and a fair walk to the coaches, it wouldn't really be possible. So maybe what they are trying to do, is effectively make the North Stand the new South Stand, but as it will be next to the away supporters, then it will be much more vocal.
If possible, the best way to affect the away support, is to split them over two tiers in one corner. If the East Stand had two tiers, you could give the away fans E1-E3 and the same area in the stand above, then try and create a kop end in the North, but I know this won't go down well with the current occupants of E1-E3, many of whom don't want to sit behind the goal.
We should get some sort of priority. I don't sit in e3 just to be next to away fans but more to watch from the side. I thought the main reason for all this was to avoid another Leeds situation. Wonder why can't just provide better segregation in the north stand?
putting them in the south east wouldnt take much effort the road where the buses park still go behind there and with a little bit of tweaking of the fencing outside the stadium to help them avoid the walkway. though probably they will put them in the north east as its the easiest option. Alot of people sit in the east stand because they like a sideways view of the football. i know i prefare it. it wouldnt bother me aslong as the away fans didnt come any further into the east than E2
I don't see where the problem with segregation has come from either. I assume on the concourse in the North Stand there's removeable barriers installed to keep the fans seperate for the different sized allocations, like there's a barrier at the North/East corner. If there is why do they suddenly not work? If there isn't why can't they be installed? If you move them to the East Stand you're going to have to install something or we've got the same problems. Once you're into the seats you've got the same problem wherever you put them, it's an all round bowl design so there's no natural divide between fans.
I don't think it's just a question of segregation, at the moment we have three stands of City fans and one stand that is for away fans, but with a token splattering of City fans, with the amount determined by who we're playing. What he wants, is four stands of City fans, with the away fans stuck in a corner. He's trying to set up the North as being mainly season ticket holders, so that for all games, the majority of the stands are full of City fans(on the basis that it's better to have empty seats scattered around the ground, rather than all in one area). In principal it's a good idea, it's just a case of finding a practical way to make it happen.
I was thinking specifically the Leeds game there. We've had splits in the stand all the time and it's never been an issue before that game.
