http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/16/safe-standing-areas-football-stadiums-fans Nice to see something good written about the club...
I do enjoy my football whilst standing up, it seems a natural thing 2do really........when im older maybe a seat would be great but until that time comes a terrace will do just fine>>>>>>>>>but yeah a good job by our club and im shocked no other clubs are doing the same thing in a certain section..................the first two seasons in our new ground I stood at the back and really enjoyed some of the banter around the lads stood in there(not my usual crowd either).....since then on the odd occasion ive been dotted around in different parts of the ground and sitting down>>>>and the banter just wasn't the same if im honest........that's not a dig at certain sections its just a fact of parts of grounds give different feelings out in voice. BRING BACK THE TERRACES.
I am totally in favour of safe standing areas as a logical extension of the singing area we promote (not much of that lately though but that is due to other matters). It works well in Europe - Germany in particular - so there is no reason other than the intransigence of those in power for it not to be put in place on a sensibly controlled basis, i.e. not the whole ground but areas where it will be appreciated. However, the Chief Executive of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, is vigorously opposed to it and is unlikely to back down as he has stated his position on many occasions. Nevertheless, the only reason it cannot be implemented (other than government approval) is that the Football league hasn't actively promoted it. Get them on board and it could be done. Sides getting promoted to the Prem might have problems subsequently but if the same systems can have seats locked down then the area reverts to full seating anyway. Also, from what I see areas of many grounds, Prem or otherwise, chose to stand so would there really be little difference other than acknowledging and formalising the issue?
Good article in the Guardian, however, all the fans are basically doing is standing in front of their seat, so when we score there is obviously to Surge, (remember that in the grange end when i was a youngster ! and it can get scary) so basically the seats are still there as a safety measure, the German grounds are still all seater but with the seats strapped up, therefore still causing a barrier for safety. If it stays like that fine. Take the seats out completely and its not so fine, because if they take all of the seats out in one particular section you will have other people from other sections going in there to see what its like, thats when the problems may arise. Just playing devils advocate here. My own preference is to sit.
I don't like to correct you Ronnie but, I know that Mainz has a standing section with no seats (strapped up or otherwise) and the atmosphere was awesome.
Safe standing is a compromise where everyone should stand/sit according to their seat/ticket number. Therefore numbers and ability to move around (other than side to side) are limited. However, this legitimises and encourages standing and would surely be an aid to improving the atmosphere at stadiums? I saw a photo in the press from another German ground last week - might have been Borussia Dortmund where the fans were very unhappy at continued poor performances and a couple of players went to talk to the crowd - where it looked like old fashioned terraces with the usual crush barriers but not much else. That being the case then safe standing areas do not appear to be universal in Germany.
