Maybe you are right Fran.....I would still think you would get a few more people in the spaces safely but would not hazard a guess as to how many. As you rightly say Safety margins have gone up considerably in the last few years and quite rightly too. I have to agree with others though...while at my time of life I would prefer to sit...I don't begrudge the youngsters of enjoying the atmosphere of yesteryear. I truly cannot see the harm in having areas directly behind the goals as stands. I have in the past and still would vote for it should we ever be allowed a vote in a referendum.
In the lower leagues (or at least at Lincoln) where there isn't a full house, they operate incentives for kids to go to the games. In Lincoln its vouchers in the local paper that are 'Kids for a Quid'. That will normally bring in Dad's as well in many cases paying the full £18 for blue square. This sort of incentive will never be offered in the PL unless a team is struggling to fill their stadium. No PL club is going to give up much income to do this or if they do it will be a gesture and a limited amount. We had crash barriers before. The problem isn't really the herd mentality. It is relying on people whether it be the guy on the turnstile, the powers that be at the club or the police/local government to make sure that there are no shortcuts or blind eyes. It could only ever work if areas are properly segregated AND most importantly that the turnstiles themselves and not a man is doing the counting. That ensures that when the limit is reached no-one else gets into that area. Also bare in mind that most of the lower league grounds have a stand or stands with a turnstile at each end. Once you are through that turnstyle you are free to go where you want anywhere along the length of the stand. There aren't many grounds in the lower leagues where the whole stadium has gates along the stand which lead you up into that area of the stand. Lincoln has one like that of the four. Saints is like that all the way round. I much prefer the thought of Seats limiting the amount in a stand to someone on a turnstile pressing a clicker (if he/she has one) whilst letting his/her mates, mates mates and aquaintances in for free or just viewing a season ticket without pressing the clicker etc.
Surely they will sell standing tickets just as they do for seats. That will limit the number allowed in.
Dortmund's ground's capacity is 80,720 fans (standing and seated) for league matches, and 65,718 seated spectators for international games, it is then the stadium has to conform to FIFA all seater regulations. The insanely huge terraced kop end becomes a seated area, 24k stand there for League and CL matches. Other grounds use "rail seats" like these which have a lock on them to be adjusted for all seater games. please log in to view this image
I can't imagine that it's a very good view if it's being used for seating, and are there no backs to those chairs?
Looks a poor design to me in several ways. Lightweight construction; stresses on screw fixings, considering the lever length; to say nothing of the lightweight seats with the bars obstructing the view.
Don't know if any of you have ever seen this following link but worth a read...http://www.thisisanfield.com/2014/01/safe-standing--backing-standing-ban-harms-fight-justice/
