Until now, safe standing has always seemed like a non-starter at the Amex.
Not because Albion are implicitly against standing at matches. Or saying anything about it one way or the other.
But because standing was not permitted in the Seagulls’ current division, the Championship, or the one to which they aspire, the Premier League.
Besides, Albion had just opened an expensive, much praised all-seater stadium – complete with padded seats in all areas.
Now chief executive Paul Barber has revealed the door could be open to a safe standing area at the Amex.
Albion want to be convinced there is a strong wish among fans for a standing section.
It would be a relatively small area of the Amex. Albion will not be removing seats from vast swathes of their cherished stadium.
They also need the sums to add up, permission from safety officers and, most fundamentally of all, legislation to be passed allowing standing areas.
Chief executive Paul Barber suspects the latter could happen – which is why the first feelers are being put out.
The club have already visited Celtic and Borussia Dortmund to see safe standing in operation.
They want fans to make an informed decision, knowing exactly what safe standing would entail.
SAFE STANDING – WHAT IS IT LIKE?
A lot different to the terraces of old. Albion appear to favour the system used at Celtic.
This means bolting down seats for competitions in which standing is allowed and replacing them with a standing area – one-to-one. Each fan would have a ticket for a certain area and, effectively, stand where his or her seat would have been.
Barber (pictured below) said: “You don’t just stand where you want, which was one reason why, previously, safety officers have been against safe standing. We will still be able to identify who is in each position.
“What I heard from Celtic is people get possessive about their standing positions.
“You will not have people doubling up in one space. It will be an orderly type of standing.”
Albion would not increase capacity due to considerations such as access. So standing would be no cheaper than sitting.
WHERE WOULD IT BE?
The North Stand looks the obvious place but Albion would also consider a corner section, similar to that at Celtic, if they were concerned that standing fans would block the view of others.
Barber said: “To do a whole stand, or half of the North Stand, would affect sightlines in those corner areas.
“We would have to look carefully at the geometry of the stadium.”
THE COST – AND IS IT WORTH IT?
It is unclear who would foot the bill for structural changes to the Amex.
A small increase in ticket price cannot be ruled out but, equally, is by no means inevitable.
What Albion would be desperate to avoid is unwise expense from a finite budget which, ultimately, also funds their push for the Premier League.
Barber said: “This would be a significant investment to a stadium which was built five years ago to a very high specification because that is what the chairman wanted for the fans.
“To take all of that out in order to put something in which is inferior in terms of comfort, and then having to pay for it again, is a big ask. That is one of the questions we will have to talk to fans about.
“We don’t want to set expectations too high because legislation is still in place and there is also an economic balancing act.
The way things were - the terraced North Stand at the Goldstone
WHY DO IT?
To improve matchday for fans – both those who wish to stand and those who stay seated and get annoyed by fans standing in front of them.
Standing in seated areas was a hot topic in the early days of the Amex but some sort of unwritten agreement now seems to have been reached. But it is not ideal.
Barber said: “The way we manage it at the games is with the support of the supporters.
“They know it is an all-seater stadium, they know legislation requires us to have them sat down for the majority of the game.
“They also know that if they comply with stewards’ instructions, we might not force them to sit down between exciting passages of play.
“So there is a tacit agreement there which is not written, not contractual but is a sensible agreement which enables us to manage the stadium safely.
“No one wants confrontation and what are we even having that confrontation about?
“In many cases, we are allowing people to stand over the top of seats, which is dangerous if people topple over them.
“This gives you a bar in front of you which gives you a safe environment for people to stand.”
WHY NOW?
Safe-standing cannot happen without legislation being passed by the Government.
Barber believes that change of law could happen. But he cannot put a timescale on when that might be and how soon safe-standing could then be put into operation.
“We have had a couple of groups who have been supportive of the self-standing campaign and have regularly asked me whether it is something we would consider.
“We have never said we are for or against it, we have said we can’t do it.
“The sense I am getting of late is that is now more of a will from the Premier League, the EFL, the FA and the government to look at this again.
Article continues after...[h=3]More Articles[/h]
“They are not saying they are going to overturn the legislation.
“But they are saying what is happening at Celtic is very interesting.
“We are at the early stages but it is exciting potentially.”
WILL IT AFFECT THE ATMOSPHERE?
South of the border, we are used to seeing images from Parkhead of fervent crowds on big European nights or at Old Firm games. But it isn’t always like that.
Albion’s fact-finding trip to Glasgow uncovered some interesting results.
“It seems to have improved the atmosphere not just in that corner where people are standing but right across the stadium,” Barber said.
“Everyone seems to have risen to the challenge of that segment, which Celtic have really appreciated.
“Behaviour is good, atmosphere is good and the system itself works well.”
WHAT ARE THE PITFALLS?
The main concern for Albion would be that they spend money on something fans do not really want.
Hence their desire for people to be informed – and not to think it will be 1979 all over again.
They are careful not to refer to safe standing areas as terraces.
WHAT CAN FANS DO NOW?
Wait for details on a consultation process. And maintain high levels of behaviour.
Safety authorities could object to safe standing but are currently delighted with fans’ conduct at the Amex and are said to be open-minded as to any plans for a standing area.
HOW BIG A DEAL WOULD THIS BE?
Barber said: “Up until now, clubs who have looked at safe standing have tended to be clubs with traditional stadia who are upgrading anyway.
“This would be, to my knowledge, the first club who have got a new stadium to look at taking its new seats out and that would be quite an unusual, if not unique, thing to do.
“I think that is credit to Tony (Bloom) and the board for giving us the opportunity to explore this.”
Original article
Not because Albion are implicitly against standing at matches. Or saying anything about it one way or the other.
But because standing was not permitted in the Seagulls’ current division, the Championship, or the one to which they aspire, the Premier League.
Besides, Albion had just opened an expensive, much praised all-seater stadium – complete with padded seats in all areas.
Now chief executive Paul Barber has revealed the door could be open to a safe standing area at the Amex.
Albion want to be convinced there is a strong wish among fans for a standing section.
It would be a relatively small area of the Amex. Albion will not be removing seats from vast swathes of their cherished stadium.
They also need the sums to add up, permission from safety officers and, most fundamentally of all, legislation to be passed allowing standing areas.
Chief executive Paul Barber suspects the latter could happen – which is why the first feelers are being put out.
The club have already visited Celtic and Borussia Dortmund to see safe standing in operation.
They want fans to make an informed decision, knowing exactly what safe standing would entail.
SAFE STANDING – WHAT IS IT LIKE?
A lot different to the terraces of old. Albion appear to favour the system used at Celtic.
This means bolting down seats for competitions in which standing is allowed and replacing them with a standing area – one-to-one. Each fan would have a ticket for a certain area and, effectively, stand where his or her seat would have been.
Barber (pictured below) said: “You don’t just stand where you want, which was one reason why, previously, safety officers have been against safe standing. We will still be able to identify who is in each position.
“What I heard from Celtic is people get possessive about their standing positions.
“You will not have people doubling up in one space. It will be an orderly type of standing.”
Albion would not increase capacity due to considerations such as access. So standing would be no cheaper than sitting.
WHERE WOULD IT BE?
The North Stand looks the obvious place but Albion would also consider a corner section, similar to that at Celtic, if they were concerned that standing fans would block the view of others.
Barber said: “To do a whole stand, or half of the North Stand, would affect sightlines in those corner areas.
“We would have to look carefully at the geometry of the stadium.”
THE COST – AND IS IT WORTH IT?
It is unclear who would foot the bill for structural changes to the Amex.
A small increase in ticket price cannot be ruled out but, equally, is by no means inevitable.
What Albion would be desperate to avoid is unwise expense from a finite budget which, ultimately, also funds their push for the Premier League.
Barber said: “This would be a significant investment to a stadium which was built five years ago to a very high specification because that is what the chairman wanted for the fans.
“To take all of that out in order to put something in which is inferior in terms of comfort, and then having to pay for it again, is a big ask. That is one of the questions we will have to talk to fans about.
“We don’t want to set expectations too high because legislation is still in place and there is also an economic balancing act.
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The way things were - the terraced North Stand at the Goldstone
WHY DO IT?
To improve matchday for fans – both those who wish to stand and those who stay seated and get annoyed by fans standing in front of them.
Standing in seated areas was a hot topic in the early days of the Amex but some sort of unwritten agreement now seems to have been reached. But it is not ideal.
Barber said: “The way we manage it at the games is with the support of the supporters.
“They know it is an all-seater stadium, they know legislation requires us to have them sat down for the majority of the game.
“They also know that if they comply with stewards’ instructions, we might not force them to sit down between exciting passages of play.
“So there is a tacit agreement there which is not written, not contractual but is a sensible agreement which enables us to manage the stadium safely.
“No one wants confrontation and what are we even having that confrontation about?
“In many cases, we are allowing people to stand over the top of seats, which is dangerous if people topple over them.
“This gives you a bar in front of you which gives you a safe environment for people to stand.”
WHY NOW?
Safe-standing cannot happen without legislation being passed by the Government.
Barber believes that change of law could happen. But he cannot put a timescale on when that might be and how soon safe-standing could then be put into operation.
“We have had a couple of groups who have been supportive of the self-standing campaign and have regularly asked me whether it is something we would consider.
“We have never said we are for or against it, we have said we can’t do it.
“The sense I am getting of late is that is now more of a will from the Premier League, the EFL, the FA and the government to look at this again.
Article continues after...[h=3]More Articles[/h]
-
[h=5]Albion's Boxing Day game switched - and Leeds is now a Friday night fixture[/h]
-
[h=5]Seagulls defender shortlisted for award[/h]
-
[h=5]Albion ready to lead the way on safe standing at the Amex[/h]
-
[h=5]Albion's spot-on youngsters have a lot to play for says coach Rusk[/h]
-
[h=5]Hughton says March deserves his new Albion deal[/h]
“They are not saying they are going to overturn the legislation.
“But they are saying what is happening at Celtic is very interesting.
“We are at the early stages but it is exciting potentially.”
WILL IT AFFECT THE ATMOSPHERE?
South of the border, we are used to seeing images from Parkhead of fervent crowds on big European nights or at Old Firm games. But it isn’t always like that.
Albion’s fact-finding trip to Glasgow uncovered some interesting results.
“It seems to have improved the atmosphere not just in that corner where people are standing but right across the stadium,” Barber said.
“Everyone seems to have risen to the challenge of that segment, which Celtic have really appreciated.
“Behaviour is good, atmosphere is good and the system itself works well.”
WHAT ARE THE PITFALLS?
The main concern for Albion would be that they spend money on something fans do not really want.
Hence their desire for people to be informed – and not to think it will be 1979 all over again.
They are careful not to refer to safe standing areas as terraces.
WHAT CAN FANS DO NOW?
Wait for details on a consultation process. And maintain high levels of behaviour.
Safety authorities could object to safe standing but are currently delighted with fans’ conduct at the Amex and are said to be open-minded as to any plans for a standing area.
HOW BIG A DEAL WOULD THIS BE?
Barber said: “Up until now, clubs who have looked at safe standing have tended to be clubs with traditional stadia who are upgrading anyway.
“This would be, to my knowledge, the first club who have got a new stadium to look at taking its new seats out and that would be quite an unusual, if not unique, thing to do.
“I think that is credit to Tony (Bloom) and the board for giving us the opportunity to explore this.”
Original article