Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Jim_The_Rover on December 15, 2025, 08:26:50 pm

Title: Safe Standing
Post by: Jim_The_Rover on December 15, 2025, 08:26:50 pm
First experience of safe standing at Cardiff on Saturday and overall I was very impressed. Not only was it nice to not bruise my shins on the seat in front each time we scored but I also thought it encouraged more to stand and create an atmosphere. Surely this is something we should be looking to implement in the South stand at some point?
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Nudga on December 15, 2025, 09:17:43 pm
Said same at Spurs. Only thing i liked about that stadium
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Spud on December 15, 2025, 09:20:53 pm
I was impressed too. Not so much our lass, when some old guy about 4 rows back leaned over, poked her with his walking stick & told her to sit down cos he couldn't see! We were about half way up too, the irony tickled me but I'd having been fuming too if he'd done it to me.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: mushRTID on December 15, 2025, 09:56:03 pm
If I ever won the lottery, the first thing I’d do is offer the club the money to make the back third/half of the south stand safe standing.

It’s so much better!
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on December 15, 2025, 10:31:04 pm
Was enjoyable at Spurs too apart from the lower rake of the steps which made viewing a little more difficult with a taller person in front.

I think we've already concurred it would be a nice to have at the Eco but there's other priorities plus, as it's not going to make any difference to capacity, it's all cost with no return. I think the club have already addressed this quite recently.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Nudga on December 16, 2025, 06:06:46 am



+6
Safe standing: All you need to know about the rail seating debate
Yes, safe standing can increase capacity in England by allowing more fans into the same physical space, as regulations permit a higher density of standing spectators (around 1.8 standing fans for the space of one seat) compared to seated areas, creating potential revenue and atmosphere benefits,

How it increases capacity
Higher density: The key is the ratio; for the space of 40 seated fans, you can fit up to 72 standing fans, potentially increasing capacity by 80% in converted areas, according to the Safe Standing Roadshow.
Efficient space use: Rail seats (which are seats that fold up) allow for more efficient use of space, as fans can stand with a barrier for support, explains Stadia by GL events.

Surely it would do away with that ridiculous 10% reduction in current capacity?
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: TheFunk on December 16, 2025, 09:51:57 am
With safe standing you still need to purchase a ticket for a seat. You then have to stand in front of that seat meaning no increase in capacity. I'm pretty sure that was what SM has said in the past.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Spud on December 16, 2025, 09:53:58 am
With safe standing you still need to purchase a ticket for a seat. You then have to stand in front of that seat meaning no increase in capacity. I'm pretty sure that was what SM has said in the past.

First time I've experienced it, tbh I wasn't expecting a seat, I'd imagined it was just steps & rails.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Padge_DRFC on December 16, 2025, 11:59:51 am
Waste of money until there's 14000 in every week
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: silent majority on December 16, 2025, 02:44:44 pm
With safe standing you still need to purchase a ticket for a seat. You then have to stand in front of that seat meaning no increase in capacity. I'm pretty sure that was what SM has said in the past.

In theory you can increase capacity, but in practice that hasn't been done so far. That, and the argument that all SS areas are allowed and policed by the local Safety Advisory Group. Until there’s a good argument for it I can't see anybody getting approval.

To increase capacity at the Eco you would have to construct an intermediate step on top of the existing step, that is having two half steps rather than one full one. If that was to happen you could then cram more people in.

Standing areas actually take up more space than seated areas, which is why they sell one ticket per seat.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: silent majority on December 16, 2025, 02:48:23 pm
With safe standing you still need to purchase a ticket for a seat. You then have to stand in front of that seat meaning no increase in capacity. I'm pretty sure that was what SM has said in the past.

First time I've experienced it, tbh I wasn't expecting a seat, I'd imagined it was just steps & rails.

Its to get around different legislation in different tournaments, so, UEFA and FIFA have an all seater rule which the German FA don't. Therefore by including a seat they can be locked up or down depending on the game and who is in control.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on December 16, 2025, 03:45:10 pm
You can see in recent stadium constructions I.e Everton and both Liverpool and Man City expansions, rail seating has been installed in sections close to sections of normal seats and the ratio is still 1:1
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: normal rules on December 16, 2025, 08:23:02 pm



+6
Safe standing: All you need to know about the rail seating debate
Yes, safe standing can increase capacity in England by allowing more fans into the same physical space, as regulations permit a higher density of standing spectators (around 1.8 standing fans for the space of one seat) compared to seated areas, creating potential revenue and atmosphere benefits,

How it increases capacity
Higher density: The key is the ratio; for the space of 40 seated fans, you can fit up to 72 standing fans, potentially increasing capacity by 80% in converted areas, according to the Safe Standing Roadshow.
Efficient space use: Rail seats (which are seats that fold up) allow for more efficient use of space, as fans can stand with a barrier for support, explains Stadia by GL events.

Surely it would do away with that ridiculous 10% reduction in current capacity?

Safe standing is just a rail in front of the seat you have. There would be zero increase to capacity at the eco power.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: In the box on December 16, 2025, 09:58:42 pm
First experience of safe standing at Cardiff on Saturday and overall I was very impressed. Not only was it nice to not bruise my shins on the seat in front each time we scored but I also thought it encouraged more to stand and create an atmosphere. Surely this is something we should be looking to implement in the South stand at some point?
There experimenting with letting supporter bring alcohol into the stadium again in Scotland in some matches . It’s going full circle!!
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Usher wide. on December 17, 2025, 12:26:28 pm
First experience of safe standing at Cardiff on Saturday and overall I was very impressed. Not only was it nice to not bruise my shins on the seat in front each time we scored but I also thought it encouraged more to stand and create an atmosphere. Surely this is something we should be looking to implement in the South stand at some point?
There experimenting with letting supporter bring alcohol into the stadium again in Scotland in some matches . It’s going full circle!!

Can’t happen shoon henuf for me…hic
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: DD on December 17, 2025, 03:22:04 pm
Just to note…..during the planning phases of the Keepmoat I attended a variety of “ meet the designers / constructors / DMBC” meetings.
Much to the annoyance of the DMBC staff there (& being an employee of theirs) my very first question was
“Should legislation change, would the design & layout of the seating facilitate safe standing?”
This was something Andy Liney & myself had been battling for all along.
I was delighted when the Chief Engineer replied unequivocally “YES”.

The Project Manager from DMBC was shaking his head in his hands 
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: silent majority on December 17, 2025, 04:49:53 pm
First experience of safe standing at Cardiff on Saturday and overall I was very impressed. Not only was it nice to not bruise my shins on the seat in front each time we scored but I also thought it encouraged more to stand and create an atmosphere. Surely this is something we should be looking to implement in the South stand at some point?
There experimenting with letting supporter bring alcohol into the stadium again in Scotland in some matches . It’s going full circle!!

I'd rephrase that if I was you.

They’re not allowing people to bring alcohol into the stadiums rather allowing stadiums to sell alcohol much as we currently have it in England. Scottish stadiums have been 'dry' for a number of years.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: silent majority on December 17, 2025, 04:53:37 pm



+6
Safe standing: All you need to know about the rail seating debate
Yes, safe standing can increase capacity in England by allowing more fans into the same physical space, as regulations permit a higher density of standing spectators (around 1.8 standing fans for the space of one seat) compared to seated areas, creating potential revenue and atmosphere benefits,

How it increases capacity
Higher density: The key is the ratio; for the space of 40 seated fans, you can fit up to 72 standing fans, potentially increasing capacity by 80% in converted areas, according to the Safe Standing Roadshow.
Efficient space use: Rail seats (which are seats that fold up) allow for more efficient use of space, as fans can stand with a barrier for support, explains Stadia by GL events.

Surely it would do away with that ridiculous 10% reduction in current capacity?

Safe standing is just a rail in front of the seat you have. There would be zero increase to capacity at the eco power.

Its a lot more complicated than just having a rail in front of the seat you have. And there is an opportunity to increase capacity by introducing a safe standing section but that is also a more nuanced answer, much like the one I gave earlier in this thread.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: Bristol Red Rover on December 17, 2025, 08:08:48 pm
Was enjoyable at Spurs too apart from the lower rake of the steps which made viewing a little more difficult with a taller person in front.

I think we've already concurred it would be a nice to have at the Eco but there's other priorities plus, as it's not going to make any difference to capacity, it's all cost with no return. I think the club have already addressed this quite recently.
The return is a better atmosphere which encourages folks to attend. Who's in charge of increasing attendances at the club? I suggest the best way of increasing attendances is sacking them.
Title: Re: Safe Standing
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on December 17, 2025, 08:53:26 pm
Was enjoyable at Spurs too apart from the lower rake of the steps which made viewing a little more difficult with a taller person in front.

I think we've already concurred it would be a nice to have at the Eco but there's other priorities plus, as it's not going to make any difference to capacity, it's all cost with no return. I think the club have already addressed this quite recently.
The return is a better atmosphere which encourages folks to attend. Who's in charge of increasing attendances at the club? I suggest the best way of increasing attendances is sacking them.

No, I'm saying it's all cost with no return. Don't attribute that to the club but they know the practicalities of it.

As much as I like the idea and would favour safe standing, as S_M says, it's unlikely to happen in the near future. More success on the pitch is more likely to increase attendances.