Copa90 chat to the people leading the fight to change the law and bring safe standing back to the terraces...
But if there is standing there will be crushes, people will die, kiddies, women and elderly relatives won't be able to go (they could of course go in a no standing area but these people don't use any logic in their outbursts).The bad old days of violence and running battles on the terraces will return. At least , according to some of our more hysterical fans and some authorities including the police, they will.
I'm amazed the current situation has continued. As it stands[sic], we have tacit acceptance of standing in some seated areas. The obstruction to the change to more formal standing areas seems in part to be a fear from the decision makers, that any problems after their decision would reflect on them, possibly legally. Doing nothing, and having the tolerated standing is still an action that they could be held responsible for in the event of an incident, which must be more likely with all the seat backs to trip over?
I think the ongoing Hillsborough Inquest is having an effect on how many politicians are prepared to make too much noise about this issue currently. There are issues relating to how many more people we can get in our stands with the current layout and current guidelines (the exit sizes don't allow for any more people in there than we have already), though it's all a bit of a nonsense, as half the grounds we go to have far worse egress rates now than we'd have if we introduced safe standing.
This is true I remeber going to Portsmouth it took ages to get out God knows what it was like when it was a terrace
Its mental, safe standing is basically seating without the seat bits right but with higher backs and things to lean on, so crushes forwards can't happen, all a bit silly
Apart from the cost of the change of seats (and a visit to Parliament) the issue of access, egress and safety zones could remain as is if the stand was kept at the same capacity. A bit like the reduction for unreserved seats.
I think one of the main issues with that is, if kept at the same capacity it wouldn't be financially viable to convert a stand into safe seating and clubs would be put off by it
Absolutely, hence the first line of my reply. There could be occasions where a club are making changes anyway though.
I stand anyway. Sitting down is crap. I once sat in the west stand and hated it . Lucky really i have no problem with standing its bloody walking thats a problem at times. All most killed myself walking from coach to stadium at wolves
There's moves at the Welsh Assembly to get powers devolved so they can make their own decision on safe standing, they want to give permission for pilots at Welsh grounds, it could be great news for Swansea.
I only like standing because I know I'm not supposed to Allowing it would ruin my matchday experience
i've been to away grounds where crushes could easily happen on the stairs between seats, before and after each half. i went to one ground where the stair were so long and steep (no hand rails or anything) that i felt vulnerable and unsafe.
Safe standing will happen, its just a matter of time. It won't however turn the atmosphere inside English stadiums to that of German ones, not a chance.
PSV have just announced that they're removing all 2,800 seats in their East Stand and replacing them with safe standing rail seats ahead of next season.