United to look into rail seats trial at Old Trafford

Damien

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49795407

The news has been welcomed by the Manchester United Supporters' Trust, who said: "We have fought long and hard for safe standing for many years.

"We believe it will likely benefit atmosphere but also enhance spectator safety in areas where fans already persistently stand.

"As a supporters' group, naturally supporter safety is our number one priority, so we hope that this added safety measure is put in place sooner rather than later.

"Every game that passes without rail seats in place to prevent fans at Old Trafford getting injured falling over the existing conventional seats is an opportunity missed to make the stadium a safer place."
 

TheReligion

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Great news. This, along with the new singing section, will certainly improve the atmosphere. Anyone have an estimate as to how much the capacity will increase with the addition of a rail seating section?
 

Thunderhead

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Great news. This, along with the new singing section, will certainly improve the atmosphere. Anyone have an estimate as to how much the capacity will increase with the addition of a rail seating section?
I don't think it will increase, rail seating is just that, there is still a seat
 

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I heard we're also looking into buying Sneijder and appointing a DoF. Can't wait!
 

Skills

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It's kind of sad seeing our PR department using the prospect of safe standing to distract from our poor form. It's up there with the technical director bollocks they fed us after sacking Jose.
What are they meant to do? Hold off anything like this up until the club is back winning league titles?
 

christinaa

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What are they meant to do? Hold off anything like this up until the club is back winning league titles?
They are meant to address the most important situation right now where 1.1 billion United fans worldwide are disilliusioned with the owners /Woodward.
This came out to distract from the REAL problems in the club.
 

JohnnyKills

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If results don't improve they'll be able to trial the new seating in an empty stadium every Saturday.
 

MrPooni

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What are they meant to do? Hold off anything like this up until the club is back winning league titles?
If there was a genuine appetite within the club to do this then fine but dropping it immediately after yesterday's performance and a day before our end of year financials and corresponding conference call where Arnold and Woodward will gush about how well we're doing commercially is going to be released stinks of PR and nothing more.

It's not like we've announced the implementation of safe standing here, it's literally a puff piece saying we're "exploring" the idea. It's no secret that every major club in England is exploring the idea and have been for a while now, including ourselves.

I thought you of all people would be well versed in vapid exercises like this given how you gleefully bumped one of your own threads the other day, quoting a bunch of old posts just to make yourself feel better about looking like a twat in December 2018 or whenever.
 
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roonster09

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Manchester United have applied for permission to install rail seating for up to 1,500 fans at Old Trafford.
United, one of the major supporters of safe standing, made the request to their local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) in December 2019.
The club proposes to replace some existing seats in the north-east corner of the stadium.
Season ticket holders in that area have been told a safe standing trial is likely to take place later this season.
In minutes published from a recent fans' forum meeting, United said it believed the introduction of rail seating will "enhance spectator safety" in areas of "persistent standing".
It added that the SAG is still reviewing the request.
Tottenham's new stadium has "safe seating" which has been "future-proofed" for the potential introduction of standing, while Wolves installed rail seating at their Molineux ground in the summer.
"It is fantastic news that the world's most famous club is seeking to enhance spectator safety in this way," said Jon Darch, of the Safe Standing campaign group.
"Hopefully, they will be very soon be able to not only install rail seats but also to operate any areas of Old Trafford fitted with this form of seating as official standing areas."
It comes just days after a government report found stadium seating areas which incorporate barriers have a "positive impact on spectator safety".
The interim report from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) found such seating areas "mitigate the risk of crowd collapse".
The government previously stated it "will work with fans and clubs towards introducing safe standing".
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51457337
 

diarm

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I'm pretty sure it will go up. You can fit more people in with rail seating.
I watched a programme about rail seating in Scotland and Germany before and they said you get 1.5 rails seats for every 1 regular seat.
 

Sylar

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Best non-top-team game at OT ive been to in ages was Fergies last home game vs Swansea. For some reason we were allowed to stand the whole game in the East Stand. Allowed for a great atmosphere right next to the Swansea fans.
 

WolfInSharp'sClothing

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'Hey, disgruntled fans, look over there!'
Ha, spot on.

Just wait for the summer.

Ed's already said how important this summer is for rebuilding the squad.

So when he starts to fail to secure his top targets, as he has in almost every other window to date, expect to see the old Mike Ashley trick of leaked takeover speculation, to divert attention away from transfer dealings.

Any takeover then miraculously falls through at the last minute, even though there was never anything concrete anyway.

Ed will probably be behind the leak and will use it as his excuse when the window shuts and the only thing that's been signed is Phil Jones' new 5 year contract.
 

wolvored

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I watched a programme about rail seating in Scotland and Germany before and they said you get 1.5 rails seats for every 1 regular seat.
Yes think its 5 rail for 3 seats I read some time ago when it was first mentioned.
 

ivaldo

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Ha, spot on.

Just wait for the summer.

Ed's already said how important this summer is for rebuilding the squad.

So when he starts to fail to secure his top targets, as he has in almost every other window to date, expect to see the old Mike Ashley trick of leaked takeover speculation, to divert attention away from transfer dealings.

Any takeover then miraculously falls through at the last minute, even though there was never anything concrete anyway.

Ed will probably be behind the leak and will use it as his excuse when the window shuts and the only thing that's been signed is Phil Jones' new 5 year contract.
Give it a rest will you? If you want to moan about transfer leaks, therefore about 500 other threads that can go in.

We've been keen on rail seating for some time. It can only be a good thing if we are allowed to trial this.
 

TheReligion

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Ha, spot on.

Just wait for the summer.

Ed's already said how important this summer is for rebuilding the squad.

So when he starts to fail to secure his top targets, as he has in almost every other window to date, expect to see the old Mike Ashley trick of leaked takeover speculation, to divert attention away from transfer dealings.

Any takeover then miraculously falls through at the last minute, even though there was never anything concrete anyway.

Ed will probably be behind the leak and will use it as his excuse when the window shuts and the only thing that's been signed is Phil Jones' new 5 year contract.
Why you being a dick?
 

12OunceEpilogue

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To be honest it's difficult not to think of any announcement from the club as a dead cat given where we are at the moment but I'm definitely for this. The point is Ole, Woodward and (hopefully) the Glazers will eventually be gone but if we're expecting OT to always be our home we need it fit for purpose, and safe standing should be part of that.
 

TheReligion

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Apparently a Wolves fan mate. Possibly someone else jumping on the band wagon of hating absolutely everything related to us at the moment too.
Oh I know they are a Wolves fan. Just unsure why they are in the United forum behaving like a melt. Unacceptable.
 

TheReligion

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That would make it pretty crowded in the eating and toilet areas at arf time. I'm all for it mind, just saying.
Good point. I guess if successful it will be part of a bigger improvement of the stadium and facilities. It will have to be.
 

WolfInSharp'sClothing

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Give it a rest will you? If you want to moan about transfer leaks, therefore about 500 other threads that can go in.

We've been keen on rail seating for some time. It can only be a good thing if we are allowed to trial this.
Why you being a dick?
Apparently a Wolves fan mate. Possibly someone else jumping on the band wagon of hating absolutely everything related to us at the moment too.
Sorry, I was just replying to someone who saw straight through this announcement as nothing more than a PR exercise.

It's great that you are doing this, but the timing is suspect.

It may very well backfire anyway. The initial positivity about safe standing was quickly lost at Wolves when fans started to realise that the seats they had had for years were no longer theirs! You can never please everyone.
 

TheReligion

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Sorry, I was just replying to someone who saw straight through this announcement as nothing more than a PR exercise.

It's great that you are doing this, but the timing is suspect.

It may very well backfire anyway. The initial positivity about safe standing was quickly lost at Wolves when fans started to realise that the seats they had had for years were no longer theirs! You can never please everyone.
So United aren't putting rail seating in or looking to trial safe standing? The club has done alot lately to improve the atmosphere and is clearly keen to try new things (singing section and relocation of certain exec seats etc). What's the PR stunt here?

Also you'd do well not to start slagging United for no reason in the United forum or you'll likely see your privileges removed as an oppo fan.
 

redshaw

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It's a way to get the capacity back to 75k as it's 73k now with the new disabled sections
 

WolfInSharp'sClothing

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So United aren't putting rail seating in or looking to trial safe standing? The club has done alot lately to improve the atmosphere and is clearly keen to try new things (singing section and relocation of certain exec seats etc). What's the PR stunt here?

Also you'd do well not to start slagging United for no reason in the United forum or you'll likely see your privileges removed as an oppo fan.
Just the timing of the announcement. This happened in December, why is it only hitting the news now? Like I say, I was just agreeing with someone else's post so it's not just me that thinks it.

I'm not really slagging United off, more Woodward and his new PR man. It's you that's getting your knickers in a twist, name calling and threatening to remove my 'priviledges' over a simple joke. Don't take things so personally.
 

TheReligion

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Just the timing of the announcement. This happened in December, why is it only hitting the news now? Like I say, I was just agreeing with someone else's post so it's not just me that thinks it.

I'm not really slagging United off, more Woodward and his new PR man. It's you that's getting your knickers in a twist, name calling and threatening to remove my 'priviledges' over a simple joke. Don't take things so personally.
No knickers in a twist just some friendly advice on etiquette in the United forum.:)
 

UnrelatedPsuedo

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It’s great we’re moving forward with this.

The stadium should have as many uncomfortable seats as possible. There’s no need for most seats to be comfy enough to sit in for more than 5 minutes at a time. A flat seat on a well designed hinge mechanism that flicks up to leave proper standing space would go so far to improve stadia atmospheres.

Blew me away when Spurs were touting increased legroom and more comfortable seats as selling points.

Obviously you need lovely seats to have NFL games, Concerts etc. But honestly I don’t care about anything other than match day atmosphere for football matches. Fcuk everything else.

It would be amazing to get at least half a stadium of standing seats at OT.
 

Nick7

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Just the timing of the announcement. This happened in December, why is it only hitting the news now? Like I say, I was just agreeing with someone else's post so it's not just me that thinks it.

I'm not really slagging United off, more Woodward and his new PR man. It's you that's getting your knickers in a twist, name calling and threatening to remove my 'priviledges' over a simple joke. Don't take things so personally.
You realise you responded to a post from September, right?