United get approval for 1500 safe standing places at OT

[Rooney24]

Bit surprised this has gone through.

Manchester United will trial 1,500 barrier seats that will allow fans to stand next season, after being given permission by Trafford council.

Standing at top-flight games has been banned since 1994 under the terms of the Taylor report which followed the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

United applied last year to have barrier seating – which has a rail in front for supporters to lean on – and have the green light to follow Wolves, who got permission last spring to trial it.

The 1,500 berths are to be in Old Trafford’s J-stand, in the north-east quadrant of the stadium. If the trial is successful the club will add further safe standing places.

Richard Arnold, United’s managing director, said the move followed feedback from fans and had safety in mind. “Our belief is that the introduction of barrier seats will enhance spectator safety in areas of the stadium where – as with other clubs – we have seen examples of persistent standing,” he said.

He also addressed the timing of the announcement amid coronavirus. “Our overwhelming priority is to keep our people safe from the Covid-19 pandemic. It may seem strange to talk about stadium plans at this time, but football and our fans will return when it is safe, and our preparations for that must continue in the background.”

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...afe-standing-area-for-1500-fans-barrier-seats

 

[pascell]

Step in the right direction especially if the trial is a success

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Great news. We will have lots of time to install it!

 

[stu_1992]

Good news, albeit weird timing amongst all this Coivd stuff. Could be a while before we get to see it in action.

 

[stretford_oslo]

So Spurs and Wolves both have safe standing areas at their stadiums, but are they allowed to use them?

 

[horsechoker]

But standing isn't safe anymore

 

[clarkydaz]

Good news, albeit weird timing amongst all this Coivd stuff. Could be a while before we get to see it in action.

true but it gives us something to look forward to when it comes back, could genuinely make a big difference in the stadium

 

[Virgil]

Excellent news and should be ready for the ‘new’ season whenever that might be

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Don't Dortmund have this in place already?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

AMAZING!!!!!!

 

[TheReligion]

More positive forward thinking from the club. Refreshing to see.

 

[GenZRed]

In terms of the experience I've always enjoyed a game of football more when I've stood up while in the stadium. I think there's something about sitting down which causes people to relax and became less inclined to start chanting/singing. That's just my opinion anyway.

Good news though.

 

[MC89]

We’ve got it at Celtic Park, lot of folk think it’ll improve the atmosphere, it doesn’t, atmosphere at Celtic Park is generally crap, apart from the European games, which was good before we had it,

me personally don’t see how standing make the atmosphere, u don’t need your legs to sing.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

me personally don’t see how standing make the atmosphere, u don’t need your legs to sing.

I always find the clubs with sitting only and no dancefloor much more lively too.

 

[horsechoker]

I always find the clubs with sitting only and no dancefloor much more lively too.

Are you suggesting we build a dance floor at Old Trafford?

 

[TheReligion]

Are you suggesting we build a dance floor at Old Trafford?

We just use the one at the Emirates when we trash Arsenal

 

[horsechoker]

We just use the one at the Emirates when we trash Arsenal