Safe Standing At The City Ground?

[Jasper Scarrott]

I remember in the mid 1980's that the away fans used to get a couple of blocks in the lower tier of the BC Stand and it went on for years. The stand hasn't been changed so if they could do it then why can't they do it now?

[Salvatore Matrecano]

I think that is EFL rules Ste, in the PL the rule is 3000 minimum or 10% of capacity if less than 30000. So assuming we do eventually go up we would need more space.
Then there is the economic argument, if we sell out with home fans then great. If not we are potentially throwing away a fair bit of money, an extra 2000 away fans would work out to around £1.5M extra revenue over a season for example. We cant afford to turn that sort of sum down, we would be pretty dumb if we did.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

I remember in the mid 1980's that the away fans used to get a couple of blocks in the lower tier of the BC Stand and it went on for years. The stand hasn't been changed so if they could do it then why can't they do it now?

They are allowed a couple of blocks of the BC next to the LB end and no more.

[Paplane]

I remember in the mid 1980's that the away fans used to get a couple of blocks in the lower tier of the BC Stand and it went on for years. The stand hasn't been changed so if they could do it then why can't they do it now?

I agree with Sniff, if there's a will, there's a way. There will be reasons why it's configured as it is but sometimes the logical, safe, sensible approach isnt always the best thing.

Didn't Fawaz unilaterally make the decision to re-introduce home fans into the Bridgford without consulting anyone? I believe he did that because Billy persuaded him that there was a sporting advantage to be had.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Good grief you lot are hard work convincing  :P .OK where there is a will there is a way but it will cost significant money and take a fair bit of time.

The only place currently for away fans is the Lower Bridgford and T block of the BC. Anywhere else needs extensive reconstruction of the stands and their surrounds. I dont mean simply putting a few signs up, proper reconfiguring of stairways, concourses etc. Rules on ground safety have changed significantly from the 1980s thankfully.

Yes Billy wanted home fans behind both goals but they couldn’t actually move the away fans like they wanted to do so they simply reduced the allocation. For most games this doesnt make much difference but we may lose some revenue when the home ends dont sell out. Whether that has actually made a difference in team performance I will leave you to decide.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Yes but if there is a will there is a way SM :D

[Paplane]

Good grief you lot are hard work convincing  :P .OK where there is a will there is a way but it will cost significant money and take a fair bit of time.

The only place currently for away fans is the Lower Bridgford and T block of the BC. Anywhere else needs extensive reconstruction of the stands and their surrounds. I dont mean simply putting a few signs up, proper reconfiguring of stairways, concourses etc. Rules on ground safety have changed significantly from the 1980s thankfully.

Yes Billy wanted home fans behind both goals but they couldn’t actually move the away fans like they wanted to do so they simply reduced the allocation. For most games this doesnt make much difference but we may lose some revenue when the home ends dont sell out. Whether that has actually made a difference in team performance I will leave you to decide.

Yep, Billy persuaded Fawaz that there was an advantage to the away side when they had the entire end to themselves. Most rational owners would have told him tuff but Billy had Fawaz dancing to his tune. But who on here cant say that the new arrangement isn't a million times better for us Forest fans?

And who would've reminded Tom Lawrence that he 'should be in jail' if there were no Forest fans in the Bridgford for every corner the sheep got?

[TrickySte]

Fawaz's original idea was to move the away fans into the Upper Bridgford but ST holders up there complained, so they compromised with the 50/50 split in the LB.

[Tricky]

Fawaz's original idea was to move the away fans into the Upper Bridgford but ST holders up there complained, so they compromised with the 50/50 split in the LB.

I don't think they could do that now anyway. Isn't there a rule that states away fans must be located in a position that offers some pitchside position and not stuck away in a corner way up in the higher tiers of a ground?

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Bristol City have implemented safe standing at Ashton Gate ahead of the 21/22 campaign.

Hopefully more clubs will follow.

[wassy04]

Bristol City have implemented safe standing at Ashton Gate ahead of the 21/22 campaign.

Hopefully more clubs will follow.

How can they? They haven't changed the law yet have they?

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Have I jumped the gun?

Perhaps they are still waiting for confirmation from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG).

I know everything is in place.