Safe Standing Roadshow in Leicester?

[Guest Bilo]

I've been looking through some old threads on here and other forums, and came across the safe standing roadshow that has been going on for a few months now. So far, Wolves, Liverpool and Oxford have had publicised visits where the FSF showcase a small sample of 'rail seating.' Rail seating is a system used on the continent where the area can be converted from standing to seating with the simple turn of a key, making it a truly multi-purpose area for occasions when seated accommodation is required such as UEFA and FIFA matches.

Anyway, I got to wondering what the possibilities would be in terms of arranging a visit to Leicester for early next season? The second reading of Don Foster's Safe Standing Bill is due to take place in Parliament on the 21st October, meaning we'd have two months at the start of the season to help make an impact. Would anyone on here be interested in trying to make this happen at Filbert Way? I like to think there'd be a fair bit of interest in safe standing at our ground given the numbers who already stand in L1, SK1 and other pockets in the ground. This would be a fully authorised and completely safe mode of standing, not a return to the terracing of old and with absolutely no prospect of stewards steaming in to force you to sit down or blocking the view of anyone who prefers to sit. Safe standing areas, even if only a small part of the ground, would be of benefit to EVERYONE watching football.

Have a read of the Safe Standing Roadshow and see what you think.

http://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/home

[The Year Of The Fox]

I'd like them to come to Leicester for sure

[Guest Mee-9]

I like the prospect of rail seating.

Think especially in L1, SK1 it'd be effective. But whether the club would implement this, I don't know.

[The Year Of The Fox]

I like the prospect of rail seating.

Think especially in L1, SK1 it'd be effective. But whether the club would implement this, I don't know.

It wouldn't be down to the the club would it? It'd still have to be sanctioned by the government?

[sphericalfox]

I'd prefer nail seating

[The Year Of The Fox]

Makes you laugh doesn't it. Everyone either moans about having to sit down or moans about having people standing up in front of them, yet when it comes to doing something about it, no-one can be arsed.

Thats why we will never see safe standing here

[Guest Bilo]

It'll take hard work from people if it is to happen.

The problem I could foresee in our instance is the club actually allowing the SSR to use its premises, even if it was in the car park or on the paved area outside the Family Stand. We know that the powers that be in the stadium are obviously fanatically anti-standing which could hinder progress, so we may end up having to do it elsewhere in the city.

That said, it couldn't hurt to ask the club as the Thais may well be up for a bit of free publicity that'd please many fans and give local politicians a chance to express their support/get a nice photo op. This is where we may have a better chance, as the Lord Mayor (Sir Peter Soulsby) supports the Bill and may well attend any exhibition by the FSF on the issue if it were in the city centre or the vicinity of the ground.

I wouldn't give up on having it somewhere at least, this thread is more about building interest among people who might possibly be interested in making it happen.

[The Year Of The Fox]

It'll take hard work from people if it is to happen.

The problem I could foresee in our instance is the club actually allowing the SSR to use its premises, even if it was in the car park or on the paved area outside the Family Stand. We know that the powers that be in the stadium are obviously fanatically anti-standing which could hinder progress, so we may end up having to do it elsewhere in the city.

That said, it couldn't hurt to ask the club as the Thais may well be up for a bit of free publicity that'd please many fans and give local politicians a chance to express their support/get a nice photo op. This is where we may have a better chance, as the Lord Mayor (Sir Peter Soulsby) supports the Bill and may well attend any exhibition by the FSF on the issue if it were in the city centre.

I wouldn't give up on having it somewhere at least, this thread is more about building interest among people who might possibly be interested in making it happen.

Fair play to you. I'd be interested in helping if need be

[Larry_LCFC]

To be honest I dont ever see this happening at the Walkers. Its all very well introducing the rail seating but we would still have the same problem of the people that choose to stand up blocking the view of those choosing to sit down. Not sure how spending loads of money on this idea would help the situation

[Ozwin]

Sounds like an idea. I'd be up for this.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Because you'd hope to have separate sections. Eg- l block would have no seats at all

[Guest Bilo]

And those standing in seated areas would have no excuse, so they'd either be removed from the ground or moved to the standing area. The fact the seats would be locked away would mean the reverse wouldn't apply either.

Nobody is suggesting that the ground should be 100% or even 50% standing, I'm sure a standing area that held 3-4000, about anywhere between 10-15% of the ground at current capacity, would be perfectly adequate.

This would actually be safer than the current situation, as the guard rails would prevent falling forward over seats or surging, so no more bruised shins.

A good common sense solution imo.

i

[jonthefox]

I bet our mr barclay sees this website as a vision from hell.

[Guest Bilo]

Largely because it gleefully shoots down every paathetic myth surrounding standing in flames. Lovely.

[samjohnson]

I've seen the example model, and it's a fantastic idea - The only thing that I can think about is the angle at which the stand is built & the viewing lines. But i'm sure it could work.

it seems to work well in Germany, they have a decent system in place. Surely some of the British politicians could visit Germany and see how they do it??

[Trav Le Bleu]

And those standing in seated areas would have no excuse, so they'd either be removed from the ground or moved to the standing area. The fact the seats would be locked away would mean the reverse wouldn't apply either.

Nobody is suggesting that the ground should be 100% or even 50% standing, I'm sure a standing area that held 3-4000, about anywhere between 10-15% of the ground at current capacity, would be perfectly adequate.

This would actually be safer than the current situation, as the guard rails would prevent falling forward over seats or surging, so no more bruised shins.

A good common sense solution imo.

i

i

Absolutely. No reason whatsoever that parts of the ground can't be made all standing. If everyone stands in an area, nobody is blocked, except dwarves (and I believe they prefer mining anyhow) and sickly children.

Result.

[accessory]

It'll take hard work from people if it is to happen.

The problem I could foresee in our instance is the club actually allowing the SSR to use its premises, even if it was in the car park or on the paved area outside the Family Stand. We know that the powers that be in the stadium are obviously fanatically anti-standing which could hinder progress, so we may end up having to do it elsewhere in the city.

That said, it couldn't hurt to ask the club as the Thais may well be up for a bit of free publicity that'd please many fans and give local politicians a chance to express their support/get a nice photo op. This is where we may have a better chance, as the Lord Mayor (Sir Peter Soulsby) supports the Bill and may well attend any exhibition by the FSF on the issue if it were in the city centre or the vicinity of the ground.

I wouldn't give up on having it somewhere at least, this thread is more about building interest among people who might possibly be interested in making it happen.

Peter Soulsby is the city mayor, not the lord mayor.

Don't expect too much from him, as now his election is out of the way he won't be too bothered about football - and also some of the officers at the council work way too closely with our friend Mr Barclay.

[Guest Bilo]

Fair to say that some of the SAG at Leicester City Council have voluntarily been playing Human Centipede with Barclay for many a year now I must admit.

From everything I've heard about Soulsby, in fairness to the bloke, he is one of the better politicians involved locally and he is genuinely concerned for his constituents, even out of campaign time. Again, it couldn't hurt to get in touch with his office.

[unreachable]

Some seats adjacent to safe standing areas would have their views obstructed which would result in the ground's capacity being reduced so this idea is a non-starter.

[Guest Bilo]

Yeah, it's been an unmitigated disaster in Germany.

[unreachable]

Yeah, it's been an unmitigated disaster in Germany.

Just testing your argument - that's all.

[The Padster]

Some seats adjacent to safe standing areas would have their views obstructed which would result in the ground's capacity being reduced so this idea is a non-starter.

Only if done in one of the stands, if done in the corners ie; SK1+G1, maybe +G2, then everybody can still see.

[accessory]

Yeah, it's been an unmitigated disaster in Germany.

...where there aren't the vested interests, especially where the Premier League is concerned, or the burden of historical events (Bolton, Ibrox, Hillsborough) to deal with.

However, potentially having the Football Safety Officers Association on board would be a positive step forward.

[Guest Bilo]

I do take the point about the vested interests and the burden of past disasters, though even the FLA don't use the 'standing is always unsafe' argument any more because there simply isn't a shred of evidence to support it. I think everyone realises now that nobody is calling for a return to terracing, and that safe standing areas are completely different to the old terraces. Now that message is sinking again, the tragedies of the past simply aren't an argument. I'd argue the former to be the greater impediment.

The fact that Prof. Frosdick is in favour of the rail seating model, and has gone on record as saying that it is completely safe, is a major boost though. It does at last put the final nail in the erroneous argument that standing is unsafe regardless of the model and we can now openly discuss the real reasons behind the authorities' determination to keep all-seater stadia.

[banko71]

I do take the point about the vested interests and the burden of past disasters, though even the FLA don't use the 'standing is always unsafe' argument any more because there simply isn't a shred of evidence to support it. I think everyone realises now that nobody is calling for a return to terracing, and that safe standing areas are completely different to the old terraces. Now that message is sinking again, the tragedies of the past simply aren't an argument. I'd argue the former to be the greater impediment.

The fact that Prof. Frosdick is in favour of the rail seating model, and has gone on record as saying that it is completely safe, is a major boost though. It does at last put the final nail in the erroneous argument that standing is unsafe regardless of the model and we can now openly discuss the real reasons behind the authorities' determination to keep all-seater stadia.

100% support from me