C****ic to introduce safe standing area with rail seating

[ian1964 10,720]

Celtic have been granted permission to introduce a safe standing area and could become the first top-flight club in Scotland to do so.

 

The rail seating area will initially accommodate up to 2,600 supporters and be introduced for the 2016-17 season.

 

Chief executive Peter Lawwell said : "Celtic has worked tirelessly on this issue."

 

Scotland is not bound by the law that banned standing areas in top-flight football in England.

 

Terraces were banned following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 and the issue about whether to allow some standing areas has been revisited since all-seater stadiums became compulsory in England in 1994.

 

Prior to the merger of the Scottish Premier League with the Scottish Football League to form the Scottish Professional Football League, top-flight clubs were given the all clear to have safe-standing areas within their stadiums.

 

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson announced in February that he planned to invest £200,000 to help United become the first Premiership club to do so.

 

However, Celtic were on Tuesday given permission for their plan by Glasgow City Council, which had twice previously rejected applications from the Scottish champions.

 

"Across football globally, the reality is that some supporters are choosing to stand at matches," said Lawwell.

 

"Rail seating has been in place in European football for some time and there has been considerable demand for some form of safe standing within the UK and particularly from our supporters."

 

Celtic, who say they have been working on the plan for five years, will consult with their fans before any changes but are confident that it will prove popular.

 

Independent safety and security expert Dr. Steve Frosdick told Celtic's website: "For the first time in the UK, football fans will be able to stand to watch the game from purpose-built accommodation which is demonstrably safe.

 

"Glasgow City Council and the emergency services are also to be commended, firstly for their rigorous scrutiny of the proposal and secondly for having the courage to grant the first approval.

 

"There was of course no question of going back to the standing terraces of old.

 

"However, the new style rail seating found in Germany and Austria provides the solution the club was seeking."

 

A council spokesman added: "Previously it was felt that a stewarding plan alone would not ensure spectator safety in the standing area.

 

"But the introduction of appropriate barriers, widened gangways, along with the kind of rail seating often found in European grounds and other measures, will address those concerns."

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33061483

[Zappa 0]

I suppose this news is quite good for us too because it means we should be able to do it as well, but I doubt very much if this type of thing will be anywhere near our Club's list of priorities for the next few years.

[Gribz 828]

It will make for better atmospheres and the fact there is a seat at each standing point makes ticketing far easier rather than 100s piling in and standing anywhere.

 

It works well in Germany.

 

Long term it will be good at Ibrox in certain parts of the ground.

[calscot 0]

Sounds like a good idea but also an expensive job for no immediate income gain. It's about 2.5 times as expensive as a normal seat but normal seats are already paid for and installed and so cost £0.

 

To put it in could cost something like a £100 a unit. We'd need a million quid for 20% of the stadium. Something we could do in the future when the stadium is back in shape, but not a priority for now.

[compo 6,938]

A bad move should be booted into touch

[Bearman 9]

Coming from a different era I much preferred standing than sitting at a game, now that I find myself in this era I prefer to sit.

 

Old age is a pain in the legs.

[pete 2,499]

I have been in the Dortmund standing area recently and as Bearman said it is not for us old fuddy duddies. The atmosphere is absolutely electric and I recommend Rangers put it in asap. It brings a whole new atmosphere to the whole stadium. As I say it is not for me as I am pretty small and old and I was looking at the back of peoples head rather than the match. I do however recommend it for people who want to bounce for 90 minutes and love the electric atmosphere. I say get it in it is worth the cost.

[barca72 440]

Coming from a different era I much preferred standing than sitting at a game, now that I find myself in this era I prefer to sit.

 

Old age is a pain in the legs.

 

Better than a can full of pish down the back of the legs !!