Fans have been desperate to return to safe standing within football stadiums for years – and there may finally be a breakthrough in the right direction, as the Times claims that England (and namely the Premier League and Championship) are set to allow it at selected grounds this campaign.
Safe Standing Given Green Light in England
Stadiums Are Now All-Seated in England Rather Than Having Safe Standing
Stadiums have been all-seater for decades now but a wide-range of football fans have been desperate for a return to the times of old, when you could stand on your feet all game and the atmosphere just felt that bit more electric.
Those who had the pleasure of experiencing it for themselves will tell you there was something about it that couldn’t quite be recreated in an era of grounds littered in just seats.
Now, it appears the Premier League and Championship are beginning to recognise this longing for the terraces of old by allowing some teams to let fans stand safely from January 1, 2022.
According to the report, teams can choose whether or not they want to take part and submit an application to be able to have the chance to host some of these games. These games will then be a part of a trial to see if it would be beneficial going forward – and doable – to have more regular standing at games.
Safe Standing Would Come Into Effect for Trials Next Year
Even though it would only come into effect for the chosen teams from the beginning of next year, it’s still a big step in the right direction and means that some fans will be given the chance to experience 90 minutes of action in an entirely new way (although not entirely new for those fans who choose to travel to away games and then stand for the duration of the game!)
It would mark a historic occasion, as it would be the first time in over two decades that safe-standing has been given the go-ahead in England. It was a common feature in football action before that, but after the tragedy of the Hillsborough disaster, football was forced to change to make the whole experience safer for spectators.
It meant that it was banned across the top tiers in England – and has led to the new ‘modern’ stadiums that we see today.
If fans are able to safely stand to experience football, though, – and the trials go ahead – then it would be a huge boost to fans of Premier League and Championship teams. Standing at a game does bring a whole different level of experience and somehow makes you feel both closer to the pitch and more involved in the game.
Boost for Football Fans
Although it would only be a section – seating is not about to be completely eradicated – it provides a great chance for those who feel they would enjoy being back standing amongst the terraces to do just that. It could even attract more fans to grounds.
It represents, then, a good step forward in the right direction – as long as fans are able to feel they can remain safe in a ground when doing so and just enjoy the spectacle. If that is the case, then this can only be a boost to all involved.
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