Safe Standing Areas Expand After Positive Safety Data

Licensed standing areas are being approved at additional grounds following safety reviews that reported no increase in incident rates at venues operating them, and improvements in some measured categories.

The installations use rail seating, in which each standing position is defined by an individual barrier and a seat that can be locked in the upright position, allowing the same area to convert to seated configuration where competition rules require it.

What the Reviews Found

Assessments have generally reported that rail seating areas produce fewer incidents of persistent standing in seated areas, which had itself become a safety concern as supporters stood in sections not designed for it.

Crowd movement and evacuation times in licensed standing areas were found to be comparable to seated equivalents, addressing the primary objection raised during consultation.

The Historical Context

Standing was prohibited at senior grounds in several markets following disasters that led to comprehensive stadium safety reform. The prohibition was one element of a broader package that also included capacity limits, structural requirements and changes to crowd management.

Advocates for the return of standing have consistently argued that the other elements did the safety work, and that rail seating is materially different from the terracing that existed previously.

Ongoing Objections

Some supporter groups, including families affected by past disasters, have continued to oppose the change on grounds that are not primarily technical.

Governing bodies have generally proceeded on the basis of the safety evidence while acknowledging those objections, an approach that has satisfied neither side entirely.