Licensed standing continues to expand

It has now been three years since the then Government’s historic announcement to allow licensed standing at all-seater football grounds.  As we start the new football season, the SGSA can confirm the number of grounds offering licensed standing has increased to 35. 

The latest clubs to offer licensed standing include West Bromwich Albion FC, Stockport County FC, Notts County FC, Leicester City FC, Hull City FC, the Coventry Building Society Arena and Blackburn Rovers FC.   

Licensed standing, and the installation of safe standing infrastructure, continues to have a positive impact on dealing with the safety risks associated with persistent standing, which is defined as “when spectators in a seated area stand for prolonged periods throughout a match, rather than stand intermittently or for brief periods in response to moments of excitement (for example when a goal is scored)”.   

Independent research has found that persistent standing leads to involuntary and uncontrolled crowd movements and subsequent related safety risks. These include: 

• Increased likelihood of a progressive crowd collapse, where a person falls forwards, and in the process, causes one or more additional people to fall forwards and/or outwards. The risk of a crowd collapse is greater in areas of persistent standing, particularly when spectators strain to see the action or choose to stand on their own seats, or if they deliberately jump onto the seats or the spectators in front. The resultant crowd collapse has the potential to cause significant injuries to anyone in or near that area. 

• Conflict between spectators, such as those who have their sightline blocked by those who are standing, and stewards enforcing the all-seater policy. 

• Overcrowding of certain rows/blocks resulting in increased likelihood of injury as a result of tripping and falling and conflict arising between spectators and between spectators and staff; groups may cause others to fall forwards or a collapse. 

• Difficulties in crowd safety management due to blocked aisles, gangways and exits, which impacts access routes. 

The introduction of seats incorporating barriers or seats with independent barriers has had a positive impact on safety and the fan experience. Most critically, the introduction of this infrastructure drastically reduces the risk of a progressive crowd collapse.  Our free guidance, SG01: Safe Standing in Seated Areas supports this. 

Research has also confirmed additional benefits, including: 

• Goal celebrations being more orderly with no opportunity for forwards and backwards movement of fans, reducing the risk of fans falling on those around them; 

• Barriers offering stability for people moving up and down aisles and gangways; 

• Latecomers being able to access their seats in the middle of rows more quickly, as others are already standing and have barriers to lean against to allow them to pass; 

• The exit of fans from the stadia is more uniform because the barriers limit spectators’ ability to climb over seats to exit more quickly; and 

• Spectators are lined up more clearly and therefore any risk of overcrowding can be identified, particularly using CCTV. 

The SGSA has taken a deliberate, cautious approach with the roll out licensed standing and safe standing infrastructure. We are confident in the approach being used and the positive impact it has on safety and fan experience. 

Our message is simple: seats without any infrastructure are for sitting only. If fans persistently stand in seated areas, whether home or away, the ground has a duty and responsibility to address this known safety risk.