Home / How do I apply for a ground to be designated or de-designated? How do I apply for a ground to be designated or de-designated? The Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 empowers the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to designate any sports ground, which has accommodation for more than 10,000 spectators, or 5,000 in the case of Premier League and Football League grounds in England and Wales. The local authority should notify the Secretary of State of any sports ground likely to require designation, or become de-designated.