Posted by BWScarf on 26/1/2020, 8:00 pm, in reply to "EP and the future"
I did this story a couple of years ago when Shrewsbury first installed the standing rails. Just a couple of things:
The New Meadow is dull and lifeless. In fact, it’s crap. It’s in an awful location and there’s nothing spectacular about it at all. But, that said, it’s to their great credit that they’ve put standing rails in. It’s massively improved things.
Secondly, it’s bloody expensive to do. It’s about £100 per seat - which doesn’t sound like much, but it soon stacks up.
Thirdly, the reason under current rules we can’t do it isn’t anything to do with being a ‘designated all seater stadium’. It’s because post-Taylor report, all clubs who spend more than three successive years in the second flight or above have to convert their stadia to all-seaters. There’s no existing mechanism to convert them back again without special dispensation from the relevant authorities on a case-by-case basis.
It’s a ridiculous rule, because it means Stockport County, in the fifth tier, can’t install rail seating, but Wycombe Wanderers, who could be in the Championship next season, can. That rule is set to change though in the near future.
An additional misconception about rail seating is they can’t be used as a standing area and seating area at once. At Shrewsbury, the seats are locked, so they can only be used as standing rails. People can’t sit down halfway through if they choose.
Additionally, they can’t be used to increase capacity. After conversion, one seat = one standing space.
I think EP is ripe for standing rails in sections. It’s something I approached the Co-Op about in 2018. I’ve got good contacts with the people who pioneered this stuff, and still advise interested clubs on how to go about it. I’m happy to put them in touch. It’s a long process though.