Hull City want standing terrace at KC Stadium
HULL City have opened talks with supporters about the introduction of a standing terrace at the KC Stadium.
The Tigers' joint owner and vice-chairman Ehab Allam has revealed he is in favour of the plan, insisting the stadium should be a place "for every type of fan".
The Hull City Official Supporters' Club says in light of recent revelations concerning the Hillsborough disaster cover-up, it is also backing "safe-standing" areas, similar to those at the German Bundesliga grounds.
Mr Allam said: "It is definitely something we are supportive of and we are talking to Hull City Official Supporters' Club.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
"We believe there should be a place for every type of fan at the KC Stadium."
Following Lord Justice Taylor's report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives, grounds were required to become all-seater stadiums by 1994.
But, in light of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's damning report, there are growing calls to look again at bringing back standing terraces.
Chris Smith, of the Hull City Official Supporters' Club, is pushing for the Tigers to trial the European model in a section of the KC Stadium.
Mr Smith, who was present at the FA Cup semi-final 23 years ago and witnessed the full horror of the disaster, said: "We sanitised our football grounds in light of the Taylor Report.
"But having read the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report, it is clear standing terraces did not cause the disaster."
Over 18 months, the panel examined 400,000 pages of documents from more than 80 organisations.
The panel revealed scores of witness statements had been doctored by South Yorkshire Police.
Mr Smith said: "It was the fencing, keeping fans caged like animals, and the policing that caused the Hillsborough disaster."
He believes the match day experience would be improved significantly if fans were allowed to stand and cheer their side.
"During some matches, we have a problem with lack of atmosphere," said Mr Smith.
"It can sometimes feel like a library at the KC.
"We feel safe, standing terraces would go some way to improving the atmosphere.
"There is definitely support from Hull City for a trial of a standing area."
In February, the Football Supporters' Federation took its Safe Standing Roadshow along to the KC Stadium.
Supporters saw an example of so-called "rail seating" – seats attached to a rail that can be folded away to create a safe terrace – similar to those used in Germany.
Mr Smith said: "It was extremely popular with fans.
"The rails will prevent a surge of people and simply telling fans they will be banned and fined if they go onto the pitch, as is the case now, will limit problems."
However, for Hull City and other clubs that have expressed an interest in returning to standing terraces, such as Aston Villa, a new Government directive would be needed.
Mr Smith believes safe-standing terracing could be the perfect solution for both the club and its Egyptian owners. In October last year, Mr Allam and his father Assem scrapped plans to expand the capacity of the KC Stadium and build a sports complex next to it after owners Hull City Council refused to give up its freehold.
Mr Smith said: "For every rail seat, when locked away, there is space for 1.8 persons, so this could be the ideal way for the owners to expand the capacity of the ground at minimal cost."
Earlier this year, Don Foster, MP for Bath, put forward the Safe-Standing (Football Stadia) Bill.
However, due to time restraints, the Private Members' Bill failed to get past the second reading stage in the House of Commons.
Mr Foster, now a Government minister and so unable to put forward future Bills, told the Mail: "We have a number of clubs showing real interest in safe-standing terraces.
"No one is talking about a return to the old-style, 1980s-era terraces.
"At the time of the Taylor Report the technology around today did not exist, so the only safe option was to make grounds comply with the all-seating model."
Mr Allam added the Tigers would need to discuss details of any piloting of safe-standing areas with the city council.
He said: "We would have to be mindful of the fact that the club does not own the stadium.
"Before we did anything, we would have to go to Hull City Council."
A council spokesman said: "The current Government legislation states that all clubs in the Premier League and Championship should provide seated accommodation."
A Football Association spokesman said: "The FA is aware some clubs are looking at possible safe-standing areas in 'low-risk' sections of their stadiums.
"It seems that Hull are researching this, too."
It is understood the Football Supporters' Federation plans to deliver a presentation on rail seating to MPs before Christmas.
The KC Stadium, which cost £44m to build, replaced Boothferry Park in 2002. It is currently has a maximum capacity of 25,404.
Comments
by hyperdriver
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:38PM
“As a matter of principle, Hull FC should oppose this”
by JONIB
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 10:40AM
“Are they allowed in the Premier League? Think it's a knee jerk reaction to the ticket pricing, ie. City the most expensive in the Championship. This won't happen!!!”
by Maccy_george
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 10:12AM
“99% of the fans would behave in a civilised manner should seating be re-introduced but we all know that a small amount of idiots would ruin it all.”
by TerryDDolan
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 6:02AM
“Great news for the people who want to stand at football matches in their own area so not to affect those fans that want to sit.
Fans never wanted to lose this option but seems to have been a knee jerk reaction of "something has to appear to be done".
Should also help create a better and more naturally vocal atmosphere.”
by HulKR
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 2:19AM
“Davidht11 - The article states that each normal seat taken out allows 1.8 standing spectators as you have one standing behind the other, presumably it's not a 1:2 ratio as to allow people room to move to let people in and out. This means that taking 5,000 seats out of one end increases the capacity by 4,000. As for sitting at half time, I believe the seats are locked away and in Germany are only unlocked for UEFA games (pitty the poor bloke who has to unlock them all!). Also, by having a standing area, spectators really have no excuse to stand the entire game in the seats, keeping the seated people happy.
As a side note, maybe Hull FC could as Rovers for permission to use the old seats in a section of Craven Park when they move in)”
by BigBillyBilly
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 12:43AM
“Football grounds are no longer cesspits,and it's amazing how you can improve customer behaviour by presenting the fans with a clean and civilised facility,one to which you wouldn't be appalled to bring your wag and children,say.Maybe I've become over-domesticated in my early middle age,but I found the away fans' toilets at Spurs in 2010 shockingly clean,and duly wiped around the toilet after my number 3 ( a wee!).It was only when I looked behind me that I noticed City fans looking baffled that a football fan was applying the sanitary principles that would be expected at home.Sorry,I know,I should've hosed down the entire facility with hot,steamy **** and emerged arms raised shouting 'City 'Ull!',so I'm sorry for any City fans I let down that day,I'm such a wimp.....”
by Davidht11
Monday, October 22 2012, 11:33PM
“Terracing at the KC could never be like the terracing was at Boothferry Park. The rake of the stands have been constructed for seating only which is far steeper than the old open terracing. It would be lethal to open the stands at the KC in a similar way. On the few occasions in the late sixties and early seventies when BP had capacity crowds I remember the utter misery of going 2 hours before ko to try and find a place on the East Stand away from the big roof columns to get a clear view of the goals. Getting home 5 hours later frozen through aching all over from having to stand on tip toe trying to see.
The toilets? Well one insanitary tin shed with a trough for 15,000 people was the closest you got. I have no idea where girls and women where supposed to go! Lets face it stop looking back with rose tinted specs at BP; it was a slum as where all football grounds in the UK up until the ninties. Even the old Wembley.
Those terraces were dangerous places. As a 9 year old boy I remember my father explaining to me that if the crowd collapses go with it, don't resist it or you will go under and get trampled on. Incredible. Those terraces were made lethal when they started to erect the fences to contain the hooligans. An accident was bound to happen, it was staring everyone in the face after the Bradford fire. It was just a matter of where & when.
The owners of football clubs had no interest in looking after their customers. It took the loss of 96 innocent lives to shake the them and the authorities who even then had to be made to do something about. About the only good thing to come out of the Taylor Report as I can see.
We have much improved stadia, much reduced hooliganism and supporters are treat like humans at football matches. Many more women and girls go now. Heavens, I can now wash my hands after having a pee.
In spite of all that I do think it would be a good idea to introduce the standing seating proposed in a dedicated area. So those that want to stand during the match and sit down at half time, the opposite of most, can do, with out being a pain. I been a few times to sit on the Kop at Anfield and you have to spend about a third of the match standing just because a few find it difficult to sit down at football. They are a nuisance. So give them an area where they can stand safely without annoying others.
From what I have seen of the proposed arrangements it seems to me that there would be no significant increase in capacity to the KC, it looks as though they only plan to put a barrier in front of each seat and therefore no reduction in ticket prices.”
by GuyCandy
Monday, October 22 2012, 9:43PM
“Events last Friday night at Sheffield show why football "fans"should be locked in cages.”
by cafesociety1
Monday, October 22 2012, 9:07PM
“Leeds p?llok in clink!I suppose he will write a book one day saying how he was a top boy and used to go toe to toe...etc yawn”
by Prescotts_Cat
Monday, October 22 2012, 8:40PM
“Anybody who is saying this is about money, terraces are the cause of trouble etc are clueless, and can't have seen these new terrace designs.
One thing that should also be done is moving the away fans into a small corner. Other clubs have done it successfully and players would respond better having the north stand behind the goal full of home supporters. Mourinho did it at Chelsea, O'Neill has done it at Sunderland. Stick the away fans in the north west corner in the worst seats.”