I’ve been the centre of many a debate via Twitter on the suggestion of safe standing within the SPL this week. The SPL bigwigs have openly agreed to listen to ideas on how to make the safe standing scheme work and bring back the terraces to what can only be described as a depleted league, with regards to atmosphere, Old Firm aside obviously. Many journalists have questioned me on why I think ticket entry fees for the standing area would be cheaper than the seated area. So rather than constantly repeat myself, I’ve decided to write this blog on how I personally think it will work.
The obvious reason to bring it back right away is the current lack of atmosphere and attendance within the SPL right now. Most teams in the league now have fans groups and organisations who attend their team games week in week out, they are always being ejected and made out to be hooligans, simply because they want to stand throughout the 90 minutes. Now, if these lads had the safe standing areas they would be free to hold their displays in a safe and secure environment without disturbing those who wish to sit and enjoy the game. They could be safely monitored by police without anyone having to be constantly asked to sit down. So it’s a win, win for everyone!
The question being put to me is the fact teams will have to fork out to install the new areas, which are believed to need fold away seating for European ties etc, where teams would not be allowed to have terracing, so in what way can they afford to offer cheaper tickets prices for this part of the ground? Here is my personal opinion. If I was a Chairman of an SPL club, I’d see it as an investment having the standing areas installed. I think clubs would most certainly fill that section every week, even clubs out with the Rangers and Celtic. If they made the investment at the beginning of a season, come Christmas it will have paid for itself.
To attract people to it though, the prices will have to be cheaper than the sitting areas. You’ll get the young lads there no matter the price likely, but to attract other punters you’ll need to slash the prices. You might ask why because I choose to sit, must I pay more than to stand? I think it doesn’t make sense to charge the same price to stand than it is to sit. You wouldn’t pay the same to sit in restricted view than you would not too at the end of the day. Standing would fill and cheaper tickets would guarantee it every Saturday. If clubs are willing to spend to earn, I feel this could bring in some much needed revenue into the Scottish game.
