The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) have carried out risk assessments of all football grounds in the country. Due to the physical nature of the London stadium, persistent standing is still noted by the SGSA and they would like to know what further steps are being proposed to deal with the safety issue.
Members of the London Stadium Safety Advisory Group have ongoing detailed discussions reviewing various options and control measures for persistent standing. A viable physical solution and an action plan that is time limited needs to be submitted to the SGSA before the safety board meeting in February 2020 the December LS-SAG minutes say.
West Ham representatives told the December meeting added that the process currently in place is working and there has been a huge improvement over time of persistent standing at the London Stadium. The LS-SAG have requested SGSA to share video footage of a progressive collapse with partners.
Last year, Stadium owners E20 verified that there are barriers in the front of the upper tiers and there has been no review of any engineering solution similar to Spurs. E20 was supposed to be giving a demonstration to the certifying authority (Newham Council) of any new barriers they would like to trial. That action remains outstanding.
My seat is in the Trevor Brooking lower tier, I have had my season ticket for 2 seasons and I have never actually sat in it during a game, only sitting down at half time.
I will also add, I have never been asked to sit down, not a single time by a steward. I often have 2/3 stewards standing right behind me (as I am in the last row) and they are not serious about making people sit down (not that I am fussed by the way I will always stand).
The only thing I have ever seen is a person walking down the middle isle shouting sit down please walking frmo bottom to top. This was in the middle of last season, she did it once, no one listened, she was by her self and then never saw or heard anything like it again!
I’m ST holder in the BML. There’s no safety issue with standing there. Plenty of room between rows and other supporters beside me.
Can’t comment on upstairs but we’re fine down below!!
Totally agree.We are in block 148 and most of the BML stands.The stewards tried to get people to sit when we moved to the OS but soon gave up.
Yep, they ban people left right and centre at the ground now for a series of petty reasons
Never known a regime like it
There concern is the upper tiers I understand from a safety perspective
Relocate supporters by age. Put the old ones at the front and the young ones at the back. The old ones want to sit down while the young ones are spoiling the view for the rest.
I’m 67 and I don’t want to sit down mate.
Mind you, would be very happy ( being a short ass) to be in the front row!
Standing is totally selfish. The kids behind have to stand on the seats. So much for safety. Not everyone is six foot tall.
Best if the fans sit down as it is not so far to fall when they fall asleep whilst watching the tedious football that Moyes has got us playing
This is the third time I’ve tried to write this.flaming adverts keep moving the page around.
My point regarding standing is if a selfish person stands up and blocks your view you cannot move and if you are short or elderly, etc you will miss large parts of the action.
Either return to all standing or sort out these selfish fans.
Safe standing as a solution ?
Safe standing areas are the answer. I used to love standing in the chicken run but these days I take my kid to matched and he often can’t see due to bug lumps standing in front. Mind you I just move down to one one the many empty seats when it happens.