But Saints have to secure their full capacity and, especially given the statement on the Saints website today, I could well imagine the stewards being very strict on who stands/sits where at our next game.

Go to the last few seconds of this Granada reports preview of the season and you get a picture of the West terrace. Its got bags of room in it. Looks like the safety authorities are being ultra strict with Saints. www.itv.com/granada/super-league-saints09841/

Go to the last few seconds of this Granada reports preview of the season and you get a picture of the West terrace. Its got bags of room in it. Looks like the safety authorities are being ultra strict with Saints. www.itv.com/granada/super-league-saints09841/

I think it's a nice idea, one that is in keeping with what you could do at KR, but unfortunately probably unworkable in reality given you're likely to need stewards checking tickets at each vomitory into the stands, which is labour intensive and would cause massive queues.

At matches were there are only 10k speccies on, having the ability to move around backstage can help ensure a more even distribution of spectators queuing at the bars. For example the East stand bars are likely to be very quiet when the likes of Huddersfield, London, and Wakefield are in town.
The stadium concourses were designed to be far larger than required, so they are legally able to take the added capacity of people meeting their mates behind the North stand at half time.
What people should not be doing though is using that mobility as an excuse to then sit or stand were they should not.

The facility to move around grounds is something that is seen at Rugby Union and Cricket stadia, and is historically something that was present in rugby league stadia. Only Soccer in the UK with its long history of crowd violence has penned people in to specific sections.

They will need to do this then as both the West and South stands share the same turnstile entrance and contiguous concourse.

The North stand can be isolated pretty easily and also the East as they have their own dedicated turnstile entrances.
All it really needs is a temporary barrier complete with yellow jacketed steward to send out the message not to move.

I think a wrist band system would be better. You can then walk round the 360 degree concourse. I can see no reason why anyone would want to, other than use empty vending outlets in the away end, but it would allow it. People could then be forced to show their band on re-entry to the stand and anyone with the wrong colour would the be clubbed to death. Or do what almost every other stadium in the world does and build four walls.

The temperary barrier IMO is the best option and was the first thing that came to mind when this problem popped up.

This way for the games that will be high capicity we can use the barrier and have steward stood there and when the low capicity games we can just leave it.

Also, I'm sure mates who want to meet up before the game or at half time can chat over the barrier then go back to their own stand.

I think the fact that our major concern going into a new season is that we have sold too many tickets is a fairly good position to be in. Ok, there are a few teething issues to sort out, but lets focus on the positives around Saints at the moment, and celebrate the fact that we are supporting a fantastic club.

I agree but bad news always makes for discussion, Good news makes for short threads because everyone just agrees and that's the end of it

I understand capacity is 18000. Does this figure allow for any movement between stands or none at all?. Rovers east stand is regulary sold out but you can see small gaps here and there.

They dont allow terraces to get full in this day and age.

even so called full terraces, would in the old days have held many more without any hassle whatsoever.

People will be restricted to the stand they have bought tickets for.

I honestly don't think it will be an ongoing issue especially at Superleague matches because the majority of the seats will be occupied by season ticket holders who have bought those tickets for the specific purpose of being able to sit down and doing so in 'their own seat'. I think the novelty factor of the first game was a major factor in the stand switching.

I'm told the council had asked for the reduced capacity and would question whether the incident of the gentleman having a heart attack, and potentially a number of complaints from those being asked to move to the North Stand have played a significant part in that. Either way I suspect it is all a bit of an over-reaction.