From the club: Currently the capacity of the North Stand (Away Stand) is 5797. The Safety Advisory Group at Barnsley Council requested that the Club remove aisle seats from sale for this Stand to reduce the possibility of supporters standing in the Gangways. There are a large number of ‘Restricted View seats’ which are removed from sale as supporters often complain that they are unable to enjoy the game from these seats. The Safety Advisory Group also require the Club to keep an area ‘Sterile’ between the North Stand and the East Stand for ‘Segregation’ purposes and the size of this area is based on away crowd numbers and current behaviour of away fans at recent games. Middlesbrough have had 4765 Tickets for the forthcoming fixture. So from the purpose built stand we can't sell tickets for seats in the rows at the front. We can't sell tickets for seats next to aisles, we can't sell seats bear the east stand and we can't sell seats bear the back. Makes you wonder whats the ******* point.
Errrrm.... "There are a large number of ‘Restricted View seats’ which are removed from sale as supporters often complain that they are unable to enjoy the game from these seats." Which seats are these then?
Crikey. My eyes are going. Just had to check from pics on google. Never realised those posts existed... I'm getting old
"The Safety Advisory Group at Barnsley Council requested" That's what the situation is. My question: have they any legal basis to enforce this "request"? If not tell them to do one. Too many idiot committees in all walks of life interfering with something they know nothing about Health and safety is important but my god today the country has gone mad with it
There are only 2 posts and they are very near the back I would be amazed if more than 100 seats are unable to see the whole pitch and there are probably only around 20 or so with a severe restriction Its the bullsh*t about aisle seats and sterile areas I am really struggling with - you dont get that at other grounds so why are we so special
a bit of netting and a line of Stewards. There is already a sterile area between the South and East Stands its a decent size gap as well, also dont forget we cant use a whole block of the East Lower either - we must have the largest sterile area in the world Half a stand for the west , 1/4 of the South stand and 20% of the lower tier of the East stand. + the large gaps between the stands its absurd
The safety advisory group at Barnsley Council? The same Barnsley Council that part owns BFC? Would it not be in Barnsley council's interest to have more paying supporters inside the stadium not fewer?
Pass. Not sure what you mean. Could well be a tumbleweed moment on my part whilst I grasp what your suggesting
Barnsley council? Deary, deary me. Can't they just stick to doing town planning really badly and twinning us with towns no one could care less about. Maybe they could get a consultant in about it
It's a disgrace isn't it. Segregation between man city and utd fans The only thing I can think of is that it's the club trying to save money. They could have a lower segregation but it would require more stewards? Although now I think about it they are POLICE segregating city and utd fans while we pay for police to lean against the wall in the corner near the tunnel or to hide behind the stand somewhere and appear 5 minutes after trouble. It's about time that the club stated quite openly and publicly what the reasons are. I am not knocking the response I got one bit because it answers the question but it also leads to more questions. Who makes up the safety advisory group? Is their advice legally binding or can we choose to ignore it? Surely by definition an advisory group can only advise. Why are Barnsley council involved in the first place? Why are Barnsley FC deemed to require far more segregation than other clubs? Why are we not allowed to have away fans sat next to gangways yet I have never ever been to an away match where this policy exists? Why are we refusing people the option of sitting in the restricted seats at a lower price? Surely if the match is a sell out then fans would take slightly restricted seats over none at all. (Why do I always see away fans sat behind the pillars when the rest of the stand is empty?). So many questions
I suspect that these are questions the new owners (if we ever get them!) will be asking quite vociferously as soon as they take charge
I've sent a follow up email asking those questions to the club. I do actually feel sorry for the club on this one because if they are told that they MUST do this then they're a bit stuck aren't they and they look a bit daft through no fault of their own.