59 percent of Brighton fans would like safe standing at the Amex

A recent survey of Brighton fans have found that a majority of 59 percent would like to see safe standing at the Amex.

But in a classic case of interpreting data to back up the position you favour, the Albion have said there are no immediate plans to install safe standing due to lack of demand.

They are basing this on 53 percent of fans saying they would not watch from a safe standing section. And yet presuming the North Stand were converted and remained at its current capacity of 2,688, you would only need 8 percent of a 31,800 Amex crowd to fill the area.

With 47 percent of fans saying they would use safe standing, Brighton could in theory sell out the North Stand eight times over – if you choose to look at the figures from the opposite end of the club’s long-held, well-known stance on the issue.

The subject crops up every year at the Albion Fans’ Forum, between such surreal moments as season ticket holder Dave reading out a five-minute long poem berating the Albion for introducing a £2.50 charge for print at home tickets.

Until recently, Paul Barber’s answer has always been the same. The cost to Tony Bloom would be high, there are better things to spend money on, and the demand is not there.

Barber would consistently cite a meeting held to discuss the possibility of installing safe standing over half a decade ago, which only 33 people turned up to attend as justification for a lack of interest.

There were also the results of a previous survey in which the questions were clearly designed to illicit a negative response to the idea.

The latest safe standing survey was at least more broad and offered greater insight into what Brighton fans actually think about the concept.

But there were still accusations that it seemed to be worded in such a way as to try and reach the no position the Albion have held for over a decade now, going back to when the Amex was expanded in 2012-13.

The survey was emailed to season ticket holders and MyAlbion+ Members on January 31st, when a lot of Brighton supporters would have had their minds on other matters such as the final day of the transfer window.

It read: “We remain open-minded to the introduction of safe standing at the Amex (in the North and South stands only) but its introduction would be at considerable additional cost to the club and would likely divert or delay budget and resources away from other stadium improvements that might benefit a larger number of supporters.”

“When completing this survey, it’s therefore important to note: Safe standing would not increase the capacity of the stadium, and tickets would not be sold at a cheaper price.”

“Safe standing would not allow fans to stand where they wished, and would require them to remain in the position allocated to them.”

“Safe standing would involve a rail being installed in front of the current seats to prevent fans from falling or crushing. The current seating wouldn’t be removed. This means fans could still sit if they wished, but wouldn’t be able to see the match if those fans in front chose to stand.”

“The installation of safe standing may require some supporters to move from their current positions if they do not wish to be in a safe standing area. Only the North and South stands are being considered for safe standing at the Amex.”

“The results of this survey will be shared with the Fan Advisory Board, and with all fans through the club’s website. Ultimately, the decision on whether to introduce safe standing at the Amex rests with the club’s board of directors taking in to account supporters’ views (for and against), the opinions of the local authority, and of course any such scheme’s financial viability.”

One question within the survey centred on whether fans would be happy to pay an increased season or match ticket for safe standing. Unsurprisingly, 82 percent of fans said they would not.

For those in the North, the majority of fans already stand during matches. They were never likely to want to pay extra simply to make it official via the installation of railings.

Nor were supporters in the West Stand or East Stand who are happy in their current locations going to want to contribute to a development they would have no benefit from.

A cynic might conclude that the club never had any intention of introducing safe standing at the Amex, and they were always going to interpret the results of the survey in such a way to justify their existing stance.

What was point then? Well, the survey allowed the club to pay lip service to the Fan Advisory Board, who had been pushing for a new consultation on the subject. It was an easy “We listen to the FAB” win for the Albion.

And we should not really be surprised the Albion are not in favour. They stand to gain nothing from installing safe standing, except perhaps an improved atmosphere.

To make it happen, they would have to go through the complex process of forcing existing North season ticket holders who do not wish to stand out of seats they may have occupied since 2011.

At the same time, putting rail seats in would cost a significant amount. The South Stand would also needing to be reconfigured to offer safe standing to away supporters.

Instead of spending money on safe standing, the club are intending to build new facilities outside the Amex, as well as improving the sound system so Freed From Desire can be pumped out even lounder whilst supporters dance during the post-game light show.

Barber said of the survey: “The results of the recent fans’ survey sent out to both season-ticket holders and Albion+ members highlighted no increase in interest in safe standing from Albion fans and those wanting to stand remains a minority of the fan base.”

“We are therefore prioritising our budget to upgrade and improve the pre-match fan zone on station approach – which, subject to planning permission, will include new food and drink options, big screens, seating areas, and access to toilets all under a large canopy – as well as improving the sound system inside the stadium bowl.”

“Safe standing will remain on our agenda as part of the club’s longer-term stadium development plans but we will only install it if demand increases sufficiently to justify the investment required, and also when it’s possible to install for both home and away fans.”

“We are currently considering reconfiguring the visiting supporters area in the south stand, and so we will re-visit the safe standing proposition once we have a fully costed and approved plan. This work won’t be complete until the 2024-25 season at the earliest.”

Whilst Brighton use the survey to kick the safe standing can down the road for another few years, six Premier League clubs currently have it and more are looking to follow suit.

There are also safe standing areas behind both goals at Wembley, with that particular section selling out within a couple of hours of going on sale to Brighton supporters for the FA Cup semi final.

At the current rate of English grounds installing safe standing, the Amex could be left as an outlier within the next couple of years by not offering it.

Maybe that or a more concerted effort from fans – beyond the 4,387 who filled in the survey – will force a change in club policy, but until then the 59 percent who support safe standing will remain disappointed.

Brexit means Brexit. Or something like that.