Safe standing comes to Scottish football. Standing was a part of our game for over a century (and still is in the semi-professional divisions), but the Taylor Report changed the game fundamentally, as grounds were made all-seater in the 1990s. This phenomenon was not restricted to the UK, Uefa (to some extent) enforced the trend on the rest of the Continent.
Then things changed in Germany. New stadiums had railed seating, which allowed spectators to stand during games. This allowed more people to fit into the same space. The grounds still had to be converted to conventional seating for Uefa games, but the phenomenon of safe standing proved, well, safe.
In fact, it is a lot safer than the de facto situation in many UK grounds, where away fans stand in areas which are clearly unsafe for standing crowds.
I understand why Celtic have situated the safe standing area where they have lower-tier corner of North and Lisbon Lions stands, but for me it should be North Stand upper. If you’re going to have a standing section, don’t just site it where one has emerged organically, put it where it best suits the stadium, can have most impact on atmosphere and has room to grow. Make no mistake, demand will outstrip supply for the standing area, and soon enough we’ll be wondering how we grow it.
The stadium can be further-portioned off. At the moment the family area is squashed between the new standing area and away fans – this section also has nowhere to grow. If you want more families, ensure each passing decade the stadium has more targeted family areas.
There should also be greater price differentiation for tickets. The pack-em-in reality of standing areas fits the profile of a cheaper ticket, which fits the reality of the North Stand upper’s isolation from amenities like lounges. Fill the North upper full of cheap, standing tickets, extend facilities like lounges – and charge accordingly, or family facilities, to lower tiers.
You want to stand in a busy area, move about and keep warm – pay less. You want to keep warm in a lounge – pay more. You want to take penalties against Ms Hoopy, go to the family area. Just bring a child, please.
30 years from now, few will want to watch football in a stadium like Celtic Park. This happened to football in the 70s and 80s. It became stuck in the infrastructure of what was then regarded by many as a decrepit bygone era. Many football fans just stopped going. I can see history repeating itself.
Cater for the future or your local shopping mall/multiplex will. In future, everyone will want access to a warm lounge before and after the game, and at halftime. Try planning a leisure activity in northern Europe for the 21st century and come up with any other conclusion.
Ticket machines should be at the perimeter of the stadium footprint. Once inside, you should have fan zones with bars, restaurants, cafes, play areas, shops – mostly undercover. You should never be more than 5 minutes away from being able to spend money. Or spend a penny – with paper towels available all afternoon.
I’m usually in the environs of Celtic Park close to 3 hours on a match day. The opportunities for engagement are enormous, but we’re miles away for thousands of us in the ‘reasonably priced’ seats.
None of this is meant as a criticism. We have a magnificent 20th century stadium, I was one of thousands who paid to build it. All of the above wish-list would cost millions we just don’t have – this is the reality. But we need to have a vision of what our future requirement looks like.
I still miss the old Celtic Park, the new stadium cannot touch if for atmosphere, but what we expect when we go to the football is different now, and will be different again in the future. The first thing I’d do if we broke free of Scottish football is call in the bulldozers and start again.
Season ticket prices remain same as last season, confounding conspiracy theorists four-year fantasy. This caused brief spates of cognitive dissonance before a fresh wave of conspiracies washed the pain away.
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NEGANON2
If Celtic’s new manager gets us to the group stages
of the CL and makes a good fist of it will he still be
a Patsy?…..ffs man you don’t yet know who he is and
it’s if your wanting him to fail.
Corkie
Whilst Paul doesn’t wish to or choose to get involved his leader/article is his opinion and it put out for interpretation and comments either for or against .
Would you agree ?
An teach Solais. Because the propaganda that cqn engages in needs counterbalanced and because we have some very big decisions to make.
Corkcelt see my answer to an teach abov. Paul is pushing board propaganda. He for years forensically liked to examine the demise of the Hun but seems oddly unable to discuss his own views on res 12. Propaganda needs challenged.
Is that our Richie on SSB? H H Hebcelt
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 4TH MAY 2016 7:05 PM
BURGHBHOY on 4TH MAY 2016 7:03 PM
You are safer running on to the pitch to assault the opposition manager.
Correct mate.
Unbelievable
HH
Nye bevans. The main question is will the new manager be allowed to achieve anything because the board decide money is more important?
Neganon2
I’m not on to defend Paul67 but to your last one :
1. The hun died. Lots of balls in the air about their evil spawn making it in the long run. But they’ll always congregate arounbd a brand of hate in Ibrox.
2. I think it’s clear to anyone not looking at the grassy knoll that there is a balancing act around RES12 that those closest have spoken about and a need to hold our nerve. I know it’s a trust thing but that makes sense to me and as much as I’d like a full frontal scream from the boardroom maybe I just need to wind my neck in.
Corkcelt well said
Yep BT. The article is his opinion and if you disagree with article then it’s absolutely OK to say so, but what I was saying to Neg is to stick to the issues and lay off the Personal stuff.
If Neg genuinely believes that this site is a propaganda mechanism for the Board he should be boycotting the site.
If it is such a creation then it has failed miserably, I read more anti Board vitriol on here then I’ve ever seen or heard anywhere else.
NEGANON2
Serious question,where do you think the money
goes?
Ooops it’s a Ricky not Richie, sorry, sounds like him. H H Hebcelt
Big Wavey. Explain why there is a balancing act on res12.
Corkcelt why won’t Paul explain his viewpoint on the boards performance and on res12?
If he won’t why should we trust anything that is being said?
Is credibility important?
At the last home match 3 of my CSC was aware of res12.
Surely if that is matched up and down the land that is the main problem.
If Big Pete and co. Think the support us apathetic then from their point of view why rock the boat.
How do we get res.12 into the mainstream?
I’m convinced if the bulk of our support was aware of this then the Plc would be inundated with demands to pursue it ?
Surely even Big Pete couldn’t ignore that?
HH
NEGANON2 at 7.30 pm
Thanks for reply. Sorry my post in response will be a bit rushed.
I would have thought that if people disliked what was appearing on CQN the logical response would be to set up a separate blog on the lines of Celtic View/ Not the View.
I seem to recall you stating that you had written to PL but had not been granted the courtesy of a response. If I have picked you up wrongly then sincere apologies. Perhaps a follow-up letter might elicit a response?
If people are so disgusted with what the PLC are doing/not doing and want to walk away, then that is their right. What about trying what the ManU rebels did and setting up a club in total conformity to their ideals? HH
I will be renewing my season tickets.
United we stand ,divided we fall.
If I do not renew ,I hurt our income.
If I hurt our income ,I hurt our ability to put a better team on the park.
If we hurt the team we put on the park ,we hurt my fellow Celtic fans.
If my fellow Celtic fans are hurting ,I am hurting.
This is not a time for division.
United we stand ,divided we fall.
TT
Bye bevans. Well an unnacceptable amount goes to Lawwell (bonus and all) but Celtic have done two things. Firstly rather than investing in the team they have been saving money. Secondly their whole strategy revolved around buying prospects and then selling them for more momey. The team didn’t matter, results didn’t matter. Only momey mattered. So we failed to qualify for the cl and so our turnover dropped massively.
So they have taken some money, squandered some money and reduced our income.
A magical combination.
Listening to HomeBhoys podcast whilst driving up the road this afternoon, seems that Res. 12 announcement will be made this week according to one of the contributors.
We shall see…..
Big Wavey. Explain why there is a balancing act on res12.
It reads like a timing issue to me. That’s what I read from those here close to it. No reason to doubt them and I trust them to hold the club accountable.
Tinytim do you want Celtic to change? Are you happy with the board?
Anyways Ronaldo first goal £10 @3/1
Well said Tiny Tim.
Cheers T
Neganon2 I’ll have a chance to have a chat with PL on Sunday give me one or two questions that you specifically would like an answer to. I’ll ask and post his reponse. H H Hebcelt
Because an teach it’s important we challenge one another and that when propaganda is being pushed its pushed back.
Plenty more than I have written to Lawwell. Nothing has changed. He doesn’t care. The only thing he cares about is money.
And whether you like it or not Celtic are my club as well. Why the hell should I give up to those who stole it?
Big wavey. What timing issue? Celtic can offer no good reason for not taking res12 to UEFA. None. What timing issue?
Hebcelt ask him whether he believes his Moneyball strategy has failed and if he is ditching it. Then ask him for a single good reason why he isn’t taking res 12 to UEFA. Look forward to the response.
Tiny Tim
As much as I agree generally with neganon, you sum up succinctly how I feel.
Celtic are too precious to be mucked about.
Withdrawing support is not an option for me.
And I am thoroughly hacked off with many things
HH
Madrid playing surface looks superb.
NEGANON2 on 4TH MAY 2016 7:42 PM
So they have taken some money, squandered some money and reduced our income.
—————————————————————
You forgot to mention the money Celtic pay to Paul67 to publish propaganda.
Any idea how much is it Paul67 gets? That’s something I’d certainly like to know.
Neg. Paul is under no obligation to explain his viewpoint on anything. He owes us nothing, we do not pay him a subscription, he simply created the Blog and gives everyone regardless of their views a platform to more or less say what they like. Nobody is compelled to read his articles and nobody is compelled to post on the Blog.
I have never seen him get involved in any of the debates and I suspect this is a line he will not cross.
I would love if Winning Captains could arrange a night with Paul much the same as he did with the likes of Charlie Gallagher where we could throw questions at him but until and unless that happens, I honestly think it’s wrong to be casting personal accusations at the man.
Corkcelt
Brilliant idea mate
Kompany aff injured……again.
NEGANON2
Don’t want to bore the blog by going on and on.
I have never questioned your commitment to the ideals which you associate with Celtic.
Believe it or not I, too, am often accused of being an impractical idealist.
However, if I may, other than regular contributions to the blog and a rallying cry to supporters – most of whom will probably not read CQN- how do you envisage regain your (and my and many thousand of supporters’) club from “those who stole it”. Genuine question, not attempting provocation. HH
Neganon 2
Just for you… ‘Good News’ as Celtic listen….http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=24080
Have a look at the photograph at the top. Those tickets are from a (now) 18 year old who have been everywhere this season following Celtic. It is our job to hand Celtic – our Celtic – over to the next generation.
Not to indulge in fantasies of our club’s death.
Read the bit at the end regarding Resolution 12.
CQN has been heavily involved in driving this forward – at several stadiums – and as a result and by necessity – Paul has kept quiet.
I have tried to rally the troops in the face of the negative comments but have really only baffled folk.
The Resolution 12 guys have done a wonderful job and have the authorities rattled. I suspect that they are going to succeed. If they do then the dominoes will start to fall. That’s the bit I am looking forward to the most.
And as the other Fab 4 wrote (perfect for you regarding Celtic Park) – Get Back to where you once belonged.
Celtic have listened.
Big wavey.
What timing issue? Celtic can offer no good reason for not taking res12 to UEFA. None. What timing issue?
You presented that as a fact and I think it’s an opinion. A somewhat half empty one but your privilege. I tend to operate at the other end of the spectrum until the obvious facts emerge that proves me otherwise.
Cracking goal for the Royalists
Trooble at mill!
Kompany down, no one near him as he ran with the ball.
Hard job made much harder now for Citeh as he goes off.
Parks Buses for players etc,for Celtic Football Club,says it all,Res 12 forget it,could you back in the day,if the Kelly’s and the Whites, done these things to the real Celtic fans,changed day’s right enough,
1-0 Bale.