Delighted for everyone involved in making Celtic the first club in Britain to be given permission to install Safe Standing facilities. There’s time for a seat but going to the football in Scotland was largely a standing undertaking for a century, for good reason.
Standing enables the creation of football’s now too scarce atmosphere, it allows people to shuffle in the cold and sing with projection. It’s also safer across more scenarios than sitting.
I have one (significant) problem with the plans……..
Celtic intend to install Safe Standing at the corner of the lower North and Lisbon Lions stands, including the Green Brigade’s area. The Green Brigade pitched up at this part of the ground one League Cup game several years ago, the area was no more or less appropriate for as a singing section than any other part of the ground.
The North Stand upper is the proper place for a Safe Standing section, front and centre of the stadium. It’s where the Jungle was, and if we’re going to come anywhere close to recreating the unique atmosphere of the Jungle in a modern stadium, we must select the appropriate area.
The Safe Standing section will have unique properties. The ability to stand all game, bounce around and generally be more active, will ensure it sells out, but it’s unlikely to attract the infirm, and it will never be part of the family section. It’s also not going to attract corporate business.
The decision where to locate this section is unlikely to be reversed until there is a major stadium renovation, and that’s likely to be decades away. A couple of decades out, there will be more demand for family and infirm sections, more demand for corporate and lounge facilities.
Football spent years failing to notice how people grew fond of comfort, shelter, safe and clean facilities. The trend is not over. Thousands will want to stand, but perhaps more will want access to lounges, video games for the kids and shops selling all sorts.
Celtic Park is magnificent building of its time but it’s not a 21st century stadium. The Celtic Way is genuinely stunning, but if we want to cater for fans in the decades to come we’ll need proper cafes, fan zones, bars, better toilets and a museum. We’ll need to make use of all that land we’ve acquired, but which largely lies undeveloped.
Real estate in the lower stands will be more of a premium in the future, we should plan for it now, make the Safe Standing section the New Jungle.
Sports Direct is not a travel agents – for the avoidance of doubt.
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modren NB dry technology is rubbish
hamiltontim
08:38 on 10 June, 2015
Paul67
I’m sure you’ll know better than me but my understanding is that Celtic have been doing their upmost to utilise areas around the stadium. The police have been the biggest obstacle to the regeneration of these areas.
₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩
I don’t really see where an objection would come from in respect of the Polis (Two words that don’t really go together) I’d say it’s more of a council issue, but surely a few nice bars shops museum etc would not be objected by anyone. I think maybe the only obstacles would be the likelihood of these being used twice a fortnight would it be sustainable….
Can’t see why anyone would object though, further regeneration and jobs..
Ayrshire is Green and White
Is that Cambell Ogilvie away from the SFA now, been away for ten days and kind of catching up. Lying in a hotel in Thurrock heading home from Normandy
Thurrock is…we’ll dunno it was dark when I arrived.
HH
£60! or £ 53 for the Broonie version.
…is it hand knitted by marmosets?
and can we rename the concept to ‘official standing area’ instead of ‘safe standing area’
it currently implies that our unofficial standing area in 111 is unsafe which is just pish going by the lack of lateral movement related injuries from that area
Ht, art the standing section, application forms will have a height section and they’ll stack accordingly with tiny tim and weefra at the front and lefty, jamesgang and an tearnan at the back. The guys at the back will double as support joists for the upper stand and operations to lengthen or shorten your legs so you can stand with your mates will be available (paid for by installment plan finance from zebra) .
Paul67 . u just want north stand upper so u and your bhoys can bounce around ! – go on, admit it.
Having sat in 405 when we beat manu to qualify for last 16 for the first time, I still remember the NSU feeling as tho it was hitting resonant frequency.
My understanding is that family section will move .We’ve had some initial chats re relocation of our 100+ seats so , to my mind Lisbon lions stand and north east curve would be logical choice .
Sanna ( I’m still standing csc)
NatKnow
09:15 on 10 June, 2015
I believe that they’ve objected to the club setting up fan zones in the environs of the stadium and when Celtic have amended their plans, several times, a license has still been refused.
The ole Curva Nord Est…
A couple of points…
1) A standing area is a good thing, as Germany proves.
2) Give the club a break…its taken a long time to overcome official objections, the location was determined in the submissions. Make it work first then develop the best way to enlarge.
3) There is an implication seating destroyed the atmosphere at CP…strange I’m sure I was there in Wims season, Martins renewal, when Valencia came calling, or Barca or Man U or Lyon etc, etc.
HH
Just got tickets for the matches at St Mirren from the ticket office, seems to be only Main Stand tickets left…
TET
If I had known the “gardener” had been over my way yesterday, Pedrocaravanachio and me could have got our weeding done
HH
bawsman
09:17 on 10 June, 2015
Heard on the news this morning the vast majority of SPFL clubs are in favour of summer football, onlt 7 of the 42 were against.
To be debated.
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I hope the main topic of discussion is what the fans want… For too long it’s the interests of TV that takes precedence…
Robert88
09:16 on 10 June, 2015
I believe that will be an issue for them and that’s why they’ve done their best to hold up this certificate being granted.
Sanna
Reminds me of the book ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ :-)
Time for King to press his Low Density Supersonic Decelerator Button on his over infested plans for sevconia as Big Mikey is about to pull the ripcord on that parachute :))
Murdochauld….
“Low Density Supersonic Decelerator Button on his over infested plans for sevconia”…..
The line of the day and its only 9:44!
HH
yorkbhoy
09:38 on
10 June, 2015
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Since when has football been run for fans mate?
I’ve binned my two SB’s as 4 games a year at 3 on a Saturday is a poor return for £1100.
No way should the standing section be it the top tier. That’s just daft.
Either right front and centre of the jungle. Or behind the celiac end goal.
The corporates get enough as is.
Ht. Spooky. That was the title of the initial email that started the kano foundation 5 years ago. It was in homage to the BringingMartinHome campaign which , I think, was the first time the blog had dived into fundraising in a collective manner.
Regarding celtic park environs, as well as match day facilities, the club could look to provide affordable office /meeting space for various groups . Being selfish as we are looking for office/storage space. Arranged properly, ie upper floor of a 2 storey block with fan zones underneath , you could have a facility that is being used 12 days out of 14 .
Sanna
The original plans for a fan zone with food and drink outlets was knocked back because of the drink issue , Celtic then re submitted their plans without the drink licence section and were still knocked back but with a different reason given .
Safe Standing
Paul, if had to be on top tier, the stadium would require some Major structural work to strengthen the stand
I would go for North Stand Lower along front of 104/105/106, right in centre of pitch
alternatively
The section in behind goals of East Stand (visitors end) 113/114 & 115 as you see in European grounds, this would allow for the Family section to then be moved to where the Green Brigade are currently (111/112) kids already recognise this area and want to be in amongst this, so would help and support/ create encourage our next generation of fans being involved in supporting the team ( atmospherically :-))) no idea how the Polis would cope either
Oh, the new strip, we had one very similar previously ? Canny mind what season, but seeing Mark Reid wearing it, rings a bell ?
Hail Hail
A couple of decades out, there will be more demand for family and infirm sections, more demand for corporate and lounge facilities.
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Why, because people get older? Didn’t people always get older? Families and disabled supporters have seen great strides in their accomodation at football grounds, especially CP. The only ones who havent is the able bodied who want to stand.
Putting those who want to stand up out of sight isnt going to cut it – it has to be seen from TV as well like Borussia Dortmunds standing area – looks incredible.
The North stand is much much bigger than the old Jungle and cannot be held in comparison as the right place to put a new standing area. 109-113 is perfect.
HH
Hamiltontim
09:31 on
10 June, 2015
NatKnow
09:15 on 10 June, 2015
I believe that they’ve objected to the club setting up fan zones in the environs of the stadium and when Celtic have amended their plans, several times, a license has still been refused.
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Cheers dude – that makes sense since they could argue (wrongly) it’s to do with crowd control and safety. It strikes me that there are a lot of issues that the police are digging their heels in on in relation to Celtic’s efforts to create a better fan experience etc. All of fairly spurious grounds.
Kev J
BMCUWs nephew received an honours degree in engineering during the week, his sisters bhoy.
loving yer positivitey
Stand up for the CHAMPIONScsc
HT,
I saw your reply. Thanks for it. I expect you’re correct in your assessment. I just wonder if they would be as keen to support those who wish to stay seated as they have been for those who wish to stand.
dontbrattbakkinanger
09:11 on 10 June, 2015
Can I be the first to say I don’t like the new away kit?
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I’m sensing a pattern here ;)
HH
justafan
09:33 on
10 June, 2015
A couple of points…
1) A standing area is a good thing, as Germany proves.
2) Give the club a break…its taken a long time to overcome official objections, the location was determined in the submissions. Make it work first then develop the best way to enlarge.
3) There is an implication seating destroyed the atmosphere at CP…strange I’m sure I was there in Wims season, Martins renewal, when Valencia came calling, or Barca or Man U or Lyon etc, etc.
HH
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The atmosphere didn’t disappear overnight – it was a gradual process. But it did happen – the kind of Euo nights you mention were great but were the exception rather than the rule.
Hence the need for the formation firstly of the Jungle Bhoys then the Green Brigade, and other sporadic smaller groups.
The better the atmosphere and camaraderie the more likely young fans will be to keep going back as they get older.
HH
Can I be the first to say I don’t like the new safe standing area?
Cowiebhoy
1982-83 3rd strip is the nearest I can find
http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/teams/c/celtic/old-celtic-football-shirt-s18204.html
Parkheadcumsalford
09:55 on
10 June, 2015
HT,
I saw your reply. Thanks for it. I expect you’re correct in your assessment. I just wonder if they would be as keen to support those who wish to stay seated as they have been for those who wish to stand
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They are converting initially about 4% of the grounds capacity to cater for the significant number of fans who wish to stand – they are not going to make you stand – you will have a *choice*.
Previously, there was NO choice. Therein lies the problem.
so we are replacing an area that has a couple of thousand people standing with an area that will have a couple of thousand people standing
how will that improve the atmosphere?
Traditionalist88
Why I suggested
The section in behind goals of East Stand (visitors end) 113/114 & 115 as you see in European grounds, this would allow for the Family section to then be moved to where the Green Brigade are currently (111/112) kids already recognise this area and want to be in amongst this, so would help and support/ create encourage our next generation of fans being involved in supporting the team ( atmospherically :-)))
Also add in, think it was Lyon I noticed this (bobo hand ball game) add a wee stand / stage bit iat front of standing section, a different fan takes the lead with the songs and drums or even flag waving, fan involvement, all for it :-)))
Leftclicktic
That’s the one :-)
How’s the fit ?
Hail Hail
Oh and another thing….
When did we open a Dundee store???
RipvanwinkleCSC!!!
Following on from my earlier comment . If anyone is aware of office/storage space in Glasgow ( as ‘reasonable’ as possible) , I’d like to have a chat with them . Won’t be fussy about location if the price is right !
Sanna
The sect114 diehards ‘visitors’?
Next fholk will be sayin’ we’re the redheaded stepchildren of the ole Cellick support.
Cowiebhoy
Could have merit alright – I like the idea of it beginning in 109-110 and going through the curve around as far as the goal at that end – time will tell. Great news though and hopefully the start of something special for CP,
HH
I absolutely love the new kit!
Sanna- try again Friday; could be lots goin’ in ole G51 2XD.