There is a fundamental misunderstanding here...´safe standing´is not ´lets increase capacity´ and more importantly retro fitting safe standing does no deliver oppurtunistic increase capacity.
The desire for safe standing arose when fans felt (rightly) that seating affected atmosphere/enjoyment...and seeing Germany ahead of the game building super large stadiums with safe standing inspired the momentum here...but clearly a hugely sensitive issue...but safe standing concept is now progressing well with Celtic achieving it...but its about safe standing. not increasing capacity.Celtic retro fitted part of the ground but to the German model. Their aim to create a better experiance for fans who wanted to watch the game standing. Not to increase the capacity of Celtic Park.
The engineering complexity of retro fitting the Kop ( based on current German/Celtic Model) may make it economically non viable especially as all the other enabaling works that would required...a new build Kop is a different concept but not one that is likely to happen.
The idea of 1.5/2 people per current seat/layout is a none starter simply becouse we go back to inital concept 'Safe Standing' squeezing everyone in 'cos we dont mind'' generally doesnt appear in legislation or building codes and if anyone think's Liverpool will build something that doesnt meet every single code to the max , well....
Plus do you really see the Kop increase capacity by 50%..a 100%..just think about it a bit.
Safe standing will deliver the ideal football experiance to many on the Kop ...but not all...and there in lies another issue...the Kop was and always has been an enviroment where old and young mixed ( some hog wash talked on RAWK about the past ...old guys went into the main stand, thats bollocks...they stood in the wings and at the back..with youngsters too)..safe standing may not be ideal for all....so what do you do then....have different sections on the Kop?
anyhoo I think its all moot...cant see any developments on this is forseable ...the desire for safe standing came about for a better atmosphere ..and we have achieved it...based on the German model...however they went for thousands standing...out atmosphere improved to the best in 30 years by just one German standing .....on the sidelines.
A clearer misconception is that old terracing was an uncontrolled situation. There were limits on numbers, size of step, angle of step, number and spacing of barriers etc. And all these limits are still in place for any stadium outside the top two divisions of football. There hasn’t been a time in recent times when it was ok to squeeze in as many as you could.
Oddly, the current configuration of the Kop could be made to comply with current regulation/guidance for standing - with or without ‘safe standing’ seats. Compared to others, it is at the very shallow angle suggested for standing by the Green Guide. The step size is 560-600mm, which can accommodate two steps of the minimum size of 280mm.
So any standing including safe standing could work in the current Kop’s basic configuration but there would be at least two limitations on capacity - the increased weight of more numbers on the structure and the increased number of exits required to meet updated regulations for escape times. Strengthening the structure would be possible, as would adding exits but together both would limit the opportunity to increase capacity and reduce prices/increase availability. That’s why you can’t get double the capacity and 1.8:1 is the accepted approximate number.
The Taylor Report recommended that the greater control offered by seating was safer and a more desirable experience for everyone. While the second part is debatable, it got it badly wrong by suggesting that only modest price increases would be needed and it didn’t really think about the effect on availability.
Also, the benefits have always been two-fold - not just better atmosphere but also potentially lower price/ greater availability and the two are closely related via capacity. You could write a book about changes in atmosphere but the atmosphere, spontaneity and camaraderie generated within a kop half the capacity of the old is at least... different. Certainly you’d have to say that a cheaper kop with greater numbers and hence availability tends to a stronger atmosphere. Double the numbers, double the noise.
It does indeed work in Germany and stands are more impressive. They are steeper and more intimidating and the numbers are huge. Dortmund’s stadium holds 80,000 on probably a footprint smaller than Old Trafford and the atmosphere generated by the Yellow Wall is pretty impressive.
Not only that but as a whole the club has moved from a time of near-extinction and living within its means into a period of sensible but ambitious expansion. From a period of spending next to nothing to a period of sensible but bold acquisition of young and talented players.
All told I believe the club is moving into a similar position on the stadium, where other things such as critical mass, greater availability and chutzpah are as important as strict financial return on every penny spent. Nothing outrageous. Just sensible incremental development.
The main stand has been approached with a good eye on improving corporate sales and the optimum financial return ie., the most financial bang per buck. While it has been more of a success than anyone expected, it has allowed the ARE to go ahead on more relaxed financial terms and a stronger eye on availability.
Extending the Kop for a few 100 or a 1,000 seats is probably not worth the return or marginal benefit in atmosphere, as discussed here many times. Making it standing does more but as said, we already have a standing Kop. Whether it is safe or not is another matter. It certainly wasn’t designed to be standing.
Redeveloping the centenary stand might come before a better Kop and safe standing can already be integrated in the Kop as is but if you want a properly safe, safe standing Kop with better, steeper views, better atmosphere, potentially lower prices and bigger ‘presence’, it may be just as well to consider re-building it - especially at a time when the club can afford a relatively modest investment in the longevity of its own success and give the fans what is clearly wanted.
