Kids under 30 won't have their go until we create the opportunity, until we bring back a standing Kop that enables a core of singing supporters to gather behind the goal. The Kop is part of our history and we should be at the forefront of reintroducing (safe) standing rather than dragging our feet. 20000 on the existing structure would be awesome and give us a 66000 capacity after the redevelopments.
There's lots of reasons why standing could be a good thing. More tickets available at more affordable prices. A younger and more vibrant crowd. Better sense of unity and purpose. Better support. For that, I'm all for it.
It might almost double the capacity of the Kop (on non- European nights). Making a 58,000 stadium into a 70,000 stadium. You could do it instead of an extended Andield Road End. Maybe 66,000.
There's the opportunity and there's the rub. On the one hand you could argue that lower prices on the kop would get in more people who might not otherwise be able to afford it and still both cover the cost and fill such a big stadium.
On the other, you could argue there's no more demand out there and there will be empty seats at a standing match because people don't want to pay to sit when they can pay less to stand.
An answer might be to have a greater proportion on General Sale and proportionately less Season Tickets.
This shift might already come about with the redevelopment by having more of the season tickets in the main stand and having less on the kop. That way a bigger pool of people would be able to get to the match and the atmosphere would be all the better for it.
