Work has this week begun at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium to install independent safe standing barriers.
The club confirmed at a Supporters’ Charter Group meeting earlier this year that it was involved in detailed discussions with the relevant authorities with a view to implementing safe standing areas, in a phased approach, and progress was being made towards achieving this goal.
Following sign-off at a recent Board Meeting, work is now underway and is due to conclude over the next two weeks.
The independent barriers are to be fitted in the entire upper tier of the South Stand, as well as the upper section of the South East Corner for visiting supporters, working out at 2,767 and 2,341 spaces respectively and 5,108 in total.
The existing seats will remain in place in the selected areas and the independent barriers are simply an addition to the current set-up and should not be confused with rail seats.
They are set to be in working operation for the first time when Derby host Wycombe Wanderers in Sky Bet League One on Saturday 16th December (3pm kick-off).
Once the independent barriers are in place, the club will be able to apply for and be granted a Safe Standing Licence and club officials have been in close dialogue with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority sfor some time to ensure the necessary steps have been taken meet the required criteria.
Safe standing areas are licensed by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and fans must be able to sit or stand, while the seats cannot be locked in the 'up' or 'down' position. There must also be one seat/space per person and licensed safe standing areas must not impact the viewing standards of other fans, including disabled supporters.
Stewards and staff will be briefed and additionally trained to ensure that only relevant ticket holders are admitted to the licensed safe standing areas. In addition, CCTV will offer full coverage of the licensed standing areas to be closely monitored.
Season Ticket Holders impacted by the installation of the independent barriers will be contacted directly via the email address registered to their Fan ID ahead of the fixture against Wycombe Wanderers.
Supporters in the licensed standing area will be required to follow a Code of Conduct and continue to adhere to Derby County’s ground regulations. Further details will be made available to supporters ahead of the Wycombe fixture.
The installation is being managed by GL events UK Ltd, specialist stadia division, Stadia by GL events, who sit at the forefront of the stadium infrastructure market, supplying and project managing everything from general admission seating, safe standing, VIP and dugout seating and modular stands, to full stand and stadium design and build. Stadia by GL events lists the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United as clients.
More details in relation to the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s licensed standing at football grounds can be found at: sgsa.org.uk/licensedstanding.