It’s coming!
With the publication by LCFC of the minutes of the Fans Advisory Board meeting on 16 October 2024 we can now let you have more information about the plans that aim to have safe standing at the King Power Stadium for the start of the 2025/26 season.
It is intended that the type of safe standing will be barriers placed in front of existing seats.
The minutes of the FAB meeting set out the timetable LCFC intend to follow. The key elements are:
November 2024
- Options for locating the barriers will be considered.
- Discussions with the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SAGA) about the proposed use of independents rails being used in the chosen parts of the ground.
- Following discussion with SAGA the club will then need to engage with the local authority.
December 2024
- Fan consultation and implications to current seating locations
- Confirm costs and implications to other stadium users and how to mitigate those implications
- Confirmation of a supplier able to install independent barriers during the close season in summer 2025.
February 2025
- Decision on the installation of independent barriers and the timing.
- Fans Advisory Board updated.
We have been collaborating with Union FS in their campaign for the introduction of Safe Standing at the King Power Stadium, regarding proposals to the club on different options as to where safe standing should be located in Home areas.
Those options are:
- Option 1 – Safe standing across the whole of the Spion Kop, SK1 to SK4 inclusive, a capacity of 7200.
- Option 2 – Safe standing across the whole of the upper part of the Spion Kop with rails fitted in front of all seats from the vomitories upwards. This will enable fans below that level to remain in a fully seated area. The area above will provide safe standing for around 4000 home supporters.
- Option 3 – SK1 and G1 corner. This will cover three blocks and provide safe standing for approximately 2500 home supporters.
- Option 4 – An enlarged area in the SK1/G1/G2 corner covering five blocks and accommodating around 3000-3500 home supporters.
Option 1 would replicate what has been carried out at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium, for those that recently visited there.
We will be monitoring developments (and deadlines) and hope to see plenty of engagement between the club and supporters, and supporter groups, before a final decision is made.
You can see the full minutes of the FAB meeting in which Safe Standing was discussed here – FAB Minutes 16 October 2024
Also see LCFC’s announcement about the safe standing evaluation published 1 November 2024.
Why does the Foxes Trust support safe standing at the King Power Stadium
Fifty-eight percent of Foxes Trust members taking part in our end of season survey said they wanted safe standing at the King Power Stadium and another 30% said they would support it depending on where it was located, indicating an overall support approaching 90% of our membership.
In addition, the survey carried out with non-Trust members also showed a majority in favour of implementing safe standing.
You can read more about the different forms of safe standing in the following links:
- Sports Grounds Safety Authority – Seats incorporating barriers and seats with independent barriers – https://sgsa.org.uk/physical-factors/spectator-accommodation/seats-with-barriers/
- Improvements at Southampton – Changes for 2024/25 | Southampton FC Official Site – see more about their installation of barriers in front of existing seats.
- How ‘rail seating’ is different to seats with independent barriers. See this video from Liverpool FC showing the seats being part of the ‘rail’ structure – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBk8UJNthKs
- Different forms of rail seating trialled at Molineux – https://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/news/latest-news/wolves-first-pl-club-with-rail-seats