The Football Fans Census

Safe Standing (1,720 Respondents)

The FFU surveyed its members concerning a Safe Standing campaign that is championing the return of terracing to football stadiums – not the large, old-style open terraces but small, specially-designed areas utilising the latest engineering technology. The campaign has received support through the Football Spectators Bill which aims to remove the power to designate Premier League and First Division football stadia as all-seater from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to clubs, supporters and local authorities instead. Construction of safe-standing areas would, therefore, be allowed but not mandatory.

Survey Questions and Results - Overview

In terms of choice a resounding 90% of respondents felt fans should be given the freedom to choose whether they stand in safe-standing areas. Of the respondents 24% felt safe-standing areas should be mandatory. With regard to who has the power to decide, 66% of fans said it should be decentralised and left to the clubs or local authorities with only 11% feeling that the decision should rest with the Government – as is currently the case.

In terms of the match-day experience, almost half of the respondents would buy a safe-standing ticket all the time if going to a match. More than half of the respondents said the introduction of these areas wouldn’t affect crowd trouble or spectator safety. A large majority (80%) felt the existence of safe-standing areas would make their overall match-day experience more enjoyable. Only 1% of fans would go to fewer matches if safe-standing areas were introduced.

Read fans comments here

Q1. Should fans be given the freedom to choose whether they stand (in safe-standing areas) or sit inside football grounds?

Yes 90%

No 09%

Don't Know 01%

Q2. Should safe-standing areas be allowed in grounds?

Yes - it should be mandatory 24%

Yes - the option should be allowed 66%

No - safe-standing shouldn’t be allowed 09%

Don't know 01%

Q3. If clubs went ahead with it, what percentage of a ground’s capacity should be allocated a safe-standing area?

Over 35% 18%

21- 35% 38%

11-20% 26%

10% or less 12%

Don't Know 06%

Q4. Who should have the power to decide whether or not grounds should include safe-standing areas?

Government/ Dept of Culture, Media & Sport 11%

Local authorities – councils and police 22%

Individual clubs 44%

Supporters 20%

Don’t know 03%

Q5. If there was a safe-standing area in your ground how often would you buy a standing ticket IF going to a match?

All the time 48%

More often than not 23%

Occasionally 13%

Never 14%

Don't Know 02%

Q6. How would the introduction of safe-standing areas affect your match attendance?

I’d go to a lot more matches
16%

I’d go to a few more matches 12%

Wouldn’t affect my attendance 70%

I’d go to a few less matches 00%

I’d go to many less matches 01%

Don't Know 01%

Q7. What effect would the introduction of safe-standing have on crowd trouble and hooliganism?

Would improve the situation a lot 03%

Would improve the situation slightly 06%

Wouldn’t make any difference 66%

Would make the situation slightly worse 14%

Would make the situation significantly worse 06%

Don’t know 05%

Q8. What effect would the introduction of safe-standing have on spectator safety?

Would improve safety a lot 07%

Would improve safety slightly 15%

Wouldn’t make any difference 54%

Would make it slightly more unsafe 06%

Would make it significantly more unsafe 03%

Don't know 02%

Q9. What effect would the introduction of safe-standing have on your view during the match?

Would improve it a lot 20%

Would improve it slightly 17%

Wouldn’t make any difference 42%

Would make it slightly worse 14%

Would make it significantly worse 04%

Don’t know 03%

Q10. Overall, what effect would the introduction of safe-standing have on your match-day experience?

Would make it a lot more enjoyable 60%

Would make it slightly more enjoyable 20%

Wouldn’t make any difference 13%

Would make it slightly less enjoyable 03%

Would make it significantly less enjoyable 03%

Don't know 01%