Standing at the Emirates is a major safety concern
In a bid to quell the raucous, euphoric atmosphere at The Emirates, Arsenal have sent an email to their members to remind them what their seats are for:
Ahead of the new season, we just wanted to take this opportunity to explain our policy concerning standing in the seated areas at Emirates Stadium.
We do understand that many of you want to show your support and urge the team on - and we have no objection to people standing in order to see a particular move or at crucial points in the game. However, in one or two sections of the stadium, it is becoming increasingly apparent that supporters have been standing throughout some of the matches.
[…] If just one person falls over when there are many standing, this can cause a ‘domino effect’ to occur, and many people could suffer injury as a result.
The health & safety police make an excellent point about the dangers of prolonged standing. Just last week, I was waiting at a bus stop when the ‘domino effect’ sent scores of us helplessly into the road. The horror.
It’s fair enough that fans shouldn’t stand for the whole match in the family block or in front of the disabled zone, but asking those behind the goal to sit down when they pay through the nose for the privilege to occasionally sing when they get a corner of showing their passion seems a little ridiculous.
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16 responses so far
1 Josh // Jul 21, 2008 at 2:46 pm
its disgusing the way that arsenal football club acts towards the very people who make a matchday feel like our home games. if they had their way theyd have everyone sitting in their seats the whole game. its completely killing the very little atmosphere we have at arsenal (which is scarce enough!). we all know that this is solely aimed at the REDaction section, which is unsuprisingly the one place where all the players go to after the game. and why? because the players want everyone in the stadium to act in that same manner. but instead of encouraging this, the club tells the very few to sit down. its just such an indicator of how out of touch the club is with football with respect to crowds. dont they understand that liverpool probably wouldnt have won half of what they have in recent times because of their support. so in a way, Arsenal football club have today just further diminished our chances of winning a trophy, along with reducing the matchday experience of the true supporters who arent scared to stand up and be counted when surrounded by a bunch of salmon bagel eating opera goers who only support arsenal because of the style of football we play, not because of a love for the club. because if you loved the club, youd wanna give us the best chance of winning a game. and sitting there silently for 90 minutes is reducing our probability of winning, plus its putting our club to shame as visiting supporters mock our deadly silent ‘libabrary’ style atmosphere. ive got a season ticket and have had to move to the REDaction section on numerous occasions because people have physically pulled my jacket down to stop me from standing and singing! so now where do the minority who want to revitalise the atmosphere experienced on matchdays go to do so? they get people sending complaint texts against them on our new matchday complaint text service! makes me never want to return to that stadium ever again…
2 jgjhgfs // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Yes, it is disappointing that they have said this. But i feel that it is only directed to the people who stand for the majority of the game when it is not entirely necessary.
It seems it occurs in the lower corners of the game - i.e. the family enclosure. This where the kids sit and if their views are blocked by inconsiderate grown-ups then that is more of a shame than anything!
I remember missing alot when i was younger back at highbury.
3 Julian H // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Good post. The police and stewards seemed to have backed off a bit last season in their absurd efforts to stop people committing the gross crime of standing up. Maybe the e-mail portends greater efforts next season. If so I look forward to nine months of being distracted from supporting my team by a bunch of luminous-jacketed lackeys attempting in vain impose this crap.
4 rosey // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I sit in the Red Action section of the stadium and if the club enforce this to the letter of the law, I will hand in my season ticket at the end of the year. I am sick of how true fans are treated in order to pacify fans that will not be there as soon as we finish out of the top 4. I feel that all true fans should make this stance and see where the club ends up in 5 years without our support, it is an absolute joke. The club says on one hand that it wants the fans to get behind the team, then on the other it is asking for a fully seated stadium and unfortunately the 2 do not go hand in hand. Time for the club to decide exactly what it wants. BTW safety is the lamest excuse for enforcing the wants of the few.
5 AvP // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:25 pm
they just need a standing section, pretty easy to put into action really
6 Upminster Iron // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I don’t think the law allows a standing section anymore though AvP although I agree it would make much more sense than forcing people who want to stand to sit down.
7 TMC // Jul 21, 2008 at 3:40 pm
This article is filled with anti-arsenal sentiment. How would you feel paying crazy money for a game and someone stands directly in front of you for 90minutes. Then you have to stand and you have a 60,000 seater stadium with everyone standing. The club have to be show to discourage. There’s too many nonsense article slike this on the net about Arsenal.
8 vixen // Jul 21, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I can see both points. I’ve been ill for a while and can’t stand for long periods. I stand for corners and goals but it can get frustrating when the people in front of me stand for long periods and I can’t see things - it is a domino effect. I’m sure I’m not the only one in this position. I can see the safety aspect also - accidents can happen very quickly. I also appreciate the fans frustration who feel that the atmosphere is better if they stand. Although the noise level is better now, maybe it needs to be more sustained and organised - its still too quiet for long periods and in certain sections. I’m sure it could be organised somehow - I know our section has some good vocalists - mind you we still sing ‘We’re the North end Highbury’ and need current chants!
Looking forward to the new season already now.
9 Josh // Jul 21, 2008 at 5:33 pm
TMC, your an idiot. how on earth is this a nonsense article? its about the only piece which allows both sides of a very important arguement to discuss their relative viewpoints on a renewed stance taken by our football club with regards to our behavious within the stadium. the stupid thing about this whole thing is that REDaction was created to counteract our percieved atmosphere deficiencies. now that was arranged in conjunction with Arsenal fc, who actually fund some of REDactions initiatives. so why are they then punishing such people for doing what they said all along they were going to do. i know a load of season ticket holders, myself included, who’d give their left testicle to move their season ticket to that section, whereas there seems to be some people who would rather not be in that section due to their preference to sit down. Instead of punishing the only people who are actually making a difference by telling them to sit down due to the minority whom are either unable to do so, or those whom simply have a carrot stuck up their arse, why doesnt the club move people season tickets around to counteract such a problem. id be at the front of the queue to move to that section and in actual fact, it would make a larger section with a good atmosphere and therefore would make our support louder since those who want to make some noise and stand (or jump up) for the arsenal wouldnt have to do so nkowing they will have some old git telling them to sit down, be it steward or supporter.
10 jimbo // Jul 21, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I’ve been an attending arsenal supporter since I was 9,I am now 68.I’am a season ticket holder in the west stand of both stadiums and have had that privalage since 1956. so not a newcomer.they are the ones that stand up! when standing was abolished I noticed that standing became more of a problem in the seated areas.I dont need to be orchestrated by stand ups or forced to stand which is especially noticable at away games.The best atmosphere I have had was at the fairs cup final in the late 60s.nobody standing then eccept of course after a goal! which is fine.If you really want to stand go over to Barnet fc they need you I dont !by the way I’m working class and only eat cheese beigels and I’m C of E.
11 Josh // Jul 21, 2008 at 6:21 pm
some things may have changed in your time then old boy. theres no top hats and rattles nowdays. by pointing out that an atmosphere can be attaned without standing up is one thing. however the modern day reality of it is this. those who make the noise at the emirates stadium are those who find it 1) frustrating sitting for when they sing songs, and 2) far from the release of lifes stresses that football can be if you are constantly told to sit down. if arsenal want to drive away all those making the noise and leave us with a stadium full of pensioners, then they can be my guest. its a sorry state of affairs that fans feel that the only place that they can properly support their team is on away games…
12 jimbo // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Josh ,sorry but I go to see good football not to get treatment!……. O’ to be young and ignorant again.
13 Matt // Jul 21, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Josh, have some respect for you elders. This man has no doubtedly been a gooner for a lot longer that you have.
I go to games with my grandad who is quite old now and has problems with his back so he can stand for prolonged periods. Luckily for us the people in our block have respect for eachother and sit when the game is not at crucial times. However, we still generate a lot of atmosphere where we are (lower blue).
As you said in your first post, this article is directed towards the RedAction section and if it is I whole heartedly agree. They seem to stand just to prove that they can. As if standing makes them more important to the club whereas in fact we are all equally important, from club level to one game a season red members.
If the club tell you to sit then you have two options: Sit or go and support another club because to honest Josh, after reading some of your posts, I’d rather you sod off down seven sisters and support those who we do not mention.
14 Daily Dose 07.21.08 | The Offside // Jul 22, 2008 at 2:33 am
[…] […] If just one person falls over when there are many standing, this can cause a ‘domino effect’ to occur, and many people could suffer injury as a result. (The Spoiler) […]
15 jimbo // Jul 22, 2008 at 8:43 am
Thanks for that Matt.fortunately I’m fairly fit.My faith in youth has been restored….
16 Gooner89 // Jul 22, 2008 at 2:49 pm
stand up if you hate tottenham…oh, its not really a good time is it!