Club 1872 held a very positive and constructive meeting with representatives from the Union Bears last week to discuss the issue of safe standing and how to take the matter forward. We updated the Union Bears on our discussions with Rangers on this topic and of the progress to date.
A feasibility study has already been completed by Rangers and is being examined by them. The next step will be to collect indicative quotes for the installation of safe standing in various potential areas within Ibrox. We plan to work closely with both the Union Bears and the club in the coming months to ensure that any progress is communicated to all stakeholders during the evaluation process.
It is important to note that there is a programme of rolling improvements to Ibrox which we understand must be Rangers’ priority. However, all parties are keen to accelerate improvements to the match day experience where possible. We are particularly keen to assist the Union Bears, The Blue Order and those RSCs who have expressed support for safe standing in helping to ensure a loud, intimidating and positive atmosphere at our home matches.
We understand the positivity around creating some capacity for safe standing within Ibrox and the potential benefits that could bring to the match day atmosphere, but it is important that we acknowledge the interests of all supporters. We have to be mindful, for example, of the needs of disabled supporters and those who have held season tickets for many years in areas of the stadium where safe standing might be installed. We must also be aware of the memory of the Ibrox disaster and how that memory could impact any move away from an all seated stadium at Ibrox. That said, we do understand the positive case that can be put forward for safe standing and it is something we wish to explore and present to members.
Whilst we wait on costing and feasibility information from Rangers, we hope to be able to collect details from supporters – particularly existing season ticket holders – who would be interested in being located in a safe standing section. We will liaise with Rangers and the Union Bears on how best to do this and will inform supporters of how they can register their interest in the near future. We would also like to undertake a more general survey on the match day experience and will be taking that forward with the club.
This entire process will take a significant amount of time and our understanding is that there is no prospect of safe standing being put in place prior to the start of next season. We want to make that clear to manage the expectations of all supporters.
Should supporters wish to assist Club 1872 in these efforts, we would encourage them to join – both to help with any fundraising and to ensure they can vote on this matter when it is put to members. Club 1872 will always be led by the wishes of its members and when all the required information has been collected it will be presented to them in order that they can decide whether or not to support the proposal.
Issued by Supporters Voice Limited, a Club 1872 company
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