Safe-Standing: Could Nottingham Forest Be Next to Introduce It?
Nottingham Forest, the Championship club, is considering the introduction of safe-standing for the upcoming season. The club is exploring potential areas in the City Ground in consultation with the newly established fans’ advisory board (FAB) and safety advisory group (SAG). This move comes as almost half of the Premier League clubs have already implemented safe-standing, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Brentford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Luton Town. Burnley and Aston Villa are also among the clubs planning to introduce it.
Forest chairman Tom Cartledge expressed the club’s support for safe-standing, stating that they are working with FAB and SAG to determine the optimum location for implementation. While the lower tier of the Bridgford Stand is one area under consideration, the plans need to take into account other ongoing projects such as the replacement of the Peter Taylor Stand and the addition of more seats to increase the stadium’s capacity to 40,000.
One potential area for a rail-seat development could be the corner of the Peter Taylor Stand nearest to the Bridgford Stand. However, the club needs to weigh the substantial cost of changing this section considering the possibility of knocking down the stand within a year. Forest has previously discussed safe-standing with Forza Garibaldi, a fans’ group known for improving the atmosphere at home games. Forza has been supportive of the idea since 2012 and believes that Forest should be at the forefront of this development.
The club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, aims to complete the new-look City Ground by the end of 2027 and is ready to fund the entire project. Forest is also close to acquiring land for a new training ground and plans to open a museum in the Trent End. However, these developments are contingent on resolving an issue with Nottingham City Council, which owns the land the stadium sits on. The council is seeking to extend the lease or allow the club to buy the freehold, requiring Forest to increase their annual payment of £250,000.
In 2017, Forest’s supporters’ trust successfully registered the City Ground as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), granting fans a say if the stadium were to be put up for sale. However, the ACV is no longer in effect as the trust chose not to renew the agreement. Talks between Forest and the council have reached an impasse, further complicated by the council’s declaration of bankruptcy in November.
Overall, Nottingham Forest’s potential introduction of safe-standing reflects the growing trend among English clubs to enhance the matchday experience for fans. As discussions progress, Forest fans eagerly anticipate the opportunity to stand and support their team in a new and improved City Ground.