The club is grateful to their supporters who took the time to complete the recent survey on safe standing at the Amex.
Having carefully reviewed the results and comments, there are no immediate plans to convert seats in any part of the stadium, but the club remains open-minded to introducing safe standing in the future.
The club received 4,387 responses, of which 3,128 were season ticket holders – with the majority of participants aged between 18 and 64.
Crucially, 53% of participants said they did NOT wish to watch from the safe standing sections and feedback from North Stand STHs showed a small reduction to the percentage wanting to be situated in safe standing.
Of those responding 59% did say that they would like to see safe standing introduced at The Amex – but the majority (82%) of fans said they wouldn’t pay an increased season or match ticket price for safe standing.
Therefore, the club’s board has opted to prioritise near-term stadium investment on projects that will benefit the whole match-attending fan base — with board approval given for an upgraded fan zone and a new stadium sound system with both schemes designed to improve the overall match day experience.
Deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber explained, “The results of the recent fans’ survey sent out to both season-ticket holders and Albion+ members highlighted no increase in interest in safe standing from Albion fans and those wanting to stand remains a minority of the fan base.
“We are therefore prioritising our budget to upgrade and improve the pre-match fan zone on station approach - which, subject to planning permission, will include new food and drink options, big screens, seating areas, and access to toilets all under a large canopy - as well as improving the sound system inside the stadium bowl.
“Safe standing will remain on our agenda as part of the club’s longer-term stadium development plans but we will only install it if demand increases sufficiently to justify the investment required, and also when it’s possible to install for both home and away fans.
“We are currently considering reconfiguring the visiting supporters area in the south stand, and so we will re-visit the safe standing proposition once we have a fully costed and approved plan. This work won’t be complete until the 2024/25 season at the earliest.”