Stand Up Sit Down

FOOTBALL FANS CENSUS STAND UP SIT DOWN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An overview of football fans' attitudes towards the ‘Stand Up Sit Down' campaign
SURVEY SPONSORED BY DATACOACH™SOFTWARE COACHING TOOLS

The “Stand Up Sit Down?” Survey was run by the Football Fans Census to gauge fans attitudes towards the ‘Stand Up Sit Down' campaign. The campaign, initiated by a group of West Ham United fans, is a reaction to the continued conflict between the current regulations prohibiting standing at all-seater football stadia and the wishes of some fans to stand up. The ‘Stand Up Sit Down' campaign proposes the creation of different areas within grounds:

1. 'Stand Up' areas where supporters will be allowed to stand in front of their seats - provided that reasonable safety standards are met and that supporters keep to a Code of Conduct, covering issues such as keeping gangways clear. The designation of standing areas would initially be subject to a trial period.

2. Maintaining current 'Sit Down' areas for supporters wishing to sit down and watch a game unobstructed by people standing up. The campaign represents a potential compromise agreement which aims to work with football supporters, clubs and safety authorities, to achieve what the campaigners describe as a “common sense” solution to the issue of standing at all-seater football stadia, for the benefit of all concerned.

1. A SELECTION OF KEY FINDINGS

Respondents overall believed that the creation of separate 'Stand Up' and 'Sit Down' areas inside all-seater stadia would have a positive effect on attendances, views during the game and the overall match-day experience and a marginally negative effect on spectator safety, crowd trouble and hooliganism.

Overall, respondents were positive to the “Stand Up Sit Down” campaign but would prefer the introduction of Safe Standing terracing as a solution to the current problems of persistent standing in all-seater stadia.

Overall, 88% of respondents said separate 'Stand Up' and 'Sit Down' areas should be created in grounds – 24% feeling it should be mandatory

If the authorities allowed it, the most popular percentile range of a ground's capacity being allocated a ‘Stand Up' area is 11-20%

78% feel, overall, the introduction of ‘Stand Up' areas would make the match-day experience more enjoyable, 7% feel it would make it less enjoyable

44% of respondents would buy a ticket for a ‘Stand Up' area all the time IF going to a match

Overall, more respondents (17%) feel introducing ‘Stand Up' areas would make the situation worse regarding crowd trouble and hooliganism than feel it would improve the situation (12%) but 67% feel it wouldn't make any difference

22% feel introducing ‘Stand Up' areas would make it more unsafe for spectators, 21% feel it would improve spectator safety but 54% feel it wouldn't make any difference

33% feel introducing ‘Stand Up' areas would improve their view during a match, 18% feel it would make their view worse but 47% feel it wouldn't make any difference

With regard to the issue of standing at football in all-seater stadia only 8% of supporters are happy with the current situation. Most, 65%, would rather see the introduction of modern terraced areas as proposed by another campaign (Safe Standing), whereas 22% see the ‘Stand Up Sit Down' solution as a better alternative

Out of the Government / DCMS, local authorities, individual clubs and supporters, 47% of respondents believed clubs should have the most power when it comes to deciding whether or not grounds should include separate 'Stand Up' and 'Sit Down' areas

In terms of the issue as a whole, respondents under 35 are generally more positive towards the ‘Stand Up Sit Down' campaign than those 35 or over

In terms of the issue as a whole, respondents generally exhibit the same views regardless of match attendance levels or the division in which the club they support resides. However, any concerns about what impact ‘Stand Up' areas might have on safety, crowd trouble and hooliganism tend to diminish the higher respondents match attendance levels. Non-attendees are the most concerned whereas season ticket holders feel their introduction would have a marginally positive impact

All demographic groups, overall, stated they were likely to attend more matches if ‘Stand Up' areas were introduced. There was a particularly strong sentiment for those attending between 1 and 20 matches per season compared to those who never attend matches and season-ticket holders indicating the introduction of ‘Stand Up' areas could have a more positive impact on attendance amongst supporters with a more elastic demand for attending games

2. THE SURVEY SAMPLE

The survey consists of the views of 1502 on-line football fans - predominantly match attendees with a strong representation (55%) of season-ticket holders but still displaying a good distribution from those fans who attend a few matches to those attending no more than 20 games per season

Each age range between those 16 and 55 were well represented, the survey respondents were predominantly male and there was wide geographical participation

In all fans of over 115 clubs were represented. Respondents were primarily made up of Premiership and Championship clubs as the issue affects clubs in these divisions to a greater degree - they are required to have all-seater stadia and do not provide standing areas for those who wish to stand

The survey was conducted online between 08/11/2004 and 15/11/2004 and was open to all football fans

A note on adjustments. The FFC have in place a series of controls to ensure that our football supporter survey samples are representative and not weighted towards the views of a particular pressure group on one side of a particular argument. The ‘Stand Up, Sit Down' campaign has received significant promotion from the West Ham United Fanzine “Knees Up Mother Brown” and there was a particularly high percentage of West Ham fans participating in the survey, demonstrating above average support for the proposals. Although the effect on the overall results is small, the figures used for our analysis have been adjusted to factor out any sampling bias that this may have created. We thank all supporters for taking part in the survey and sharing their views

3. THE FULL REPORT

The full 53 page report is available for download free of charge until January 31st 2005 to all Football Fans Census Reward Card members. The FFC Reward Card is completely free; simply go to www.ffc.reward.tv to register and get your free copy of the report from the “Online Offers” section. The Reward Card is a loyalty scheme rewarding you for filling in FFC surveys and also giving you discounts on football and other products purchased through online and high street retailers.