The owner of English League One football club Bristol Rovers has said he would be “very interested” in introducing a safe-standing area at the Memorial Stadium as part of the ground’s renovation.
Wael Al-Qadi last week confirmed that the club would look at options to redevelop the 12,300-seat stadium after plans to move into a new home were scrapped.
Rovers had hoped to build a new 21,000-capacity stadium at the University of West of England (UWE).
The club had been working on the plans with supermarket chain Sainsbury’s and the wider project was also set to include building a new store and redeveloping the Memorial Stadium.
However, after Sainsbury’s pulled out of the project after a number of delays and local opposition to the plans, the club confirmed it was unable to reach a final agreement for the plans and subsequently signalled its intention to redevelop its current home.
Al-Qadi has now said he would be keen on including a new safe-standing area at the ground. “You have safe standing now being revisited and I’m very interested in that,” he told BBC Points West.
“I’m very interested in creating a stadium that’s very cosy, where fans can create a good atmosphere.”
Fellow League One club Shrewsbury Town recently announced plans to introduce safe standing at its Greenhouse Meadow home ground. The 10,000-capacity stadium is currently all-seater, but the club has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for rail seating to be fitted.
Image: Chris Clements / Kafuffle
Share this