Manchester United keen to conduct rail seating trials at Old Trafford

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United are keen to hold trials of rail seating at Old Trafford should the current season be completed.

The club was engaged in talks with Trafford council regarding the trial of rail seating that would allow a safe standing facility at the Theatre of Dreams.

These talks were held prior to the coronavirus pandemic and are said to be positive.

United had intended to conduct trials over the course of the season. With football currently suspended, those plans have been put on hold. The intention is to move ahead with it once the season commences.

Both the club and the council are aware that any such decision will depend not only on the curtailment of current government restrictions but also the backing of fans.

Rail seating will allow supporters to stand against a barrier whilst watching games in the hope that this would improve safety in the area where there is persistent standing.

Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers have already installed the facility at their stadiums.

The rail seating will be located in the North East Quadrant of Old Trafford and will accommodate 1500 supporters. (h/t Daily Mail)

Standing was outlawed in the top two divisions following the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) compiled a report on their season-long study on the safety risks of standing in stadiums. (h/t Daily Mail)

The findings reveal that the installation of barriers in seated areas at football grounds ‘mitigated the risk of crowd collapse’.

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A number of hard lessons were learned following the Hillsborough disaster. To see the club make a decision taking into consideration the safety of the spectators is a welcome move.