The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Terrace to be replaced with rail seating
Posh have expressed their intention to install rail seats at the Weston Homes Stadium from the start of next season.
The new ‘safe standing’ section, which will consist of seats that can be put up or down to provide either allseater of all-standing accommodation, will take the place of the London Road End terrace, which Posh would not be able to keep for another Championship season.
Terraces have been long outlawed in the top two tiers of English football but clubs get three seasons of grace after promotion. Posh had already used up these seasons before promotion last season but gained an extension from the EFL for this season due to the pressure the pandemic put on the club’s finances.
The decision is now subject to the relevant safety approval and certification from the Sports Ground Safety Authority and the Safety Advisory Group but Posh would join both Shrewsbury and Wolves in installing the seats.
The seats have also been designed with the capability of being moved to a potential new stadium in the future as well. Safe standing trials have been taking place in England since September.
Mini-open days will be held in July, once the seating is in place, to allow fans the chance to choose their spot for the new campaign. Fans who will have already purchased their season ticket by that time will have the opportunity to choose their seat based on the order in which they brought their ticket.
Once they have chosen their seat, fans will then have first refusal to retain that seat year on year at renewal time.
Chief Executive David Paton said: “We have been in discussions with a company who specialise in rail seating and are really pleased that we are now at a point whereby we can confirm that this will be in place for the new season subject to approval from SGSA and SAG. We are in constant dialogue with them and are looking forward to completion of the project.
“Safe Standing is something that the football club have been involved with right from the start, visiting stadiums overseas to see how it is implemented and working with supporter groups. I know, from first hand conversations, that it will be welcomed by our supporters, and it is an important development for the club’s shortterm future.”