Rovers CEO explains cut in capacity
THE capacity of the Memorial Stadium has been reduced to less than 10,000, Bristol Rovers CEO Tom Gorringe has confirmed, with the club deciding to decrease the numbers allowed inside the ground.
Gorringe wrote in his programme notes at the weekend that the capacity of the Mem for this season is 9,832. The ground has a licensed capacity of 10,538 following reductions ordered by the authorities, and the club has chosen to decrease that further to improve safety and security arrangements.
The Mem has hosted crowds in excess of 12,000 in recent years, but that number has gradually reduced.
Since the Covid pandemic brought safety in stadiums into greater focus, stronger enforcement of EFL guidelines from authorities regarding pitch-level standing has been in place, and yellow hash marks were painted at the bottom of the terraces to prevent supporters from standing there.
Gorringe has confirmed Rovers have taken steps of their own that have reduced the capacity of the Mem, but he says these have been done to improve the experience of supporters.
He says the club can better police yellow steps on the terraces to ensure comfort, and it is now easier for fans to navigate around the stadium.
The pitch invasions against Forest Green and Scunthorpe at the end of last season’s run to promotion, which prompted sanctions by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) including a temporary reduction of the capacity of the Thatchers Terrace at the start of this season, have also been considered to ensure such incidents are easier to manage should they occur in future.
Gorringe wrote in his programme notes: “I am aware that, in the past, the club has had attendances at the Mem in excess of 12,000; however, when our current safety officer joined us during Covid we had a maximum licensed capacity of 11,796.
“Consideration of the latest EFL guidance was also reviewed. This resulted in the removal of the frontlevel standing areas of the North, East and North West terraces. This review produced a new capacity of 10,538, which is the current licensed capacity.
“Following the issue of the revised official stadium capacity, the club has taken the decision to introduce its own reduction on the terraces. As all fans will be aware, at the start of this season, we received a capacity reduction due to incidents at the end of last season, so these actions were required to mitigate future sanctions. This action resulted in a maximum capacity of 9,832.
“Further to this, capacity is lost with the segregation areas on the East Terrace and the South Stand that vary on a match-by-match basis, depending on how the stadium is configured for the fixture to accommodate the varying numbers of visiting supporters.”