A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers is pushing to make its new home in Parramatta the "first stadium in Australia to have a dedicated standing end for active supporters, but must first reach an agreement with National Rugby League club Parramatta Eels," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. By '19, the new 30,000 capacity stadium in Parramatta could "become the envy of all A-League clubs by including two permanent standing bays for the Wanderers' vocal supporter group, the Red and Black Bloc." In the club's submission for the new stadium, the Wanderers "requested up to 1,000 safe standing seats to be installed to accommodate their passionate fans in a major step in Australian venues catering for football's needs." Under the Wanderers proposal, "removable seats, or those that can be securely stored inside metal frames, would be installed in the new northern end of the stadium." The most likely form of safe standing seating will be the German-style "rail seating" that allows seats to be bolted away for standing areas and easily installed for seating. Parramatta is "very supportive of the concept but will not accept any seating plan that would restrict the view of patrons who prefer to sit down." Both ends behind the goals of the current Pirtek Stadium are "ticketed as family ends by the Eels, whose initial plans are likely to retain the same designated areas in the new stadium" (SMH, 1/18).
