Safe Standing Could Reduce Capacity At Stadium Of Light

The Stadium of Light may have to limit attendance as a result of converting seating areas to safe standing.GETTY IMAGES

The number of fans allowed into League One side Sunderland's Stadium of Light on matchdays "could be decreased" if the stadium "were ever given permission for safe standing areas," according to the SUNDERLAND ECHO. An application to renew the ground’s safety certificate for the '18-19 season was approved by members of Sunderland City Council on Monday. This "set capacity at 48,339 for non-segregation games and 48,095 for segregated fixtures." But following a question on safe standing, members of the council's regulatory committee were told that by converting seating areas, "the number of fans may have to be limited." SCC Building Control Manager Paul Baxter said, "The safe standing they're trialing in other parts of the country is rail standing and it does reduce capacity" (SUNDERLAND ECHO, 7/2).