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Can safe standing increase capacity?
Stand gradients
The Green Guide also requires that the gradient of standing areas in stadia where these are allowed does not exceed 25 degrees. A number of German stadia using rail seats currently do so in areas of the ground with gradients of 15.3, 21.3 and 24 degrees (as pictured here in the 'away' fans section of the Rhein Neckar Arena, home of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany). Installation of rail seats in compliance with Green Guide gradient limits is thus clearly possible (see also).
Standing to seating ratios
The Green Guide also compares the amount of space required for seated and standing spectators respectively. As a guide for the lower leagues where standing areas are permitted, it specifies a ratio of 18 standing fans for every 10 spectators in seats. At many grounds in Germany the ratio is similar (2:1 at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart, for instance). Working on the basis even of the current Green Guide ratio, stadium capacities could thus be increased as shown below by installing rail seats for standing spectators in areas currently used for seating.
And with higher capacities, potential gate receipts could naturally also be increased. The example below shows how this might work out if standing spaces were priced at a discount of, for instance £10 from the seat price.
For example (assuming 10% of a 40,000 all-seater stadium is converted to standing):
4,000 x seated fans at (say) £30 per ticket = £120,000
7,200 x standing fans at (say) £20 per ticket = £144,000
Potential extra gate revenue per game = £24,000
Potential extra gate revenue over a notional 20-game season = £480,000
Potential total extra revenue (including expenditure on drinks etc.) = £1,022,000
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