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Leading stadium and auditorium seating manufacturers Ferco Seating Systems Ltd have installed the first-ever block of 'rail seats' in the UK. Unveiled today at Bristol City's Ashton Gate Stadium, the block of 30 seats will be used to demonstrate the versatility of Ferco's RailSeat product, which enables designated sections of sports stadia to be used for standing fans, while on other occasions reverting to seats.
The installation at Ashton Gate comes as the stadium prepares to host regular rugby matches as of this August, from which date Bristol City's home will become home to Bristol Rugby Club as well. As over half of the latter’s supporters choose to stand at games staged at their current ground across the city, the aim is to continue offering this option at Ashton Gate by utilising Ferco's RailSeats, as Ferco Seating System's managing director, Michael Burnett explained: "The RailSeat offers the ideal solution for Ashton Gate, where there is a desire to give rugby fans a continued choice of seated or standing accommodation, while under current regulations the ground has to remain in all-seater configuration for football games. The rails incorporated into the frame of every seat and thus running the full length of each row will mean that all standing rugby fans have a means of supporting themselves at moments of excitement, while the fold-down seats will keep the stadium licence compliant for Bristol City matches."
The demonstration block of seats was officially unveiled today at Ashton Gate by John Leech MP, Liberal Democrat spokesman on culture, media and sport and a staunch supporter of the campaign to see the use of rail seats for ‘safe standing’ permitted in current all-seater football grounds.
The redevelopment of Ashton Gate is set to start in earnest in May, with two areas of the ground earmarked for installation of Ferco’s RailSeats: one running along the length of the pitch on the lower level of the Dolman Stand and the other extending the width of the pitch at the rear of a new end stand. In total an installation of 3,750 seats is planned.
