West Brom announce safe standing plans for next season

The club is to turn an area of nearly 4,000 seats into rail seating for the 2025-26 season in the home and away areas of the upper Smethwick End, as well as Millennium Corner.

The move comes following consultation with the Albion Assembly, the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) and the club’s Safety Advisor Group and work will begin in the summer.

The move will not change the capacity at The Hawthorns – which will remain at 26,804 – with 3,864 safe standing positions.

A statement by the club said: "Safe standing areas permit supporters to stand for the duration of a match.

"Standing is not required in these areas, however, supporters risk restricted pitch views if they are seated when surrounded by standing supporters.

"These areas are introduced to help keep supporters safer while standing and enhance the spectator experience.

"Supporters who wish to relocate from the areas in which safe standing is to be installed will be given the opportunity to do so when season tickets go on sale.

Albion managing director Mark Miles said: “The club have long been advocates of safe standing and we are delighted to be introducing it to The Hawthorns for next season.

“Though the upper Smethwick End and Millennium Corner are expected to be very popular locations for safe standing, we understand it might not be for everyone, and we’ll ensure anyone who would like to relocate can do so.

“A lot has changed since The Hawthorns became an all-seater stadium almost 30 years ago, and we’re confident now is the right time to bring standing back in a safe and controlled way.”

The move follows a number of clubs moving to safe-standing in recent years, led by Shrewsbury Town, who became the first to install rail seating in 2018.

Black Country rivals Wolves introduced safe-standing in 2023 and Villa converted away areas and parts of its Holte End to safe-standing early last year.