Read somewhere SPL stadia criteria to be lowered?

Errapolis

For the new 12-12-14 setup, meaning clubs won't require 6000 all-seated stadia, and only pitch coverings rather than undersoil heating.

Is this a good idea?

Stuart F

6000 was a bit high with a lot of games only getting 3-4 thousand, and if they are messing around with the rules now would be the time to put in safe standing areas, but they should keep the undersoil heating rule or at least try to encourage it by having real financial penalties for games called off due to a frozen pitch

JustCantGetEnough

the capacity getting relaxed is a good thing imo, will save clubs fortunes having to get their stadium upgraded. Undersoil heating should be a must if its a grass pitch. Artificial pitches should also be allowed it would stop alot of call offs

Stuart safestanding is allowed now, but yer smaller clubs wont be able to afford to put it in, Celtic have put out a survey to ST holders this week and one of the questions is about safe standing, safe standing imo will be at Celtic Park for 2015 after the c'wealth games

Jock

Can we expect a cash settlement to Dunfermline for making them rip up their plastic pitch? To the various teams who were told the door was closed to them because they didn't have enough seats?

The rule is a farce anyway, entry should be football related only so the best teams play in the top league, but of course certain big names don't want that clearly .........

Kaffo

I agree with JCGE about the capacity being relaxed. But it was other teams in the SPL who made Dunfermline get rid of the artificial pitch so its obviously not popular amongst the players and management.

Wee Black Book

Dunfermline had a carpet not an artificial pitch, such as a 3g one. The one they had a Hamilton was good stuff only to be ripped up when they got promotion to the SPL.. I agree that the seating total should be lowered to allow more teams into the SPL, as we have seen in the third division one half of the old firm can go to the smaller ground without too much bother. I have always said that safe standing should be allowed as they have tried and tested it in Germany and it appears to have worked well and it DOES improve on the atmosphere of a crowd.

Jock

Dunfermline's pitch was state of the art at the time and the decision to make them rip it up has in some ways led to where they are financially now! No, it's not the only reason, it's one of many including chronic mismanagement but the cruel decision by the SPL is now being overturned! Popular or not it should have been allowed to stay! No one likes going to Central Park in Cowdenbeath but no one is advocating getting rid if them!

Errapolis

Wasn't the SPL original capacity 10,000?

JustCantGetEnough

Thought it has always been 6k mate. The 3g pitches are brilliant, we have one at barrfields, costs a fair bit to lay though around 750k but would save clubs ££ in the long run

Is the capacity rule getting scrapped all together or are they just lowering it?

Kaffo

It was 10 reduced to 6.

Errapolis

Lowering to bronze status I believe, whatever that is, ill try find story.

Belslide

I never understood the seater rule, don't have much sympathy for the other SPL rules either. Inverness had to play home games in Aberdeen the first half of their first season in the SPL in 2004, as they needed to rebuild their stadium.
Ticket prices went up from £11 to £20 to comply with the minimum pricing rule, and when the first match in the Caledonian stadium was to be played, it had to be called off because of a water logged pitch; the soil couldn't be pinched because of the under soil heating. Why have under soil heating in a country like Scotland?
I think there are too many rules, and it's not good for the smaller clubs and their supporters.

Kaffo

Why have under soil heating in a country like Scotland?

Because as well as lots and lots of rain we also get lots of freezing cold frost. Sometimes the big firey ball comes out and scares us too.

Belslide

Nah, there's very little frost here. Just postpone that rare game that gets bothered by it.
Raining it does a lot here, like tonight Motherwell - Dundee had to be cancelled because of a water logged pitch.
The sun is only a problem when written with a capital 'S'; that's probably where the scaremongering comes from. :)