Safe-standing sections just the start for more additions at Dignity Health Sports Park
CARSON, Calif. — Standing to cheer on the LA Galaxy is encouraged at Dignity Health Sports Park. And now, with another investment from AEG, Galaxy supporters in sections 120-123 will find standing much more comfortable.
The Galaxy announced today that coming in time for the 2020 MLS season, safe-standing sections will be installed at the Galaxy’s north end of the stadium to the benefit of the Angel City Brigade and Galaxian supporters’ groups.
“After many conversations with the LA Galaxy over the years, safe-standing is finally here,” said Antonio Magaña, Vice President of the Angel City Brigade. “We welcome all of you who support the LA Galaxy to stand with us starting this season. No need to wait until 2020. We look forward to working with the Galaxians and others to elevate the stadium atmosphere and participate in game-day festivities.”
“We believe Dignity Health Sports Park is one of the finest soccer-specific stadiums in the United States, and investing in our supporters and their resources is paramount,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “Creating a safe-standing section in our stadium will have a tremendous effect on our players on the field and will continue to give us a home-field advantage when playing in front of our supporters.
“Our supporters are the lifeblood of this club, and we are excited to provide them with the necessary seating to support the LA Galaxy,” he continued.
The renderings and press release revealed by the Galaxy not only show the new safe-standing areas, but they also include an LA logo spelled out in the seats with the Galaxy’s signature quasar directly in the middle of the four sections.
Additionally, the stadium improvements will include new bar areas on the north side of the and a chance for future premium seating areas. And if the capacity is needed, two more sections could also eventually be turned into safe-standing sections in the future.
The renderings also show the return of the grass berm — long a signature feature of Dignity Health Sports Park. It’s a feature that has been hidden from view since the stadium’s temporary occupants — the NFL’s LA Chargers — took up residence in the MLS venue.
These additions all come after AEG has already invested over $35-million in the facility since 2014. Among those additions were dedicated tailgate facilities for the supporters’ groups, new bar areas on the south side of the stadium as well as the largest video board in Major League Soccer.
Safe-standing seating sections have been gaining in popularity throughout the world and are generally used in supporters sections where standing and cheering is expected for the full duration of the match. Typically, a folding seat attached to hand railings are installed, and the seat stays out of the way when standing. If sitting is needed, the small fold-down seat can then be extended.
This arrangement fills the requirement for everyone to have a seat but keeps those seats safely out of the way. Currently, all Galaxy supporters groups stand and cheer but have seating in the way of their standing. It’s a lot of chanting, jumping and cheering, in a tiny space.
And it brings together a conclusion that the Angel City Brigade has been fighting to implement for the last ten years.
