The new rail standing areas will be housed in all sections of the South Stand from next month

Leeds United are installing safe standing areas in all sections of the South Stand at Elland Road.

The upper tier areas are set to be open in time for the next home game against Tottenham Hotspur on November 7.

Not all regions of the lower tier in the South Stand will be ready for the visit of Tottenham. While sections FA1 and FA6 will be completed in time, the remaining seats will be installed for the next home game against Coventry City on November 28.

The club has underlined that the option of standing is intended for ‘key moments’, such as goals, amid the general desire for spectators to remain seated as the default.

A Leeds United spokesperson added: “Supporters are assured that rails will not impact line of vision, nor will it in any way restrict access to seats.”

Elland Road - which, separate to this, is currently being expanded to a capacity of 53,000 - already has ‘rail seating’ areas in the upper tier of the North Stand. Some areas of the away section also house safe standing.

Standing terraces in England’s top two tiers were banned in 1994 as per recommendations from the Taylor Report, which investigated the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

However, safe standing areas - where spectators are still assigned a seat, negating the risk of overcrowding - were trialled during the second half of the 2021/22 season by five clubs: Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Manchester City and Cardiff City.

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Following the success of the trial amid positive feedback, rail standing became available to clubs in the top two divisions again, via application.

Standing areas are licensed and commissioned by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority. Stadiums must still be all-seater, and so each standing space will have a seat.

Leeds United statement in full

"Leeds United are pleased to announce work has started on the installation of rail seating within the South Stand at Elland Road.

"A trial phase of rail seating began in March 2022 and following this, in 2024 it was expanded across all of the North Stand upper tier and within parts of the away section.

"Following advice from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, the club is now installing further rail seats in all sections of the South Stand.

"The South Stand upper tier, along with areas FA1 and FA6 in the South Stand lower tier will be completed in time for our forthcoming home Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 7 November 2026.

"The remaining seats not completed in the South Stand lower tier are due to be completed for the following home match against Coventry City on Saturday 28 November 2026.

"Whilst maintaining the need for seating throughout games, the rails will allow fans to stand comfortably during ‘key moments’ such as goals and offer a safer experience for supporters.

"Supporters are assured that rails will not impact line of vision, nor will it in any way restrict access to seats. The design is to enable fans to stand safely at key moments in the game, then revert to using seats at other times.

"All ticket holders are reminded that Elland Road is an all-seater stadium, and supporters must only use their allocated seat, keeping all aisles clear."