The figures when released were pretty stark. Over 20,000 fans voted with their feet and stayed away from London Stadium for the home fixture against [Brentford](https://www.claretandhugh.info/how-we-rated-west-ham-v-nrentford/). However many ‘bums were put on seats’ as the club sold cheapie ‘kids for a quid’ tickets to try and cover up the absence, this would have been an embarrassing PR blow and one which must have been felt in the boardroom.
Many fans felt conflicted having already paid for their season tickets- or the number of absentees could have been even higher.
As [givemesport.com’s](https://www.givemesport.com/west-ham-united-consider-installing-safe-standing-areas-london-stadium/) Andrew Dillon reports today, _“West Ham United will look into installing safe standing in key areas at London Stadium as a peace gesture in their war with the fans.”_
**“Hierarchy Aiming to Appease Hammers Supporters”**
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Runs their article today, claiming that the protestors have moved the club to action as the protest bites. After all, West Ham have had nearly nine years now to address the complaints of ‘customers’ (as Karren Brady calls them) : I’ve lost count of the number of times safe standing has been mentioned and then disappeared from the agenda.
On its own of course, adding in rails to enable a few thousand fans to stand during games won’t achieve much and it could well simply be lip service to try and chuck a few crumbs to supporters hoping they’ll give up their ‘BS out’ campaign.
In any case, it hasn’t happened yet. And whilst GMS’s article claims that safe standing areas could be in place next year:
“_In the new year, West Ham will look into constructing more rail seating in the lower tiers at both ends of the ground in a bid to generate more noise during home games. It is the latest move by the Hammers’ hierarchy to stem the growing anti-board sentiment that is overshadowing the season”.._
Accuse me of being a cynic if you like, but I’ll believe it when I see it.