I'm in favour of giving fans the option, but do the Devils realise they need to be compliant with venue requirements?
Hope I'm wrong, but aren't they jumping the gun a bit here? As I understand it, they simply aren't allowed to have standing where there are seats and they need to some form of barriers, which means removing the entire blocks seating.
I'm no expert but they can't just have people standing between seats.
There are plenty of football grounds where standing is the norm in a seated area. The stewards, who are trained in the law, do not stop this.
In fact enforcing seating throught a game would be impossible.
I have not researched fully but I believe the legislation relates to a ban on providing standing terraces. That is your description of " some form of barrier" which the legislation outlawed.
Also, I stand to be corrected but are there not rinks where "tiered" standing is allowed in the UK?
Overall though Ce!tic FC have, and Shrewsbury FC are seeking, local authority permission for specifically designed, safe, hybrid standing/ seating areas - which in fact supports your argument about some form of barrier.
It is a grey area which I'm sure Todd will explore but in the meantime let's look for the positives to support this initiative.