The immediate impact is obvious.
Recent years have shown how often ticket allocation can become a flashpoint between these clubs. This move appears to be an attempt to remove one recurring problem, even if it does not solve the deeper hostility around the fixture.
There is also a sporting and cultural price.
Managers will still prepare for the same tactical battle, but players often talk about feeding off the emotion of these matches. For experienced figures, that means one less layer of chaos to manage. For younger players, it means a slightly different introduction to one of Europe’s fiercest derbies.
This is the part both clubs and the league will have to watch closely. If matches pass without major issue, the arrangement may be viewed as a practical solution. If the atmosphere feels diminished, pressure could grow to restore away allocations in future campaigns.
The next meeting between Celtic and Rangers will now be watched for more than the scoreline. The football will still matter most, but the wider debate over safety, access and what an Old Firm match should look like is not going away.