Worthing exile
New member
- May 12, 2009
- 1,219
Which bridge are they demolishing?
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[Albion] Amex expansion.
- Thread starter *Gullsworth*
- Start date
Weststander
Well-known member
With a spot the singing supporter competition.
Due to the very long odds of winning, the prize, an all expenses trip to be the first dining in the Lancing Ikea cafeteria.
Gazwag
5 millionth post poster
I look at there being a lower roof for part of the NS which will generate louder noise irrespective of what is above the roof
Uter
Well-known member
This is where they will be. I wonder if they will make one set for away supporters and one for home.
This planning application only just appeared so I guess there could be another one appearing later with details of the external screen and toilets.
Looks like a NS 1901 section ?
Uter
Well-known member
The quote from PB was "We will also be looking to add additional hospitality space with very different lounge concepts..."
So yes in terms of paying a premium for these seats, but my guess is that these seats will have a more relaxed feel to them and aimed at supporters who want to be at the centre of the atmosphere, rather than corporates.
I suspect (based on not a lot) that replica shirts may be permitted, or even encouraged in this new area, but they will draw the line (as they well should) at FKWs.
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Seat-spacing......I hope I don’t have to shoe-horn myself into my seat next season.
They still have to comply with the law regarding the maximum number of seats between a given seat and an aisle.
There may be more flexibility for pitch level seating, I suppose.
*Gullsworth*
My Hair is like his hair
- Thread starter
- #309
This is great news, thanks for posting. If nothing else the awful gap above the North stand seats will filled with a terrace and corporate box behind. I think it will be a more relaxed corporate box which will allow replica shirts worn etc etc. The gap being filled above the North stand will make the seating area more impressive (like the South stand) as it will not be a "stand alone" terraced seating. Always though this was what the club was aiming to do, we should be proud that the club has increased the capacity from 22k to over 32k in a relatively short space of time. Exciting times.......Jack Straw wipe down your lens!
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
I hope everyone measured the width of their seat before this temporary closure.
el punal
Well-known member
Worthing exile
New member
- May 12, 2009
- 1,219
A maximum of 28 seats between gangways, so if they narrow the seats there will be bloody big gaps lol
This is great news, thanks for posting. If nothing else the awful gap above the North stand seats will filled with a terrace and corporate box behind. I think it will be a more relaxed corporate box which will allow replica shirts worn etc etc. The gap being filled above the North stand will make the seating area more impressive (like the South stand) as it will not be a "stand alone" terraced seating. Always though this was what the club was aiming to do, we should be proud that the club has increased the capacity from 22k to over 32k in a relatively short space of time. Exciting times.......Jack Straw wipe down your lens!
Very disappointing, but not surprising, as a few of us thought this area will be going to the corporate as that’s where the money is.
It really isn’t going to make the North Stand look better, it will have 3 extras rows above it, so pretty much a mirror of the South - which doesn’t look very good either. It won’t help the atmosphere as it will barely overhang the seats.
This puts an end to any idea of expanding the North properly and having more of a ‘Kop’ and a singing stand to be proud of. It currently looks too small and will continue to do so.
Sad, sad day.
It really isn’t going to make the North Stand look better, it will have 3 extras rows above it, so pretty much a mirror of the South - which doesn’t look very good either. It won’t help the atmosphere as it will barely overhang the seats.
This puts an end to any idea of expanding the North properly and having more of a ‘Kop’ and a singing stand to be proud of. It currently looks too small and will continue to do so.
Sad, sad day.
Uter
Well-known member
Given the severe physical constraints of the roof I am not sure that adding a substantial second tier or a greatly enlarged lower tier was ever a realistic proposition.
FWIW I reckon it's 5 rows rather than 3, but I don't think this undermines your point. Physics and sight-lines presumably greatly limit the amount a second tier can overhang.
On the plus side it does seem like there will be over 1000 extra general admission seats added in various places in other parts of the stadium. We probably won't see a planning application for this though as it's not needed, so I am none the wiser as to where they will go. The planning application for the upper tier in the north is only there because a change of use is involved.
I do wonder, if the club could have the time over, whether they would have submitted an application for a stadium that more easily allowed for expansion to 35000-40000. But it is what it is. Every modification now is going to be sub-optimal in some way because the design capacity has been exceeded.
After this I think the only realistic way of significantly increasing capacity will involve raising/modifying the roof in some way. That's probably at least ten years down the line and provisional on full houses every week and a large waiting list. In addition it'd probably require substantial payments to Network Rail towards various capacity enhancements. So this will probably be it capacity wise for the Amex for many years, possibly indefinitely.
el punal
Well-known member
Probably more like the 'Dugout' in WSL in that case..............
Big screen going up outside, plus more catering and toilets (finally !) so they're improving the facilities outside as well, not getting rid.
*Gullsworth*
My Hair is like his hair
- Thread starter
- #320
Crikey dazzer there are some hard to please punters on here.(not you by the way) I think the changes will enhance the look of the stadium. The people who think it is a sad day because of a lost opportunity to make the North Stand kop more impressive need a reality check. Just look at the early photos of the Amex and how bare it looks....the North stand looks lonely and tiny but it is the maximum size for the structure of the Amex. Over the years the empty spaces have had seats added to improve the attendance, this latest development is probably the most the club can achieve. It will be great to see our football ground used to it capacity. Some my find it sad I think it's great.....but then I, and a lot of other fans appreciate how far we have come. 32500 fans in a Stadium that is the home of Brighton & Hove Albion......who would have thought?