Is the Amex big enough?

[Weststander]

Indeed it is. There were a number of games towards the end of last season and even as early as Leeds in September where there were a lot of no shows by those with season tickets.

The Southampton game was the classic example.

Almost everyone off work, good kick off time, decent travel weather, BUT 1,700 Albion fans didn't turn up!!!!

Why?

 

[CP 0 3 BHA]

Absolutely.

Most people don'tknow what they're doing in a couple of days, let along in three or four weeks time.

 

[Surf's Up]

If it became necessary I reckon there are two ways the capacity could be increased:

1. Put the seats closer together, as previously suggested I think by the club. This would make the viewing experience less comfortable but could be done.

2. Extend the North and South stands back into the areas currently used for offices, player's lounge etc - this would increase the capacity by another 3/4,000 I reckon but would mean that the facilities behind the stands would have to be relocated elsewhere - maybe to the training ground?

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

Mate its middle of summer. Loads of us have not even thought about the first day of the football season

i've not stopped thinking about it since the last day of LAST season

 

[sir albion]

The Southampton game was the classic example.

Almost everyone off work, good kick off time, decent travel weather, BUT 1,700 Albion fans didn't turn up!!!!

Why?

Many reasons....
We have a lot of fans who live many miles away so pick and choose
Work
Personal reasons

The list is endless

 

[Notters]

There still loads of tickets left for the Cardiff and Barnsley game, so i think the amex capacity is just about wright.

Ian Wright to come back from retirement? Interesting.

 

[Gullys Cats]

Ian Wright to come back from retirement? Interesting.

could do a job.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

If it became necessary I reckon there are two ways the capacity could be increased:

1. Put the seats closer together, as previously suggested I think by the club. This would make the viewing experience less comfortable but could be done.

2. Extend the North and South stands back into the areas currently used for offices, player's lounge etc - this would increase the capacity by another 3/4,000 I reckon but would mean that the facilities behind the stands would have to be relocated elsewhere - maybe to the training ground?

Exactly. the North Stand seating deck is far too shallow and low for a home end, so extending it back as far as possible into the office space behind would be an ideal solution. How feasible this is from an engineering point of view I have no idea ...

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Exactly. the North Stand seating deck is far too shallow and low for a home end, so extending it back as far as possible into the office space behind would be an ideal solution. How feasible this is from an engineering point of view I have no idea ...

I wonder if the simplest and more cost effective option would be to remove the seats and adapt the existing rake in the North for 'safe standing'? But would that would create sufficient additional capacity to make it worthwhile? I think it would be popular with most Northstanders and make it look more like a proper terrace.

 

[timseagull]

The club have yet to explain how the extra supporters are going to get to the stadium this year. Not everyone lives within walking distance.

Indeed, i asked Insider about this weeks ago in relation to the football special buses. A great idea, that works really well if you can get on at the beginning of a route, leave the match 10 minutes before the end, or live in Rottingdean. No response thus far....

 

[withdeanwombat]

In the past we have on rare occasions had gates topping 30,000.However,our average attendances have rarely exceeded 20,000.I know we have sold a lot of season tickets this season,and the average will be very good,but unless we get into the Premier League I cannot see us needing more than a thirty thousand capacity.

And should the dark days return,the Amex could look like Riverside stadium.Newspapers blowing around.Tumbleweed.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I still think we will need to evaluate how the new 30,750 capacity will suit us for a couple of seasons before any serious increases are considered. Ok there are engineering questions to be answered about how to increase capacity at a later date but I think the main issue for now will be demonstrating that the transport and infrastructure can cope with 30k crowds. Otherwise approval from the Authorities for a future planning application is unlikely.

I am also concerned that ultimately any increase in capacity doesn't leave us with say a 40k stadium that looks half empty if we only sustain an average crowd of around 25-30k. Thinking back to the glory days at the Goldstone yes there were a handful of 30k crowds but our norm at that time was more around 26k. Maybe a run in the Premiership and substantial away followings that should prevail may swell this to an average around 30k with occasional 40k capacity crowds for special games?

 

[withdeanwombat]

I think people should buy and read the marvelous "Albion Results Book" from the Brighton and Hove Albion Collectors' and Historians' Society.

Compiled by the History Man and available for a small fee in the club shop,it will inform discussions such as this.

All the Albion results -ever - all the Albion scorers - ever - and all the attendances and annual averages - ever.

Take a look at our four years in Division One (first tier).Would this be reflected in the Premier League ?

The beer and pies queue would be more manageable.

 

[somerset]

It's about 16,000 after 85 minutes usually.....

Of course it is mate,..... sheesh.

 

[T soprano]

This thread should of ended ages ago 30,000 capacity is a fantastic achievement for our club , if we get in premier that'll be 27,000 Albion(3,000 away fans ) let me type that again 27,000 Albion fans wow . Just enjoy what we have now why would you want another 10,000 extra seats full of people who probably would never have watched us before but wanna watch us for maybe 2 or 3 seasons in premier league and never return if the good times came to an end don't want a half empty 40,000 stadium in 5 years time . It's like having the most beautiful women in the world & not being happy with the size of her breasts then asking her to have breast enlargements