North & South Stand Expansion

[Behind Enemy Lines]

It can be 35000. It is ready made to go to 30000 but you could put a tier above the south easily and there's always other ways. Nearly all stadia are built to lift roofs and things but I'm sure you wouldn't need to change the roof for a tier over the south.

No you cannot put another tier on the south "easily." In fact, it's about as far from being easy as possible. The whole of the roof structure is embedded in about 40 feet of concrete foundations at either end of the stadium so getting that lot up would be incredibly difficult and expensive. It won't happen. The stadium can be expanded by adding a tier to the east stand and by adding seats to the corners which would take the capacity up to around 30-31000.

 

[westy]

Sneaky George is spot on, The roof cannot be altered at all. Its corners, upper East and thats it. 30, 500, which is a great capacity. The gap in the south west corner cladding is for more corporate boxes in the same mould as Derby's Pride Park.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I'm all for the extra tier on the East, it would be better if it looked finished, but I can't be the only one who would be reluctant to lose the amazing atmosphere in the north stadium concourse bar if they filled that corner in?

The NS bar after matches is brilliant, no other stadium has anything like it. The other bars are fine but the NS, open as it is at the end, is superb: to stand there, enjoying a pint, with the epic curves of the West Stand roof stretching up into the night sky above your head is an unrivalled experience. Its busy, people are singing- home and away fans- fuelled by a few beers, and it echoes all around the stadium. If you filled in that corner it would be just another concourse bar.

Would love the bigger capacity but in a way it would be a huge shame to lose what we've got in the north stand now.

 

[brightn'ove]

Been to the Emirates and it's a lot quicker to get out than the AMEX.

that would be because it isn't in an isolated area with no other options than walking for miles/train/park and ride.

 

[westy]

I actually agree, Im all for the upper East being added but like the North as it is. Boro fans say the Riverside was never the same once it became a bowl. When their main stand was seperate the atmosphere was a lot better. Theres some about bowl grounds that kills the atmosphere somewhat.

 

[brightn'ove]

I actually agree, Im all for the upper East being added but like the North as it is. Boro fans say the Riverside was never the same once it became a bowl. When their main stand was seperate the atmosphere was a lot better. Theres some about bowl grounds that kills the atmosphere somewhat.

the upper east doesnt make it a bowl, the corners make it a bowl.

 

[e77]

I suspect the transport will need to be sorted out before any future expansion. Nothing to stop the application going in if a plan is in place though.

 

[BHAryan]

Yes we can expand the north and south. At my ST presentation i asked if they could be made bigger and the reply was yes but would take longer as roofing structure would have to be changed.
Also, when seats where brought in to replace terracing, Man united chairman quoted "we will never get more than 50,000 seats in old trafford"... so theres always ways of expansion

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I actually agree, Im all for the upper East being added but like the North as it is. Boro fans say the Riverside was never the same once it became a bowl. When their main stand was seperate the atmosphere was a lot better. Theres some about bowl grounds that kills the atmosphere somewhat.

I understand where your coming from, but I would very much like to see the corners filled, even if it's just to balance the look of the stadium. I know that's a bit shallow, but at the moment I feel like we have A Porsche with hub caps on!

 

[westy]

the upper east doesnt make it a bowl, the corners make it a bowl.

What i was saying was I want the upper east done as it doesn't make it a bowl (obviously) but not the north corners, as they do.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

I suspect the transport will need to be sorted out before any future expansion. Nothing to stop the application going in if a plan is in place though.

I can't see any extension planning application being submitted until the transport arrangements for the existing capacity are finalised and demonstrated to be coping.
Despite the political cross-party goodwill towards BHA, I also can't see the council planning committee approving an application without there being:
1) A proper resolution of the disabled parking facilties adjacent to the stadium.
2) A detailed, transparent and coherent transport plan.
3) Long term solutions/futures confirmed for Bennetts Field and the Racecourse P&R (both of which have temporary approval from the respective councils).

 

[e77]

I can't see any extension planning application being submitted until the transport arrangements for the existing capacity are finalised and demonstrated to be coping.
Despite the political cross-party goodwill towards BHA, I also can't see the council planning committee approving an application without there being:
1) A proper resolution of the disabled parking facilties adjacent to the stadium.
2) A detailed, transparent and coherent transport plan.
3) Long term solutions/futures confirmed for Bennetts Field and the Racecourse P&R (both of which have temporary approval from the respective councils).

Rail: Without a huge investment no more trains can be laid on (admittedly it sounds like some of the trains could be filled more)
Park and ride: Mill Road is already at capacity and Racecourse is temporary. Would probably need a new P&R site.
Coaches: Seems to be some spare capacity on the Seagull Travel coaches. Could try selling match tickets with a coach ticket.
Buses: Sounds like it varies (then again buses tend to be a bit random in my experience!). Can't really expect the bus company to magic up buses for 25 uses a year.
Driving: Already has issues with Bennett's Field and any increase not likely to be liked by the Green Party.

Saying that people should be prepared for it to be a bit slower to get out of a slightly bigger stadium.

The disabled parking situation is a disgrace.

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

Agree with EK on this one, somehow need to increase capacity but retain an opening above the NW concourse which is rather special.

IMHO the Amex is the closest to the experience in the SE and SW corners at the Twickenham egg chasing stadium where for years now you can get a good pint, a cracking steak pie or pasty and mingle in a good humoured way with both sets of fans all within sight of the pitch and decent music playing over the PA, and stay dry during bad weather. If they can do that with 80k crowds then it must be possible for us.

 

[8ace]

What about diverting the 24s, 26s, 46s, 49s and 49As up to Falmer station on match days?

 

[Silent Bob]

I think people need to chill about this transport issue. Suggesting it is 'chaotic' and 'out of control' is scare-mongering. It is 22,000 people getting out of a stadium, it is going to take a while. Have you been to Wembley or Emirates? People are just going to have to allow an hour to get away, that's life.

The last two games is been getting in that's been more difficult. I agree I wouldn't go as far as chaotic and out of control, but there's no way you could just put it all down to teething problems and it'll be fine to lump another 10k people in.

I want the expansion to go ahead, obviously, but they'll need something more on the transport if it does. It wouldn't be possible the way it is at the moment.

 

[terryberry1]

I understand where your coming from, but I would very much like to see the corners filled, even if it's just to balance the look of the stadium. I know that's a bit shallow, but at the moment I feel like we have A Porsche with hub caps on!

This

 

[The_Real_SussexSeagull123]

Would be good. Not sure if possible. They had to put in less seats than they originally planned because the TV's are bigger. So we already have lost space. Not sure how this would work?

 

[Notters]

What about diverting the 24s, 26s, 46s, 49s and 49As up to Falmer station on match days?

No! It's only a ten minute walk to the 24s and 49s now. I'd much rather a ten minute walk than a half hour queue.

 

[8ace]

No! It's only a ten minute walk to the 24s and 49s now. I'd much rather a ten minute walk than a half hour queue.

Even more reason to do it then

 

[drew]

Yes we can expand the north and south. At my ST presentation i asked if they could be made bigger and the reply was yes but would take longer as roofing structure would have to be changed.
Also, when seats where brought in to replace terracing, Man united chairman quoted "we will never get more than 50,000 seats in old trafford"... so theres always ways of expansion

That's not the impression we were given at our presentation. There is no way they can expand the East other than the already advised extra tier because they would have to remove the whole roof and the cost of that would be astronomical. Having said that, if money were no object then there may be a way but there are financial constraints. Remember TB has only loaned the money interest free.

We are a provincial club so anything over 32,000 would be pretty unnecessary IMO. It will be soul destroying if we ever find ourselves in a 35,000 stadium in league one. Sheffield Wednesday anyone?

Yeah, because an empty 35,000 seat stadium is infinitely worse than an empty 32,000 seat stadium!!!!!!