Ok, how big IS Falmer?

[Lord Bracknell]

I would like to see the full specification for Falmer now, no of seats, catering, boxes, car parking spaces etc etc, anybody know to find this info?

Looking at the decision letter ...

"No event shall take place at the Community Stadium with an attendance in excess of 22,500 people".

Parking:- 40 coaches.

Car parking:- "The total number of car parking spaces to be provided for Outdoor Event traffic shall not exceed 2,350 within 1.5km of the Stadium"; including "a minimum of 2,000 and a maximum of 2,200 cars at Sussex University and Falmer High School" - in other words, about 150 spaces at the stadium itself.

Catering and boxes:- we wait and see.

Other facilities:-

(i). A study support centre to be operated jointly with the Learning and Skills Council - not less than 81 square metres;
(ii). A Crèche Day Nursery of not less than 68 square metres;
(iii). A facility for sports science and sports medicine treatment and research to be occupied by the University of Brighton of not less than 549 square metres;
(iv). A Skills Training Centre of not less than 1224 square metres;
(v). Such internal space as may be reasonably required and subject to the prior needs of the Company's football and other commercial activities to be provided on a not for profit basis for the agreed periods of use by local residents and other groups to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority

 

[Buzzer]

Looking at the decision letter ...

"No event shall take place at the Community Stadium with an attendance in excess of 22,500 people".

yeah. 22,500 PEOPLE. Nothing in the plans to say we can't have 37,500 cackbadgers in the stadium too.

Honestly, LB. Do I have to think of everything?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Looking at the decision letter ...

"No event shall take place at the Community Stadium with an attendance in excess of 22,500 people".

We can just change the name.

 

[Scoffers]

Looking at the decision letter ...

"No event shall take place at the Community Stadium with an attendance in excess of 22,500 people".

Parking:- 40 coaches.

Car parking:- "The total number of car parking spaces to be provided for Outdoor Event traffic shall not exceed 2,350 within 1.5km of the Stadium"; including "a minimum of 2,000 and a maximum of 2,200 cars at Sussex University and Falmer High School" - in other words, about 150 spaces at the stadium itself.

Catering and boxes:- we wait and see.

Other facilities:-

(i). A study support centre to be operated jointly with the Learning and Skills Council - not less than 81 square metres;
(ii). A Crèche Day Nursery of not less than 68 square metres;
(iii). A facility for sports science and sports medicine treatment and research to be occupied by the University of Brighton of not less than 549 square metres;
(iv). A Skills Training Centre of not less than 1224 square metres;
(v). Such internal space as may be reasonably required and subject to the prior needs of the Company's football and other commercial activities to be provided on a not for profit basis for the agreed periods of use by local residents and other groups to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority

Thanks Lord B

So I guess some of the finer details are still to be ironed out, it being what, 6 or 7 years since the initial design was produced. I should imagine building regs and design methods (as well as costs) have moved on considerably in that time!

 

[Brovion]

It could be a bit like the restrictive covenant at the Goldstone. On the old east terrace we weren't allowed to build anything over <x> feet high (can't rememember the exact figure). I believe eventually that was lifted - although of course by then it was too late.

If we need to increase the capacity we can of course knock down the stands and build bigger ones (along with the hotel we were promised) - but that will be another planning battle. Let's hope it's one we need to fight as it means the club will be going from strength to strength, but looking at our attendances over the years I doubt it. I haven't got the figures to hand but I believe that only one season in our history (about 1978) was our average attendance higher than the proposed Falmer capacity.

 

[Scoffers]

It could be a bit like the restrictive covenant at the Goldstone. On the old east terrace we weren't allowed to build anything over <x> feet high (can't rememember the exact figure). I believe eventually that was lifted - although of course by then it was too late.

If we need to increase the capacity we can of course knock down the stands and build bigger ones (along with the hotel we were promised) - but that will be another planning battle. Let's hope it's one we need to fight as it means the club will be going from strength to strength, but looking at our attendances over the years I doubt it. I haven't got the figures to hand but I believe that only one season in our history (about 1978) was our average attendance higher than the proposed Falmer capacity.

But, of course, it's not just about Average Attendance. There will always be some matches that will attract more bums on seats than others. For example, if we ever get back into the top flight, and Man Utd come down to play us, you could certainly see a need for more than 22,500 seats, in that scenario, they'll be lost revenue, but then the following week when we play someone like Derby County, I should imagine that 22,500 would be ample!

 

[Brovion]

But, of course, it's not just about Average Attendance. There will always be some matches that will attract more bums on seats than others. For example, if we ever get back into the top flight, and Man Utd come down to play us, you could certainly see a need for more than 22,500 seats, in that scenario, they'll be lost revenue, but then the following week when we play someone like Derby County, I should imagine that 22,500 would be ample!

That is the point. If we were selling out week after week (like we did when we first moved to Withdean) then I can imagine the clamour for an increase would be quite loud - along with the inevitable recriminations for the club for not making it big enough in the first place!

However it WILL have to be week after week. Even if we get to the Prem we can't, as you say, have a stadium that will be full for the odd glamour game but half-empty for the likes of Wigan, Middlesborough, Derby etc.

 

[Normal Rob]

22k is nice and everything but it really caps our ambition to mid to lower Championship.

.

Portsmouth seem to have done ok with a capacity of 20.5k...

 

[Rookie]

looking at some of the attendances in the premiership last night 22k is ok
Wigan - 14,007
Fulham - 21,000
Reading - 24,000

shocking

 

[Scoffers]

I should imagine that if we can demonstrate that we can make Falmer work well once we're in, down the line, we'd get permission to extend. I can't see us needing much more than 35,000, certainly if history is anything to go by.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Thanks Lord B

So I guess some of the finer details are still to be ironed out, it being what, 6 or 7 years since the initial design was produced. I should imagine building regs and design methods (as well as costs) have moved on considerably in that time!

the 549 square metres for sports science labs is certainly going to need a bit of rethinking as there is no way the university actually want space for that purpose now...

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

But part of the reason the plans were approved is because the ground fits in with the lie of the land and thus any upwards expansion of the stadium will NOT be permitted and so we're stuck with 22,500, unless we come up with some Nou Camp-style scheme to drop the pitch in order to increase the capacity.

 

[Scoffers]

But part of the reason the plans were approved is because the ground fits in with the lie of the land and thus any upwards expansion of the stadium will NOT be permitted and so we're stuck with 22,500, unless we come up with some Nou Camp-style scheme to drop the pitch in order to increase the capacity.

Good point.

Anyone know that last time we had a gate in excess of 22,000 ?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Good point.

Anyone know that last time we had a gate in excess of 22,000 ?

26k odd for Arsenal in the cup circa 1987? (and 20,000 of them were gooners!)

 

[Brovion]

But part of the reason the plans were approved is because the ground fits in with the lie of the land and thus any upwards expansion of the stadium will NOT be permitted and so we're stuck with 22,500, unless we come up with some Nou Camp-style scheme to drop the pitch in order to increase the capacity.

That's what I referred to earlier on about the restrictive covenant at the Goldstone. There was a height limit there which was eventually (I believe) removed. In time we should be able to do the same with Falmer.

 

[Robot Chicken]

That's what I referred to earlier on about the restrictive covenant at the Goldstone. There was a height limit there which was eventually (I believe) removed.

I thought the height limit on the east side of the Goldstone was never removed and that's why all those lucky householders could watch for free until the end.

 

[sparkie]

But part of the reason the plans were approved is because the ground fits in with the lie of the land and thus any upwards expansion of the stadium will NOT be permitted and so we're stuck with 22,500, unless we come up with some Nou Camp-style scheme to drop the pitch in order to increase the capacity.

True, but this was only an issue because of the AONB ( sic ). If the national park arrives with the site outside the boundaries then the rules of the game change.

Of course we would want to keep the same stunning design, but I think the actual planning considerations may well be different in a few years time.

 

[pasty]

Nothing in the plans to say we can't have 37,500 cackbadgers in the stadium too.

Do you think Palace would bring that many ?

 

[Brovion]

I thought the height limit on the east side of the Goldstone was never removed and that's why all those lucky householders could watch for free until the end.

As I say you could be right. It was definitely in place when re-developing the Goldstone was being mooted, I just thought I remember reading and/or hearing somewhere that quite near the end of our time there it had been removed or expired or something. By then of course building a new stand on the east side was the least of our priorities.

 

[shaolinpunk]

It should be designed to look like the Allianz Arena, so that the residents of Falmer have something nice to look at