[Albion] Perfect stadium size

[Simster]

Just saw this on another thread:

Mad times. As it ever was following The Albion.

Next, a new 40,000+ capacity stadium with proper transport access? We are going to need a bigger home to start conquering Europe.

And it got me thinking - what would be the perfect stadium size for the Albion?


I wouldn't actually say 32,000 was anything other than perfect really, because when we eventually do go down (for the first time since 2006) we will probably struggle to keep gates close to 30,000 if we didn't go back up within 3 seasons. Then there's the crappy transport links.

But would it be worth having a stadium holding 40,000 just in case we do continue to get bigger?

 

[Doonhamer7]

At a fans evening I remember Paul Barber said something like the perfect sustainable size is a 20th of your support and that 30k was at Brighton’s level - that was about 6 years ago

 

[Gwylan]

But would it be worth having a stadium holding 40,000 just in case we do continue to get bigger?

Calling Dr No

 

[Simster]

At a fans evening I remember Paul Barber said something like the perfect sustainable size is a 20th of your support and that 30k was at Brighton’s level - that was about 6 years ago

I mean it's in line with about 25 other similar sized provincial clubs (with Hull/Reading at one end and Derby/Wolves at the other), so it's hard to argue that 30k isn't about right. That said, we have the biggest hinterland in the country in terms of population and I bet our support is continuing to grow. There aren't many Sussex towns and villages where you don't see kids in Albion shirts these days.

Calling Dr No

Probably fair. But you do hear the conversation raised on here from time to time. It's somewhat moot anyway as transport links, cost, and probably by-laws prevent expansion over around 33,000 in reality.

But do remember that the Nigels will have a ground holding 34,000 in 35 (sorry I mean "3 to 5") years time when their shiny new stand is built.

 

[Milano]

The stadium size is perfect for the pathetic match day 'service' that Southern put on. If the Amex was ever to be expanded (it can't be) then the rail link needs sorting in parallel or it would be a disaster.

I posted years ago that we had the POTENTIAL to outgrow the Amex, my opinion was based on the new generation of kids in Sussex now wearing Brighton kit, there are thousands, if they stay interested (we stay in the EPL) and the club don't price them out then our fan base reach is huge.

I also wondered if the new Womens stadium would be built smallish in a more accessible location but with expension in mind and a 'swap' in future years.

 

[seagullwedgee]

The capital cost of constructing a larger capacity stadium, relative to the increase in annual revenue in the short term, results in a colossal negative in the early years. Look at Everton now. The experts who run our club finances know that their intelligence is best focused on revenue maximisation from sources other than ticket sales, rather than sinking huge capital sums for only marginal revenue gains in the short to medium term. Personally I would like to see the club, for every home PL game, retain 1000 non season ticket holder seats, and ballot them to paid up members, so at least everyone has a chance of seeing us live. Sadly the Club is more likely to follow the revenue maximisation idea of selling available seats as football tourism, where they package up 2 match tickets and a hotel room, net cost probably £220, and sell it for something like £400.

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

Still 1100 tickets left for this weeks game against Man Utd. Can't see the point in increasing the capacity anytime soon.

 

[Gwylan]

It's an absolute non-starter of an idea. We wouldn't be allowed to build anything in the South Downs National Park so we'd be back to the ideas that were rejected first time around: Waterhall, Sheepcote, Beeding Cement Works - all non-starters because of lack of public transport access. Shoreham Harbour - way, way too expensive.

The only possible option would be to knock down the Amex and rebuild - and where would we play for two years? Can't see us going back to Gillingham and there's no way that we'd go to Selhurst or Fratton

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

As I said a while back, my nuts fantasy BHA stadium would be the size of something like the Emirates or Spurs stadiums but with around 35k seats (all we really need), wider seats, generous spacing between them, wide ailes etc. It would look imposing, and with the right design would look great inside. Totally ludicrous and impractical, but if I had Tony's cash and then some that's what I'd build.

 

[maltaseagull]

It's an absolute non-starter of an idea. We wouldn't be allowed to build anything in the South Downs National Park so we'd be back to the ideas that were rejected first time around: Waterhall, Sheepcote, Beeding Cement Works - all non-starters because of lack of public transport access. Shoreham Harbour - way, way too expensive.

The only possible option would be to knock down the Amex and rebuild - and where would we play for two years? Can't see us going back to Gillingham and there's no way that we'd go to Selhurst or Fratton

We would still have the transport issues if we stayed at the Amex.

 

[Gwylan]

We would still have the transport issues if we stayed at the Amex.

It's literally next door to a train station, a dual carriageway and on six bus routes

 

[Guinness Boy]

We're at the perfect size right now. The Amex is great and our capacity is in line with the likes of Leicester, Southampton and Wolves.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's an absolute non-starter of an idea. We wouldn't be allowed to build anything in the South Downs National Park so we'd be back to the ideas that were rejected first time around: Waterhall, Sheepcote, Beeding Cement Works - all non-starters because of lack of public transport access. Shoreham Harbour - way, way too expensive.

The only possible option would be to knock down the Amex and rebuild - and where would we play for two years? Can't see us going back to Gillingham and there's no way that we'd go to Selhurst or Fratton

The new womens team stadium?

 

[CP 0 3 BHA]

Didn’t the club get planning to add a few hundred extra seats on a new ledge above the north stand?

 

[Guinness Boy]

It's literally next door to a train station and on six bus routes

Yes, but he's got to FLY from MALTA. Probably on WizzAir. Poor sod.

 

[Simster]

I don't know why I started this thread really. I know the current Amex is in reality as big as we're ever going to have, for all the obvious practical reasons listed.

I was hoping for more answers like @Cheeky Monkey's I think!

 

[Gwylan]

The new womens team stadium?

A stadium that wouldn't be big enough to hold all the season ticket holders? Not going to happen

 

[Gwylan]

Yes, but he's got to FLY from MALTA. Probably on WizzAir. Poor sod.

Yeah, where's the helipad?

 

[maltaseagull]

It's literally next door to a train station, a dual carriageway and on six bus routes

Station is too small . Trains too short.

 

[Marshy]

The stadium is perfect size.