[Albion] Perfect stadium size

[Hamilton]

I’ve previously looked at the funding in some European cities eg Montpellier. Often a mix of public and private sector money, they don’t come cheap and they sometimes mothball planned for extensions when there are cost overruns. But they’re fantastic, people leave cars behind, make more use of city centres, low carbon.

Fair play! When did you find the time to do that? Are you in the construction and planning industry? I barely have time Google ‘mothballed planned extensions’ let alone know what it might mean to the Albion

 

[Hamilton]

Oh yes they do.

Everton gave me a bottle top. No questions asked.

 

[A mex eyecan]

Everton gave me a bottle top. No questions asked.

if you had given them a bottle top you would have come home owning a club …..

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

I'm still not convinced that they couldn't do something by giving up some office space behind that blank North Stand back wall. PB would lose his office and they'd have to move the police box, but I'm sure there would be a way. The offices could move to the new women's stadium ...

 

[Gwylan]

I'm still not convinced that they couldn't do something by giving up some office space behind that blank North Stand back wall. PB would lose his office and they'd have to move the police box, but I'm sure there would be a way. The offices could move to the new women's stadium ...

Yeah, I'm sure they could a few thousand to capacity - maybe take it up to 35k but any notion of a new stadium is a non-starter

 

[chaileyjem]

I'm still not convinced that they couldn't do something by giving up some office space behind that blank North Stand back wall. PB would lose his office and they'd have to move the police box, but I'm sure there would be a way. The offices could move to the new women's stadium ...

They can take capacity to 32,500 with some North Stand rejigging. They were going to do that before Covid hit - isn't the closure of Dick's Bar when fanzone finally arrives - designed to give them some more NS options (presumably extra hospitality seats ? ) .

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Could we fill a 50k stadium?

I think yes. But it would take an extraordinary effort of club building.

How to do that? Three ways

1. Have an attractive successful team. Tick.
2. Get new people in. People who had never thought to become an Albion fan. Schools, local football clubs, community organisations. Give away 1000 free tickets every week, even if it loses money. Accept 99% of these new people will never come back. But that 1% will stay, in time, they might bring their kids. Do this enough and you can build your support base
3. Location location location. The Amex is wonderful. I had an ST at Gillingham and I appreciate it’s every nook and cranny. But it’s a bugger to get to. It doesn’t matter whether it’s also hard to get to other grounds. We’re not competing with Forest or Villa for the money and attention of the people of Brighton, we’re competing with the cinema or a day at Churchill Square. In some fantasy where we made the amex 60k, we wouldn’t fill it due to the transport ball ache. I believe we would however fill somewhere centrally located.

So where? I have an idea, but I’m aware just what a crank it makes me sound. Hove dog track, I think the lease expires soon and it can’t be making much money. Gym and car park, currently empty. Legal and General, offices 90% empty most days, they would take an offer. Waitrose, tougher nut to crack, they seem to do ok. Buy the sites, do a bit of levelling off, there’s a bit of a slope there. Access the ground via Hove Park or Nevill Road, You got the 5 bus routes, Hove Station, street parking in Hangleton and the streets off Dyke Road. Crucially it’s walking distance for anyone Hove, Portslade, 7 dials.

Amex can be reduced capacity for the women and u23s

 

[peterward]

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.

I'm still slightly baffled as to why we need to build a seperate dedicated women's stadium? It won't be cheap for starters.

They could just use Amex, and use the ESL, WSL plus North and south. Just close upper tiers and it's a decent size with room for expansion if needed.

 

[cloud]

Keep the stadium as it is, but find ways to minimise empty seats, especially in the last 10 minutes.

Better transport at the end of the match

Whatever happened to the idea of a standing area?

 

[Anger]

Could we fill a 50k stadium?

I think yes. But it would take an extraordinary effort of club building.

How to do that? Three ways

1. Have an attractive successful team. Tick.
2. Get new people in. People who had never thought to become an Albion fan. Schools, local football clubs, community organisations. Give away 1000 free tickets every week, even if it loses money. Accept 99% of these new people will never come back. But that 1% will stay, in time, they might bring their kids. Do this enough and you can build your support base
3. Location location location. The Amex is wonderful. I had an ST at Gillingham and I appreciate it’s every nook and cranny. But it’s a bugger to get to. It doesn’t matter whether it’s also hard to get to other grounds. We’re not competing with Forest or Villa for the money and attention of the people of Brighton, we’re competing with the cinema or a day at Churchill Square. In some fantasy where we made the amex 60k, we wouldn’t fill it due to the transport ball ache. I believe we would however fill somewhere centrally located.

So where? I have an idea, but I’m aware just what a crank it makes me sound. Hove dog track, I think the lease expires soon and it can’t be making much money. Gym and car park, currently empty. Legal and General, offices 90% empty most days, they would take an offer. Waitrose, tougher nut to crack, they seem to do ok. Buy the sites, do a bit of levelling off, there’s a bit of a slope there. Access the ground via Hove Park or Nevill Road, You got the 5 bus routes, Hove Station, street parking in Hangleton and the streets off Dyke Road. Crucially it’s walking distance for anyone Hove, Portslade, 7 dials.

Amex can be reduced capacity for the women and u23s

There’s a retail park nearby that could also work with the acquisition of adjacent land.

I think it’s called Goldstone something something.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

There’s a retail park nearby that could also work with the acquisition of adjacent land.

I think it’s called Goldstone something something.

Not disliking your thinking!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

A tram along the Lewes Road would actually be an excellent idea. It's a pretty straight road and would be ideal for ferrying students between the city centre and universities, as well as serving Moulscoomb etc.

I have developed quite a detailed plan regarding trams in Brighton. I have also promised to build and bequeath this to the city should I win a billion on the lottery.

I have planned this to the finest of details, including SFA performing Inaugural Trams at the opening ceremony.

 

[kevo]

I have developed quite a detailed plan regarding trams in Brighton. I have also promised to build and bequeath this to the city should I win a billion on the lottery.

I have planned this to the finest of details, including SFA performing Inaugural Trams at the opening ceremony.

Surely Traams should play?

 

[The Grockle]

I have developed quite a detailed plan regarding trams in Brighton. I have also promised to build and bequeath this to the city should I win a billion on the lottery.

I have planned this to the finest of details, including SFA performing Inaugural Trams at the opening ceremony.

Would love to see trams in Brighton. It's compact size and dense population Would suit a tram network IMO

 

[Hove Seagull]

Keep the stadium as it is, but find ways to minimise empty seats, especially in the last 10 minutes.

Better transport at the end of the match

Whatever happened to the idea of a standing area?

Maybe the club could sell "Last 10 minute" season tickets.........

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Surely Traams should play?

Unfortunately Super Furry Animals have already been booked.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Keep the stadium as it is and have a massive fans zone to the west of Brighton? Humungous screens and the food facilities etc

 

[kevo]

Keep the stadium as it is and have a massive fans zone to the west of Brighton? Humungous screens and the food facilities etc

What if people prefer to go there rather than the Amex? Better match-day experience, no train woes, no food queues, no putting up with the moaners in the East Upper, etc...

 

[Han Solo]

I'm still slightly baffled as to why we need to build a seperate dedicated women's stadium? It won't be cheap for starters.

They could just use Amex, and use the ESL, WSL plus North and south. Just close upper tiers and it's a decent size with room for expansion if needed.

English groundkeepers are the best in the world by a million miles, but it would be impossible to keep the pitch in good condition if it supported two home teams.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

I'm still slightly baffled as to why we need to build a seperate dedicated women's stadium? It won't be cheap for starters.

Well to quote the famous words of Tony Bloom: "MONEY AIN'T A THANG."