The Amex and beyond...

[Albion Robster]

Just been thinking about Falmer and the future.

'If' I stress the word if, Brighton were to get promoted to the Premiership within the next two seasons, what are the provisions for expanding the capacity of The Amex?

With less than 2,000 season tickets left to sell now, what's going to happen next? I know the Club can then apply for the corners to be filled in with seats, those seats will then get sold to season ticket holders. What happens if we spend our first season in The Championship challenging for the Play-offs, this is only going to generate more interest and support and thus more demand for Season Tickets from supporters who haven't got a ST already.

I guess the Club will implement some sort of wait list for supporters wishing to purchase a Season Ticket. In the meantime:-

- Can The Amex stand tiers be increased in size?
- If so, what capacity would the club look to increase by?
- Would it take long to complete the necessary building work? Could the work be done in the close season for example?

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Can go up to 36,000 (or thereabouts) by filling in corners and extra tier in the East Stand. All added without changing the 'outline' of the ground.

 

[Icy Gull]

Can also be done in the close season, so finish one season with a 22,500 capacity and open the next with 30,000 capacity

 

[Easy 10]

Can go up to 36,000 (or thereabouts) by filling in corners and extra tier in the East Stand. All added without changing the 'outline' of the ground.

I heard it could be boosted to 30k, never heard 36k being banded about.

 

[seagulls4ever]

I heard it could be boosted to 30k, never heard 36k being banded about.

I've heard both (well 30k and 35k).

As I've metioned before, natterjack (the guy who posted on here and worked on the site) reckons it's 35k without having to raise the roofs. At least that's what he said when I was reading the Swansea forum when they were talking about our new ground.

I don't think it's ever been confirmed.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

One likely scenario is they put in the extra seats - that more than matches demand. Current season ticket holders think "Hang on - I don't need a season ticket now" - so season ticket sales drop meaning even more seats are available on a game by game basis.

Also, as discussed with a Sunderland friend - people who thought it would be a great idea to get a season ticket think it is not such a great idea after all and return to their old Saturday habits.

Or we push for the Premiership and there simply won't be enough seats.

 

[gazingdown]

As I understand it, filling in the corners gets it to about 25/26,000, the east upper is another 4/5,000 giving 30k total. There's not way the upper ES is gonna have nigh on 10,000 seats which isn't far off the TOTAL of the 2 larger tiers of the West stand!

To go above 30k, I think they would need to expand the ends "somehow". Not sure if they can go back further into the structure or build a "floating" tier above, else they'd have to re-structure the ends. I don't think that's ever gonna happen, we'd need to be in the PL for few years and be stable there.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I believe a floating cantilever stand could be built off the East.

 

[seagulls4ever]

Found this thread from a year ago: Future Capacity at Falmer?

I was told 'unofficially' 35,000 by the architect (from KSS Design) at the official Falmer ceremony day, I was lucky enough to attend in 2008. He told me planning would again need to be sought but the East, North and South Stands are designed to have the roofs raised to accommodate extra seating.

I'm sure he said the roofs would need to be raised, i.e the east stand would mirror the west stand in size.

If true, I suppose 30K initially, and then 35K once the roofs are raised. Beyond that, serious work would need to be done.

 

[burrish-gull]

Its defiently 35K I met the architect at Withdean during the initial Falmer 'first dig' presentation day.

 

[marcos3263]

I just cant see that its possible to raise the roof.

We have all watched and studied the build and seen how the dog heads and arches are intregal to the design. I would have thought the whole lot would have to come down. So massive expense and the footprint is still very small.

Also we will never be a big club (forgive me) needing a huge stadium. with average gates of 5-6000, for many years, surely we just have to be happy with 30,000 week in week out.

but what do I know

 

[seagulls4ever]

I just cant see that its possible to raise the roof.

We have all watched and studied the build and seen how the dog heads and arches are intregal to the design. I would have thought the whole lot would have to come down. So massive expense and the footprint is still very small.

Also we will never be a big club (forgive me) needing a huge stadium. with average gates of 5-6000, for many years, surely we just have to be happy with 30,000 week in week out.

but what do I know

Well as you can see the North and South roofs are at an angle tilting downwards from the West to the East, so all that would need to be done is raise it from the East side so that it's level with the West. Obviously that aint exactly a walk in the park, but it doesn't seem that hard to me. But I ain't an architect so what do I know.

If that is how it's going to work, I think it'll actually make the stadium look better as well.

 

[gazingdown]

Aren't the arches holding the whole thing up, you can just take it out and raise the roof easily.

I think they could (and they won't) raise the roof at the ends (let's face it, they are where more seats would be needed/wanted else they would look even smaller) without affecting the arches.

As I say, I don't think they will change the roof/structure at all and just try to get as many seats in as possible (corners and ES upper). Much as it would be nice to have a 35l/40k stadium, realistically that would only be for the odd big game in the PL. 30k in the PL will be plenty for most games. The last thing we want is loads of empty seats like Middlesbrough.

 

[seagulls4ever]

Aren't the arches holding the whole thing up, you can just take it out and raise the roof easily.

I think they could (and they won't) raise the roof at the ends (let's face it, they are where more seats would be needed/wanted else they would look even smaller) without affecting the arches.

As I say, I don't think they will change the roof/structure at all and just try to get as many seats in as possible (corners and ES upper). Much as it would be nice to have a 35l/40k stadium, realistically that would only be for the odd big game in the PL. 30k in the PL will be plenty for most games. The last thing we want is loads of empty seats like Middlesbrough.

Yep, but it's nice to have the option just in case we do need to expand beyond 30k!

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

The stadium's roof structures, as I understand it, are all inter-linked and basically supported by those huge blocks in the corners which have extremely deep foundations, so taking the roofs off isn't an option. If we fill the corners and add the second tier to the east the capacity will be up to around 30,000 or so. That will be the maximum the AMEX could accommodate. In an ideal world I've have liked to have seen bigger "ends" but if we get to 30,000 that's probably about right.

 

[gazingdown]

Options are always there, realistic (extending the ends) or not (raising the ES/WS roofs), if you have the money and can convince the council to grant planning permission.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Who remembers the temporary stand that was erected on the western side of the Goldstone during the summer of 1980?

 

[Gully]

Who remembers the temporary stand that was erected on the western side of the Goldstone during the summer of 1980?

Yes...it was there when I went to my first game, I was stood in front of it...apparently they made it from Lego!

 

[whitelion]

Who remembers the temporary stand that was erected on the western side of the Goldstone during the summer of 1980?

The Lego stand.

 

[Seagull Steve]

Yeah, didn't it look really strange built next to the old West stand?