[Albion] Yet another club to increase ground capacity….

[Hometownglory]

Can we have a bigger roof on the East Stand please?

And make it blue again!

 

[GJN1]

As has been said a hundred times on here, I'd love to see the North Stand increased in size, if only to create a more intimidating home end.

This implies it’s intimidating already when it’s not.

 

[Milano]

The north stand could be expanded, because you can build pretty much anything if you have the money, but it would make no financial sense as half the stadium would need to be rebuilt just to add 5k it would take decades to see a ROI.

 

[Weststander]

The north stand could be expanded, because you can build pretty much anything if you have the money, but it would make no financial sense as half the stadium would need to be rebuilt just to add 5k it would take decades to see a ROI.

There’s the smaller alternative of adding rows at the back, replacing rooms. Although there are steels, they’re not roof supporting. Instead of the hospitality shelf that was planned, then put on the back burner.

 

[ac gull]

Leeds have announced their ambition

In last 10 years or so Derby, Leicester, Forest, Wolves and Villa have also announced ambitions too, some have got planning, some haven't

Derby and Leicester to both go to 40k - Leicester I think have planning - no works or timetable
Forest - have planning of sorts, but they keep asking for changes - no works or timetable
Wolves - few years ago were going to rebuild three stands one by one to get to 55k - no planning applications ever put in
Villa - got planning to go to 50k not long ago, then scrapped the whole thing - no works or timetable

We do have Fanzone planning, and are building it very slowly

Whilst up the road and their ring fenced cash of five years ago have not exactly fulfilled their ambitions either

Chelsea of course have had similar ambitions for 15 years and decided not to decide and buy every player under 23 instead

 

[Greg Bobkin]

How big a stadium could we realistically fill?

Could we fill a 50k stadium?

If so, With the club actively looking for a site in the area for a women's stadium, and our inability to expand the Amex any further, what are the chances of handing the Amex over to the women and searching for a site for a larger mens stadium?

Looking around on Sunday, we can barely fill a 31,876-seater stadium, let alone 50,000!

 

[brighton_tom]

Not that fussed about increasing the stadium now, 32,500 (or whatever we are) is fine. A packed stadium is better than having empty seats for non desirable games. Maybe we ask the question again if we've had another 5 to 10 years of prem football and a few more European seasons.

The one thing I would like to see purely from a design perspective is to add a box in the north east corner to match the south east. That empty corner looks unfinished, & adding something there would nicely balance things.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

The Amex can't even handle the 36747 record from the Goldstone yet, although that would make a good target.

 

[Weststander]

Looking around on Sunday, we can barely fill a 31,876-seater stadium, let alone 50,000!

Loads of no-shows around us in the NS, also obvious empty seats all over WSL and ESL.

Because it was live on TV?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Loads of no-shows around us in the NS, also obvious empty seats all over WSL and ESL.

Because it was live on TV?

I think a mix of it being on TV, kids playing grassroots sports - with parents there - and the opposition were the main factors.

 

[Weststander]

I think a mix of it being on TV, kids playing grassroots sports - with parents there - and the opposition were the main factors.

Future groundsmen and greenkeepers?

 

[Mancgull]

Surely having a modern stadium which holds c 31,000 which cost ‘only’ c £120m 13/14 years ago ( comparative to today’s building costs ) is a massive benefit to us in the long term in terms of sustainability.
Just consider the issues Man United currently have in terms of the costs of renovating Old Trafford or building a new stadium at a cost of c £2bn.
Some of these expansions are fanciful in the extreme, especially if things start to go wrong on the pitch.
Tony’s decision making is based on sustainability.

 

[lasvegan]

It makes much more financial sense to concentrate on investing in the women’s team stadium at this point in time. 32k is just about right for the men’s team at the moment. The women’s team has massive potential for expansion.

 

[DudsFarm]

If it was easier to resell or share seats there might be fewer empty seats and 32k could actually filled

 

[Albion my Albion]

View attachment 189305

Of course those are White Sox players from the Black Sox scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sox_Scandal and this 2024 season the Sox just leveled the record for most losses in a season (120) with several games to go in the season. And the Sox this year are not an expansion team with new players.

 

[John Byrnes Mullet]

The capacity should be increased it could then meet UEFA Category 4 regulations for "elite" European stadia. Which would increase the clubs profile on the world stage, which would create extra revenue. It's not just about bums on seats.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

I think a mix of it being on TV, kids playing grassroots sports - with parents there - and the opposition were the main factors.

….and a weather forecast of AEK at home proportions. (Although fortunately didn’t materialise till the evening)

 

[tigertim68]

Apart from games against big clubs our capacity is ok. Over 1000 seats on exchange against Forest did not sell

There were lots of empty seats against Forest

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I think a mix of it being on TV, kids playing grassroots sports - with parents there - and the opposition were the main factors.

Something that strangely doesn't apply at Villa Park, Mollineaux, the City Ground, Goodison, King Power, Selhurst, Craven Cottage, Portman Road etc. Maybe it's only in Sussex that kids play grassroots sports, matches are shown on TV, the weather can be shite etc.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Of course a bigger stadium is of a financial benefit, but you have to fill it. The likes of Arsenal, Spuds, Liverpool etc would not have gone down the expansion route if it didn't make financial sense. Also, the extra capacity isn't about selling more tickets at lowest prices, it's about hospitality and the extra spends on the concourse per head.

For the big clubs, it makes sense - to play catch up with each other.
The costs don't count against PSR and they will sell out every home game for the foreseeable future.

For the rest of us, less so.

Palace's plans don't really stack up, unless the owners are genuinely happy to just sink the £150m into the club.
If they're expecting a return on investment, it will take decades, unless they can convince a new owner that it is adding £200m onto the value of the club.