Stadium Expansion - More Info

[Spudulike]

Don't think this has been linked in this thread...

 

2.4 gives some information about stadium expansion (and Seagrave).

 

Foxestrust

[Ted Maul]

'SW pointed out that standing tickets do not cost less, do not increase capacity, those opting for standing areas will have to stand for the whole time and surveys have shown that only 5% actually want the standing option.'

 

Club not behind the idea then 

[urban.spaceman]

Quote

2.4       Training Ground and Stadium Expansion     

MM said a public consultation was held on Saturday 7th April, at LCFC vs Newcastle, to present the plans for a new state-of-the-art training facility to be built on a former 180-acre golf course at Seagrave.  KSS who designed the training facilities at Spurs and Liverpool have been appointed as architects. The brief is to create the best world-class training facility, including a full-sized indoor pitch, academy and the UK’s first pan-sports turf academy. The Club has been working with authorities for several months on traffic, environmental issues etc, in preparation to submit the planning application on 13th June. It hopes to commence work in October. MM confirmed that the environment and the use of renewables are key requirements of the design.

MM said plans to expand the stadium were announced as part of the celebrations for Khun Vichai’s birthday. The Club expects to submit the planning application in September. The plan includes expansion of one stand and additional complementary development on the site. A public consultation over the planned expansion will be held at a home game (tbc) during next season.

SW added that the Club previously purchased 6 ½ acres which has been used as a car park and fan village. She explained that the Club is engaged in finding out what the city of Leicester needs and working with the City Council. The final plan must develop a destination and fill the capacity of the stadium. The planning process for seats will begin one year before completion. The plan takes into consideration access and egress requirements.

SW noted that Safe Standing is also an issue and one on which the Premier League has taken the lead and carried out considerable research; current proposals are being discussed in parliament. SW pointed out that standing tickets do not cost less, do not increase capacity, those opting for standing areas will have to stand for the whole time and surveys have shown that only 5% actually want the standing option.

    Q.  Will bus services be increased if the stadium expansion goes ahead?

A.  The masterplanning studies take into account the reduction in parking spaces and the Club is working with the Council on Park & Ride schemes, road closures etc.

 

Q.  The last train from Leicester to London leaves too early for those attending mid-week 7.45pm KO games.

A.  AG responded that Leicestershire Police have previously asked for train times to be changed to accommodate visiting teams and for football specials. Unfortunately the train companies don’t have the necessary resources.

 

     Q. Will fan experience be at the heart of the expansion plans?

     A.  Yes and fan experience will be the topic for the next Your 90 Minutes.

 

    Q.  The choice and quality of food on matchdays isn’t very good.

A.  Any comments and feedback on catering are welcomed and should be sent to JD at [email protected].

 

Q.  How does the Club plan to fill the additional capacity, sell season tickets and memberships?

     A.  Everything is on the table and there should be choices for supporters.

 

    Q.  What is the level of demand for season tickets?

A.  SW confirmed that 63.5% of season tickets for 2018/19 had been sold in the first 5 days of sale but she added that the Club needed dynamic sales schemes in the future to ensure capacity and would welcome comments/feedback from the fans. As well as this, development in the city must continue. In 2016/17, when the Club was playing in the Champions League, there was huge cooperation between the Club, the council, the cathedral etc. The development plan aims to create a safe, dynamic environment with good food and beverage facilities. MM added that the number of seats hasn’t yet been decided because the design work is ongoing.

 

FCC members commented on the importance of having places where families can come, get food and drinks, saying there should be more family areas. They said the ticket pricing policy for children and the 18-22 year olds is fantastic. SW agreed it was important to provide facilities for families, adding that the Club could learn from other clubs and from sporting arenas in the US where fans’ entertainment was a key element of every matchday.

Q.  Can away fans be made aware that they are sitting next to the Family Stand in order to reduce the use of bad language? Will the expansion plans include moving the Family Stand?

A.  The away fans have to sit where they do for the sake of getting them out quickly at the end of a game.

Q.  Would some signage about the proximity of the Family Stand help?

A.  Perhaps a note could be included with away fans’ tickets, saying they are sitting next to the Family Stand and asking them to be respectful. It was acknowledged that signage and notes were unlikely to have much effect. The police believe the situation with away fans has improved but the idea persists that football in general allows unacceptable behaviour. The Club takes every possible step, including filtering out known troublemakers, to ensure that its own fans behave well at away games. The Club has also made every effort to ensure that adults and children sitting in the Family Stand come in together but it is very difficult to enforce the regulations. The Club is changing its policy on unaccompanied 16-17 year olds who will no longer be allowed in the Family Stand.

 

 

[Wymsey]

Who is part of the Foxes Trust may I ask; I take it a number of fans who were made club representatives via a vote etc?

[Lovejoy]

50 minutes ago, Ted Maul said:

'SW pointed out that standing tickets do not cost less, do not increase capacity, those opting for standing areas will have to stand for the whole time and surveys have shown that only 5% actually want the standing option.'

 

Club not behind the idea then 

What a fcuking cop-out. 

[Alex_LCFC]

Hate just one stand expansions. 

[davieG]

3 minutes ago, Alex_LCFC said:

Hate just one stand expansions. 

I was told the KOP would be expanded in 2026 by a man down at the club.

[Stevosevic]

Hope it looks unique

[yorkie1999]

I suspect introducing safe standing will come at a cost to the fans via increased ticket prices and I reckon they’re going to cost a grand apeice, fill one of the corners up and that’s 200 grand. 100 quid extra for those wanting to stand.

[TrentFox]

27 minutes ago, davieG said:

I was told the KOP would be expanded in 2026 by a man down at the club.

That’s a big job for a bloke on his own?! 

[Footballwipe]

SW pointed out that standing tickets do not cost less, do not increase capacity, those opting for standing areas will have to stand for the whole time and surveys have shown that only 5% actually want the standing option.

 

[jammie82uk]

2 hours ago, Ted Maul said:

'SW pointed out that standing tickets do not cost less, do not increase capacity, those opting for standing areas will have to stand for the whole time and surveys have shown that only 5% actually want the standing option.'

 

Club not behind the idea then 

Why should they be it’s of no advantage to the club to be behind it 

[Poznan34]

Where's this 5% figure come from?! 

[Ted Maul]

10 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

Why should they be it’s of no advantage to the club to be behind it 

Why wouldn't they listen to what the fans (their customers) want? 

[jammie82uk]

1 minute ago, Ted Maul said:

Why wouldn't they listen to what the fans (their customers) want? 

Apparently they have as they did surveys but anyhow as I said it doesn’t benefit the club in anyway whatsoever to have a standing section 

[Corky]

2 hours ago, Ted Maul said:

'SW pointed out that standing tickets do not cost less, do not increase capacity, those opting for standing areas will have to stand for the whole time and surveys have shown that only 5% actually want the standing option.'

 

Club not behind the idea then 

Oh fvck off, I'd have thought they'd at least give us a fold-out chair to sit on half time.

 

Can't be doing with standing at ALL times.

[Ted Maul]

30 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

Apparently they have as they did surveys but anyhow as I said it doesn’t benefit the club in anyway whatsoever to have a standing section 

Maybe if you're looking at it strictly in a business sense, but a better atmosphere and more of a connection between club and supporter can't be such a bad thing.

[Dan]

Nice to see they're still clueless about safe standing then.

[ozleicester]

5% of 32000 is 1600

 

I would guess that there are already around that figure standing in L/K? add to that the randon couple of hundred standing around the ground and you are already past the 5%, then throw in all of those that want to stand but dont ... easily another 5%

 

So a safe standing area of 4000 should cover it.

 

Easeh

[Guest]

i stand while listening to the match at home on radio. not sure if that counts. nobody asked me.

[Webbo]

4 minutes ago, winchesterton said:

i stand while listening to the match at home on radio. not sure if that counts. nobody asked me.

And if you fell and injured yourself while listening, the club would deny any responsibility. Typical!

[ian_marshall]

I really don't like the idea of replicating US style entertainment for match day's. I don't understand why they want to Americanise the experience other than for financial reasons. Surely there's plenty of ways to achieve the same revenue streams and allow people the opportunity to socialise in a more traditional sense which is more in keeping with the history and heritage of the game. 

[tylesta]

42 minutes ago, winchesterton said:

i stand while listening to the match at home on radio. not sure if that counts. nobody asked me.

I actually cannot sit down even if im watching on tv

[jammie82uk]

11 hours ago, Ted Maul said:

Maybe if you're looking at it strictly in a business sense, but a better atmosphere and more of a connection between club and supporter can't be such a bad thing.

People say that like it will be a given but There is nothing to say it will be that tho 

[City1884]

12 hours ago, jammie82uk said:

Why should they be it’s of no advantage to the club to be behind it 

This is the problem with Safe standing currently.

Apart from a couple of lower league clubs where it is increasing their profile by getting media attention by being the “first” to install it, (and possibly increasing their attendances? Maybe? Depending on the club involved?) there is no financial benefit to the big clubs to do it.

 

Any business (and let’s not be blind to the fact football is just a business now), wants to see financial returns on financial outlay.

 

Installing rails seats costs money, while no extra income comes back because it doesn’t increase capacity.

 

Will attendances decline without Rail seating? / improve with it? No.

 

There is literally no return on investment.