Increase East Stand capacity

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I'm all for improving the look of the ground, be it on the outside or the inside; however I'm not in favour of increasing the ground's capacity whatsoever. 32K is fine and there are so many other areas in which the money required could be invested.

[MattGamble92]

This whole theory about acoustics makes me laugh. When the Kop are loud you can hear them in the family stand. The fact is no one sings and that's why there is no atmosphere.

[PAPA LAZAROU]

This whole theory about acoustics makes me laugh. When the Kop are loud you can hear them in the family stand. The fact is no one sings and that's why there is no atmosphere.

 

What like on Sunday ?  Give the crowd something to shout about and the stadium will rock , as it did on Sunday. That game proved it's got nothing to do with acoustics. Even the cameras were wobbling and the commentators mentioned the noise. So yes you are right Matt about that, but you can't say no one sings anymore.

[Raj]

any talk of extension is stupid.

we're in our first season of the prem...3seasons ago we were playing hereford!!

Until we have 3-4 years if consecutive prem and all sell outs it shouldnt even be an issue.

close thread!!!!!

[lcfcsnow]

They'll up the prices before increasing capacity. Sad but true, prepare for it.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

This whole theory about acoustics makes me laugh. When the Kop are loud you can hear them in the family stand. The fact is no one sings and that's why there is no atmosphere.

 

This, so many people on here seem to be experts in acoustics and noise dispersion 

[Jace]

Damn I was hoping for an update on this, planning permission should have gone in for something by now or at least some plans drawn up 

[stillwater]

The way the stand was bouncing on Sunday, I would suggest they will be looking into its strength and safety

[Deucalion]

I think now is exactly the time to increase capacity.

 

Every game so far has been a sell out, and I know for a fact there are people who want to go but can't get tickets.

 

If we are to have a few years in the top division, then it makes sense to capitalise on the extra revenue it will generate now.  The old Carling Stand paid for itself in 5 years.

 

So what if there are empty seats if/when we go down.  There will be empty seats anyway and the top tier could just be closed, therefore no costs.  It is such a negative reason for not doing this.

 

The big problem about increasing the capacity is we are hosting the Rugby World Cup next summer.

[Deucalion]

Damn I was hoping for an update on this, planning permission should have gone in for something by now or at least some plans drawn up 

 

I believe plans were drawn up when the stadium was built and planning permission applied for and granted, on condition something was done to create extra parking.

 

I can't verify this though, although I definitely haven't just made it up.

[StanSP]

I think now is exactly the time to increase capacity.

 

Every game so far has been a sell out, and I know for a fact there are people who want to go but can't get tickets.

 

If we are to have a few years in the top division, then it makes sense to capitalise on the extra revenue it will generate now.  The old Carling Stand paid for itself in 5 years.

 

So what if there are empty seats if/when we go down.  There will be empty seats anyway and the top tier could just be closed, therefore no costs.  It is such a negative reason for not doing this.

 

The big problem about increasing the capacity is we are hosting the Rugby World Cup next summer.

 

It's been 3 games against very decent opposition. That's one big reason for the high attendances (credit to everyone who's been) but the owners really don't strike me as people to rush in to a big decision like increasing a stand on the basis of 3 massive games which were expected sell-outs. 

[lgfualol]

If we stay up there should be improvements errywhere. Even if it's a few extra thousands. 

[Vlad the Fox]

I believe plans were drawn up when the stadium was built and planning permission applied for and granted, on condition something was done to create extra parking.

I can't verify this though, although I definitely haven't just made it up.

It's funny you should say that because I'm sure I saw them years ago and the extension didn't appear to add that much extra to the east stand. I have searched on google before but can't seem to find them anywhere.

[Finnaldo]

It's been 3 games against very decent opposition. That's one big reason for the high attendances (credit to everyone who's been) but the owners really don't strike me as people to rush in to a big decision like increasing a stand on the basis of 3 massive games which were expected sell-outs.

This.

Don't think there's such a thing as a right time when it comes to increasing our capacity. Being an established Prem club anymore if you're not ons of the top 7 clubs. You can go down whenever.

Saying that, I think it's better to wait at least 2 seasons, seeing as 1) the Rugby world cups on this summer so can't really be done now and 2) it's better to see what the attendances are like after (hopefully) two years in the Prem.

[sylofox]

I think now is exactly the time to increase capacity.

 

Every game so far has been a sell out, and I know for a fact there are people who want to go but can't get tickets.

 

If we are to have a few years in the top division, then it makes sense to capitalise on the extra revenue it will generate now.  The old Carling Stand paid for itself in 5 years.

 

So what if there are empty seats if/when we go down.  There will be empty seats anyway and the top tier could just be closed, therefore no costs.  It is such a negative reason for not doing this.

 

The big problem about increasing the capacity is we are hosting the Rugby World Cup next summer.

I thought granted planning permission only lasted 5yrs if not undertaken you have to re apply. 

[Bob Weasel Fox]

I really think we should be looking into increasing capacity ASAP

[Guest kristianity77]

I dont think we need to extend the ground.  The powers that be just need to get their heads out of their asses and allow standing again, or at least this stand up / seating thing they have in Germany.  Extra capacity for a fraction of the cost.

[Isopen]

The big problem about increasing the capacity is we are hosting the Rugby World Cup next summer.

 

Not really..... the games are in October

 

Big question is how quickly could this be done, can't see any expansion being completed with a start date of early May, completion 3 months later - so where are dislodged fans going to go if we keep having sell outs ?

[Jace]

I dont think we need to extend the ground.  The powers that be just need to get their heads out of their asses and allow standing again, or at least this stand up / seating thing they have in Germany.  Extra capacity for a fraction of the cost.

 

Safe standing wouldn't increase the capacity and increase the space available, it would actually take up more room as the seats would still be required 

[Guest Bilo]

Safe standing wouldn't increase the capacity and increase the space available, it would actually take up more room as the seats would still be required 

 

Under the German model, it would increase the capacity. There are up to 1.5 standing places available for every seated spectator, so a section that can seat 4000 fans can hold 6000 fans standing.

[Jace]

Under the German model, it would increase the capacity. There are up to 1.5 standing places available for every seated spectator, so a section that can seat 4000 fans can hold 6000 fans standing.

 

Isn't that based on the size and gradient of the steps being different in Germany though? Anyone got a decent link to the structural design to look at better? If it does then that would require the stadium to be almost completely rebuilt, if they were to modify current UK stadiums I didn't think it would reduce space it would be redesigning the seats so a rail can be incorperated. I don't know much about it but that was my understanding from previously looking at it

[_Fatboyslow_]

Safe standing wouldn't increase the capacity and increase the space available, it would actually take up more room as the seats would still be required

I am pretty sure this is the case from what has been posted and it requires more stewards, the idea works . Standing at the back of east/kop corner and a second tier above, starting 2/3rds the way up, that would make the home end the biz.

Also using Germany as an example is rather pointless.

[Stadt]

Let's use a different country that hasn't had anywhere near as much safe standing as Germany then?

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Under the German model, it would increase the capacity. There are up to 1.5 standing places available for every seated spectator, so a section that can seat 4000 fans can hold 6000 fans standing.

Now there's an interesting thought. I genuinely believe either way the capacity of our stadium has to increase if we are to maximise our potential

[Deucalion]

I thought the plans were to increase the capacity to 45 000 by extending the south, east and north stands.

 

From what I remember, the existing stands do not need much modification for this to happen.  Also, the stadium could be extended to 55 000 but this would require major work to the West Stand so is unlikely to happen.

 

I suppose it is possible to make a guess from this at how much more capacity extending the east stand would add.  

 

I would guess at around 5000 for the east stand and 2500 each for the two end stands.

 

I've no idea how often you have to reapply for planning permission.