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Posted
I'm no Engineer, but rather than build 1,2,or 3 sides up, why not build down?

Drop the level of the pitch by 20 foot and continue all four sides downwards. This would have the extra advantage of taking the stands closer to the pitch and improving the atmosphere.

Just call me Isambard.

 

Because to receive a UEFA rating the pitch has to be a certain distance from the stands.

Posted

Plans like this would not come to fruition until 3-4 seasons in the Prem and then 1 or 2 visits into the advanced stages of the UEFA Cup I suspect. In other words, we probably will not see SMS expansion for another 10 years at least.

Posted
Because to receive a UEFA rating the pitch has to be a certain distance from the stands.

What would you prefer, a Uefa rating so we can host an England under 21's game every 5 years, or an intimidating atmosphere a la Dell?

Posted
Plans like this would not come to fruition until 3-4 seasons in the Prem and then 1 or 2 visits into the advanced stages of the UEFA Cup I suspect. In other words, we probably will not see SMS expansion for another 10 years at least.

 

Why after 3 or 4 years? Every season the club was in the Premiership at St Mary's(including relegation season) the average was over 30k. As soon as the club gains promotion to the Premiership the first season back will also see gates averaging over 30k. 32k simply isn't big enough.

Posted

There isn't a mention of the ice rink in the newly Adopted Southampton City Council Core Strategy, within the City Centre Area Action Plan or the City Vision. From what I can see they are proposals from a private developer (Warburg), who has spent money on public consultation. This might suggest that an application was fairly close, rather than being promoted through the planning system. Given that the idea has come from the developer, I am not sure they will have considered expanded stadium. I'd be interested to find out where those design sketches originated though!

Posted
Why after 3 or 4 years? Every season the club was in the Premiership at St Mary's(including relegation season) the average was over 30k. As soon as the club gains promotion to the Premiership the first season back will also see gates averaging over 30k. 32k simply isn't big enough.

 

That was then. The business plan that ML and NC will be adopting when we get to the Prem will depend on prevailing economics at the time including player salaries, gate receipts, TV money etc. General business strategy would suggest it makes sense to slightly restrain supply to keep demand high. So I would imagine that they would want to build a position of an excess of fans wanting tickets over at least 2 seasons prior to committing to expanding a stadium that was perfectly sustainable when we were in the Prem last time.

 

Or to put it another way, there will not be enough justification to spend £30m+ on improvements with an AVERAGE gate of 30k - we get close to that now...(e.g. demand will fluctuate greatly for lower Prem opposition and ticket prices could be astronomic for many fans) - they will almost certainly be looking at a potential average gate of 35k to make it a worthwhile proposition I would have thought.

Posted
What would you prefer, a Uefa rating so we can host an England under 21's game every 5 years, or an intimidating atmosphere a la Dell?

 

The stadium is also next to a river. The pitch would flood if it went below the water table.

Posted

There's a law of diminishing returns with football stadiums , the bigger you make them the worst the experience gets for those at the back. It may well be that St Marys is already the ideal size for this club . I see no real business case of it being expanded - at this time anyway .

 

A replacement footbridge constructed so that the police could separate home and away fans (when necessary) would be very welcome however .

Posted
I'm no Engineer, but rather than build 1,2,or 3 sides up, why not build down?

Drop the level of the pitch by 20 foot and continue all four sides downwards. This would have the extra advantage of taking the stands closer to the pitch and improving the atmosphere.

Just call me Isambard.

 

It would cost a tonne more to build down than up...absolute fortune....retaining wall, water proofing ( we are right next to a river...water table), additional structures....plus you wouldn't get many more seats in i doubt.

Loving the Sketchup model Minime.....which architects do you work for ;) ?

Posted
heres a link to the youtube animation of the stadium

 

 

That is awesome. You should email Mr Cortese :D

 

Not sure if anything could be done to the Itchen Stand though. Also there doesn't seem to be much supporting the extra seats in the two stands.

Posted
That is awesome. You should email Mr Cortese :D

 

Not sure if anything could be done to the Itchen Stand though. Also there doesn't seem to be much supporting the extra seats in the two stands.

 

I'm guessing those two ***king big arches would take a lot of the load, which may help any extension of the Itchen. Still Kingsland first, we don't want to be greedy.

 

No harm in making Mr Cortese aware of the very nice design though. :smt023

Posted

Talking about stadiums, I am writing this post from the Walkers Stadium Hotel... For what is effectively exactly the same stadium plan as ours, I can't help think it looks much more impressive than ours from the outside.

Posted
wow stu...you live the jet set life style...wycombe one day..walkers stadium the next

 

You fookin knows it. First time I have seen the stadium sober as well... It looks quite impressive to be fair... And when you consider it is effectively the same stadium as ours, and how bland ours looks.. I think Mr Cortese should pay a visit.

Posted
You fookin knows it. First time I have seen the stadium sober as well... It looks quite impressive to be fair... And when you consider it is effectively the same stadium as ours, and how bland ours looks.. I think Mr Cortese should pay a visit.

what is different that stands out..?

Posted
what is different that stands out..?

 

It is showing more 'colours' than ours.... More branding, more club badges around the ground... Just generally seems more club pride in the stadium. My room is facing their reception... And even that looks nicer. :-( I can't see a statue though ... But it's dark now.

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