Falmer Stadium

[Barrel of Fun]

I am sure this has been discussed before.....but!

The proposed capacity of 22,374 seems a little on the small side if one day we were to aim to "do a" charlton or a pompey.

Is the stadium big enough? Is there scope to expand it? Could we compete with other teams at the top end of this league, should crowds begin to rise or would that cost be passed onto supporters through ticket prices?

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

What are Wigan's attendances this year?? They can't be getting much more than that surely?

 

[Da Man Clay]

Wigan aren't getting that much. I think we can fill in the corners but not sure.

 

[Simon Morgan]

i heard they'd make the ground so that it would be expandable, like hull

 

[Grendel]

Wigan's capacity is 25,000. I think they've only sold out once.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Wigan average just over 20,500. Bearing in mind they have a very rich sugar daddy!

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Wigan average just over 20,500. Bearing in mind they have a very rich sugar daddy!

Damn them

 

[tainan]

I'm sure there's scope to expand, for example by filling in the corners, but it seems likely that it will be very expensive to do anything more.

 

[sparkie]

Any stadium can be expanded in reality, you just need to knock part of it down and rebuild...

Best get the planning app for that in now then, and perhaps we'll have permission by 2020...

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It is a shame that the site is so enclosed and there is not much scope to expand, with a 10 year plan to host various concerts etc. Internationals.

 

[Lammy]

I totally agree.

I think that 22,374 is more than enough for our present situation i.e. a struggling club. However, once we startto attract a better class of player with our new facilities we should be knocking on the door of the prem. Or at least will have the infrastructure to do this. I'm aware that building a stadium does not guarentee success. However, Withdean does guarentee a lack of it!

If we get to the top flight and 'do a Charlton' then we'd need to expand to about 30,000 - 35,000 IMHO. However we are talking about 10-15 years down the line....

I do think it is a shame however that we didn't put in for a 30,000 to start with. This was obviously goverened by a doubt in are gettin planning permission. I personally don't think it would have made any differnece as the NIMBYs are against ANY stadium. It would also be a lot cheaper in the long run.

 

[Dave the OAP]

i think 9000 is a tad optomistic

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It is going to be very difficult. It will take a good few years to get people watching Brighton regularly. We are effectively starting from scratch.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I do think it is a shame however that we didn't put in for a 30,000 to start with. This was obviously goverened by a doubt in are gettin planning permission. I personally don't think it would have made any differnece as the NIMBYs are against ANY stadium. It would also be a lot cheaper in the long run.

It wouldn't be much fun having a half filled stadium each week though would it?

 

[1066gull]

It is going to be very difficult. It will take a good few years to get people watching Brighton regularly. We are effectively starting from scratch.

We I am one regular who wasn't one last year!

 

[Lokki 7]

We I am one regular who wasn't one last year!

I see the future and I'm afraid, very afraid.

 

[Lammy]

It wouldn't be much fun having a half filled stadium each week though would it?

Then we'd need to invent a stadium that grows and shrinks depending on who we are playing and how well we are doing.

I would much rather sit in a half full stadium (like the vast majority of clubs) and think that if we do go on a decent cup run or get promoted we will be able to make the most of it. As opposed to a nice compact 15,000 capacity that we could fill week in week out but knowing that we are doomed to Championship football forever unless a sugar daddy decides to use us as his play thing for a while

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I see the future and I'm afraid, very afraid.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

We I am one regular who wasn't one last year!

BUt for every "one" - how many are watching another club or stopping coming altogether?

 

[Lammy]

There are a lot of fans out there thay simpy don't go anymore because;

a) It's difficult to get tickets (especially for the BIG games)
b) There is no atmosphere
c) If it looks like it is going to rain you WILL get wet
d) You have to decide to go weeks in advance.
e) We are shit

etc..


None of these reasons mean they have stopped being fans it just means they can't be arsed at Withdean.