Ground extensions

[mr cgull]

Ground is really looking great now. When do the extensions to the west stand and the north corners start to be used? Is it all happening at once or is it graduated (presumably with the west/south extension being first)?

 

[algie]

Don't forget a row of seats is going into the back of the north stand too.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Don't forget a row of seats is going into the back of the north stand too.

Doubt they will ever get used though

 

[Bigbelly]

Doubt they will ever get used though

And why would that be?

 

[Guy Fawkes]

And why would that be?

Seats being used in the North stand, do you really have to ask?

 

[Bigbelly]

Seats being used in the North stand, do you really have to ask?

Yes. Im back row and these new people might want to sit so if they arent told about the back four standing then it'll create issues.

 

[Northstandite]

Curved mid tier extensions to the ws (1901 club) are rather beautiful, add to the massive look of the stadium, and give it completeness.

Once we moved in, the bland high walls there looked naff, and I hoped the second tier could be extended.

All was revealed in the s'ton programme a year ago.

Enemies of the club like LDC, baker, and South Downs society, would have had more of a case had they'd known they were fighting a 31,000 and not a 22,000 venue.

I like the way the club did this furtively. The high walls there in hindsight clearly meant it was always to be this 31,000 design inside.

All we need now is a class striker and creative cover for Vicente/Orlando, and we'll have a top team to match!

 

[shaun_rc]

Enemies of the club like LDC, baker, and South Downs society, would have had more of a case had they'd known they were fighting a 31,000 and not a 22,000 venue.

QUOTE]

I've been thinking this for a while. The stadium was designed that it obviously wasn't finished with 22,000, but I never remember anything about 30,000 during the campaigns - and I was there on some of the marches / outside the conference etc.. I'm glad it didn't stop anything, and the stadium's obviously been a massive success, but I do think the club was slightly sneaky there...

 

[Easy 10]

I've been thinking this for a while. The stadium was designed that it obviously wasn't finished with 22,000, but I never remember anything about 30,000 during the campaigns - and I was there on some of the marches / outside the conference etc.. I'm glad it didn't stop anything, and the stadium's obviously been a massive success, but I do think the club was slightly sneaky there...

I remember on a stadium tour when it was still being built, MP told us that independent safety inspectors had remarked that all the exits and stairwells seemed somewhat oversized for the stated capacity of the stadium. Perry told them it was in the event of the stadium hosting concerts etc, when more than 22,000 may be inside.

Cunning.

 

[seagullwedgee]

Anyone have the latest pics of the north west and north east corners? They must be able to ghet it near to completed with this 2 week gap.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Enemies of the club like LDC, baker, and South Downs society, would have had more of a case had they'd known they were fighting a 31,000 and not a 22,000 venue.

QUOTE]

I've been thinking this for a while. The stadium was designed that it obviously wasn't finished with 22,000, but I never remember anything about 30,000 during the campaigns - and I was there on some of the marches / outside the conference etc.. I'm glad it didn't stop anything, and the stadium's obviously been a massive success, but I do think the club was slightly sneaky there...

Thought it was well know that the original design had been created with further expansion in mind by the architects. You didn't want to have to remove the whole roof first (which can't be done cheaply as they are supporting each other) to raise it and only then be able to add further seats.

It wasn't mentioned much because we were struggling to get permission for 22,500 and it was less likely to be given if they thought it may one day become 30k+ but thank god permission was granted and the clever design allows us to easily upgrade.

One of LDC's arguments against the ground was that we won't need more than a 12k capacity, shows how wrong they were.

 

[Official Old Man]

Question.
I saw on TV that the Olympic stadium roof isn't connected to the stands and can be 'moved' up or down if required in the future. Can the roof at the Amex be jacked up another level?

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Anyone have the latest pics of the north west and north east corners? They must be able to ghet it near to completed with this 2 week gap.

Err, I think you'll find the builders are on holiday till January 3rd

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Question.
I saw on TV that the Olympic stadium roof isn't connected to the stands and can be 'moved' up or down if required in the future. Can the roof at the Amex be jacked up another level?

No, each stands roof relies on the other stands roofs to hold them up so removing it would be difficult and expensive

 

[Official Old Man]

No, each stands roof relies on the other stands roofs to hold them up so removing it would be difficult and expensive

Shame.

 

[Northstandite]

Thought it was well know that the original design had been created with further expansion in mind by the architects. You didn't want to have to remove the whole roof first (which can't be done cheaply as they are supporting each other) to raise it and only then be able to add further seats.

It wasn't mentioned much because we were struggling to get permission for 22,500 and it was less likely to be given if they thought it may one day become 30k+ but thank god permission was granted and the clever design allows us to easily upgrade.

One of LDC's arguments against the ground was that we won't need more than a 12k capacity, shows how wrong they were.

As much I 100% was behind the Amex, I could understand the views of Falmer residents and also the South Downs society.

But I never did get the expensive and relentless busybodying of LCD. The development was on the fringe of their patch on the edge of a far bigger conurbation and neighbouring local authority bhcc. 2 fields and some 1960's b'ton university buildings on the edge of that far bigger conurbation ... I failed to see the interest to councillors from seaford, newick, ringer, saltdean east, t cliffs etc. It smacked of an arrogant over rating of their elected mandate and remit.

 

[Box of Frogs]

I took this last night - apologies for the quality as it was taken through glass, but you can see they are cracking on with it.

 

[Djmiles]

I took this last night - apologies for the quality as it was taken through glass, but you can see they are cracking on with it.

Photo wouldn't even load in fullscreen for me.

Going to be weird not being able to perv on people in the North Stand concourse from my WSU seat!

 

[shaun_rc]

I think there's a difference between a ground that "could be expanded", and one that wasn't actually finished until it was expanded.

I do remember always being told the former, but never at the time that it was basically a 30,000 stadium, rather than 22,500. Anyway, it's turned out to be a huge success, and the only place it could have been with a railway station. I don't think the nightmares have come to pass either (though it is surprisingly visible from Ditchiling Beacon), and it has also worked because they built such a great piece of architecture.

But they were still a bit sneaky...!