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Current state of the SOL and surrounding area.

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SuperGerryHarrison said:
I agree in part, but a stadium and its facilities are like a shop front, representing the prestige of a club to a wider audience. They're the power projection of the footballing world.

As i've said - we're some way off needing a new ground as the SoL is still, all things considered, a great ground, but I think its important to acknowledge how much work would be required to bring it back to its former standing as one of the best grounds.
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Aye no arguments, there it definitely could do with some modernisation mind in places. Just don't think it needs to be similar to Tottenham it's not really realistic unless we suddenly become a Top 6 Premier League team which let's be honest the most optimistic on here don't expect. I wish we would do something to make it look nicer from the outside though, it looks a poor stadium walking towards it from the city centre imo. Even the cladding they done on the family corner would make a massive difference with some brightening up of the concourses as it's bland atm.

Sea to Shining Sea said:
We went from struggling to sell out 21/22k at Roker between 95-97 despite a promotion campaign and top flight football to having 40k regularly within two years. Matchday experience is important for lots of people, particularly in the modern day.
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Roker was completely finished though by the end. Completely different ballgame to the current SOL. I agree it's need a bit of modernisation but nowhere near to the levels of rebuilds etc.
 

Zimba said:
Aye no arguments, there it definitely could do with some modernisation mind in places. Just don't think it needs to be similar to Tottenham it's not really realistic unless we suddenly become a Top 6 Premier League team which let's be honest the most optimistic on here don't expect. I wish we would do something to make it look nicer from the outside though, it looks a poor stadium walking towards it from the city centre imo. Even the cladding they done on the family corner would make a massive difference with some brightening up of the concourses as it's bland atm.



Roker was completely finished though by the end. Completely different ballgame to the current SOL. I agree it's need a bit of modernisation but nowhere near to the levels of rebuilds etc.
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Aye Roker was finished. But leave the SoL to nature and it won’t have the lifespan of Roker or it’ll be a clip like Roker was at the end.

A Tottenham style stadium is beyond achievable but there’s plenty of scope for proper modernisation and improvements. Particularly to the south and east stand. With the new footbridge and Sheepfolds development, people are going to come across there and be welcomed by a corrugated steel shed. It might seem superficial and shallow, but these things do matter in terms of club profile and stature.
 
Sea to Shining Sea said:
Aye Roker was finished. But leave the SoL to nature and it won’t have the lifespan of Roker or it’ll be a clip like Roker was at the end.

A Tottenham style stadium is beyond achievable but there’s plenty of scope for proper modernisation and improvements. Particularly to the south and east stand. With the new footbridge and Sheepfolds development, people are going to come across there and be welcomed by a corrugated steel shed. It might seem superficial and shallow, but these things do matter in terms of club profile and stature.
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They do matter. Unfortunately with these owners it simply won't happen.
 
Frankey said:
He's only been here 2 and a bit years and has delivered promotion from league one and a team sitting just outside the championship play offs first season back. Be patient.
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The consumer facing side of the business does not take 2.5 years to turn around. That says more about the chances of a stadium refurbishment than anything else.
 
Frankey said:
He's only been here 2 and a bit years and has delivered promotion from league one and a team sitting just outside the championship play offs first season back. Be patient.
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Happy to give more time but 2 and a bit years is quite a significant amount of time to at least set out plans and blueprints for improvement to infrastructure. There have been virtually zero positive developments in terms of stadium improvements. In fact, it’s been a right battle for people to even try and guarantee the safety of people sitting in it during games. Ticket office and club shop hasn’t improved and has arguably even regressed.

Have any plans been announced or ideas put forward for stadium development the same way that Newcastle’s new owners have for example? Is there any blueprint? If any of that had been put forward, I’d be more than content to give them the time to actually deliver. But basic maintenance is barely being done or communicated let alone genuine improvements.

And achieving promotion with Sunderland from the third division is not an achievement to write home about.
 
Guinness Guzzler said:
We've asked the club again if they're going to communicate. It's not a secret or owt but when there's something vaguely positive (nowt groundbreaking but those on the walk around thought it was quite positive) to communicate it's only right to let the club do it. But if they don't get anything out soon I'm sure rawa will do so.
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Do the club acknowledge they have a massive communication problem giving good and bad news out to fans?
 
Sea to Shining Sea said:
Happy to give more time but 2 and a bit years is quite a significant amount of time to at least set out plans and blueprints for improvement to infrastructure. There have been virtually zero positive developments in terms of stadium improvements. In fact, it’s been a right battle for people to even try and guarantee the safety of people sitting in it during games. Ticket office and club shop hasn’t improved and has arguably even regressed.

Have any plans been announced or ideas put forward for stadium development the same way that Newcastle’s new owners have for example? Is there any blueprint? If any of that had been put forward, I’d be more than content to give them the time to actually deliver. But basic maintenance is barely being done or communicated let alone genuine improvements.

And achieving promotion with Sunderland from the third division is not an achievement to write home about.
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Stewart Donald submitted plans for the club shop to be moved in to Black Cat House, on the ground floor so it would have been a club shop with the facilities to sell match day tickets aswell, and he also wanted to improve the apperance of the building. I think this would be a benefit to the club as with the club shop where it is, it is hidden from most people
 
Guinness Guzzler said:
We've asked the club again if they're going to communicate. It's not a secret or owt but when there's something vaguely positive (nowt groundbreaking but those on the walk around thought it was quite positive) to communicate it's only right to let the club do it. But if they don't get anything out soon I'm sure rawa will do so.
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cheers mate
 
We went to man city the other day, on their stadium tour and to the bayern game. I know they are loaded and are champions but they have the whole fan experience and facilities absolutely bang on. It's just a nice place to go and watch football, from the outside there's plenty of space and a variety of kiosks and plenty of covered spaces all clean as well. Inside the ground again there's plenty of space and it was a piece of piss to get a beer. To think they were pretty much like us until the takeover and now they are a huge club.
 
Zimba said:
People don't go to a football match because of the stadium. People go to a football match to watch the football.

Unless there's a need to extend there's no need to upgrade anything major imo.

Tottenham, Everton, Man City and Arsenal all needed new grounds so it made sense to make them modern. Other than them 4 who really has a better ground? And West Ham is the worst stadium in the Premier League before you mention them.
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The footy and the ground are a unit but also seperate
If the site was just buildings with corporate options ,functions,meals,conferences etc it would have closed .We tried it all and it never really took off
Who would head their mothers days for example or xmas dinner ? The gigs have been canny mind you
Its that assumption on here if there is stuff people will use it ,there was /is and we dont .
We had to cut our cloth and like you ,i go for the footy and find the facilities ok
 
Zidane said:
I dont really get the complaints about the concourses.

Yes its a pain by standards of the newer stadiums that have pushed things to new levels but its a 25 year old design. One of the relatively earlier 'new stadiums' following the Taylor report.

Is it any better at Reading, Bolton, Boro/Derby Southampton etc that are a similar age
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I’m not really sure I ageee with because some other stadiums from the same era might be shite, we should just accept it and not complain?

I’m not sure many are slagging off the stadium build 25 years ago, it’s saying there are things they can do now (opening concourse doors to gated area and pop up refreshments outside would make massive difference) so at least discuss them and look at how they can make things better?
 
Can we not “borrow” materials from other clubs? Then, before the paint is dry, send it all back and try some from somewhere else. On second thoughts the stadium will never be finished, just like the football team. Change the name to The Borrowers and all set for more years of mediocrity.
 
TexasMackem said:
I'm not sure it's that significant mind, they appear to be prioritising the playing side which I'm sure we can all agree is the correct approach. Ellis Short did nowt about the pink seats at a time when the club was hoying money about. We all recognise that the clubs outgoings were stripped back to bare bones over the last few years and increasing any expenditure from this point should be only done where necessary. If, as the intention appears to be that we become cash rich through player sales however, I would expect that some funds would be earmarked for general maintenance and improvements.



It just isn't an elite stadium any more. While it's still a great arena, I do wonder if we'll either see a huge redevelopment or even a move to a newer stadium in my lifetime.
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I think given the poor design of the concourses, a redevelopment will happen at some stage. The actual location is the best in the country by a mile.
 
INigle said:
I think given the poor design of the concourses, a redevelopment will happen at some stage. The actual location is the best in the country by a mile.
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The mags ground is located right in the centre so location wise it's decent. And ours is great too especially with all the Sheepfolds development and new bridge being built.
Just needs the concourse areas sorting out and a proper deep clean to get it looking decent again.
Oh and the seats are turning pink again in the North Stand lower :lol:
 
League Wan said:
We went to man city the other day, on their stadium tour and to the bayern game. I know they are loaded and are champions but they have the whole fan experience and facilities absolutely bang on. It's just a nice place to go and watch football, from the outside there's plenty of space and a variety of kiosks and plenty of covered spaces all clean as well. Inside the ground again there's plenty of space and it was a piece of piss to get a beer. To think they were pretty much like us until the takeover and now they are a huge club.
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Its really not rocket science though is it.
 
INigle said:
I think given the poor design of the concourses, a redevelopment will happen at some stage. The actual location is the best in the country by a mile.
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Theres probably no reason why the concourses can't be extended outwards and given a proper facade whether a part of a stadium expansion or just a redevelopment. SNQ talked about the Wall of Fame being an inhibitor, but that seems a weak excuse to me.
 
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Roker Scoreboard said:
The mags ground is located right in the centre so location wise it's decent. And ours is great too especially with all the Sheepfolds development and new bridge being built.
Just needs the concourse areas sorting out and a proper deep clean to get it looking decent again.
Oh and the seats are turning pink again in the North Stand lower :lol:
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Don’t know why they didn’t just chuck white seats in. Problem solved
 
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