SOL expansion

[Wearson]

It’s called being inclusive and customer focused.

You are having a laugh surely Mr Holmes? !!

It’s not going to happen, ever.
There will not be cash turnstiles at the SoL.
All those thousands of people who suddenly decide to go to the match at 2.45 or don’t own a phone/credit debit card/bank account will just have to watch the game on their dodgy firestick

 

[oddbod]

Leeds sell out every week. We don't. In fact since the SoL was built it's probably been sold out for fewer than 5% of the fixtures we've played there. Expansion and more empty seats is the last thing we need.

If there's any spare money it needs invested in the team first rather than a load of seats that'll remain empty.

If we had not extended from 42000 we would sell out for a significant amount of our games..your logic belongs with the dodo mate and the therapists chair to cure your fear of empty seats..if we were to stay as we are and not expand the stadium i might agree with you but it looks like were adding boxes(spending millions doing so)so it would be madness not to add extra seats in the process as the cost would be a small % of the build.....a bigger capacity stadium will result in more revenue in the long term nomatter what you say!

I think villa have put their expansion plans on hold because of the cost

why the hell would they announce stuff before getting a ball park figure ?

 

[EssexYid]

If we had not extended from 42000 we would sell out for a significant amount of our games..your logic belongs with the dodo mate and the therapists chair to cure your fear of empty seats..if we were to stay as we are and not expand the stadium i might agree with you but it looks like were adding boxes(spending millions doing so)so it would be madness not to add extra seats in the process as the cost would be a small % of the build.....a bigger capacity stadium will result in more revenue in the long term nomatter what you say!

why the hell would they announce stuff before getting a ball park figure ?

Ball park figures mean jack shit where football stadium costs are concerned, Construction companies wont give a fixed price and they always cost far more than initial estimates nowadays.

Spurs new stadium started off at £250m but a delay put it up to £400m and that increased to
£1.2bn during the 3 year build phase.

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[oddbod]

Ball park figures mean jack shit where football stadium costs are concerned, Construction companies wont give a fixed price and they always cost far more than initial estimates nowadays.

Spurs new stadium started off at £250m but a delay put it up to £400m and that increased to
£1.2bn during the 3 year build phase.

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nowt would ever get built mate if that was true foe every deal !

 

[EssexYid]

nowt would ever get built mate if that was true foe every deal !

Not every stadium will go as far over budget as Spurs did some of the increased costs were down to Daniel Levy constantly changing specifications and adding more features and facilities.

Everton's stadium build estimate started off at approximately £300m and that has reportedly risen to approximately £700m now.

 

[oddbod]

Not every stadium will go as far over budget as Spurs did some of the increased costs were down to Daniel Levy constantly changing specifications and adding more features and facilities.

Everton's stadium build estimate started off at approximately £300m and that has reportedly risen to approximately £700m now.

Where do you get these costs from ? the press?The sol would need no foundation work just steel fabrication,outfitting mebbe a couple of weeks for a brickie and the like ...the north stand cost if reported right 7-8 million so extrapolate for inflation and the crash, covid and Ukraine effect you might get a ballpark figure.lets get Murrey in for one last job and he will get it done on budget and for a cost we can absorb!

 

[seaham ftm]

Built it and they will come.

I think we need to build on the rare economic investment in the area. Sheepfolds, Vaux, footbridge, film studios. Big big opportunity.

It’s built and they’re not coming now

 

[Bacon]

why the hell would they announce stuff before getting a ball park figure ?

Just read again it’s because the capacity would drop to 36,000 during reconstruction

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

It’s not going to happen, ever.
There will not be cash turnstiles at the SoL.
All those thousands of people who suddenly decide to go to the match at 2.45 or don’t own a phone/credit debit card/bank account will just have to watch the game on their dodgy firestick

Hopefully any new ticket manager will have a lot more customer focus than you. We are literally turning kids away because they haven’t a bank card. I can understand people sitting at home with a fire stick given the difficulty of SAFC ticketing arrangements as a general point.

I really can’t get my head around supposed supporters who want to make it as difficult as possible for fellow supporters to support. As been stated by better people than me gaining entry to the SOL is akin to an Escape Room game.

The club needs to be inclusive in everything it does.

Not every stadium will go as far over budget as Spurs did some of the increased costs were down to Daniel Levy constantly changing specifications and adding more features and facilities.

Everton's stadium build estimate started off at approximately £300m and that has reportedly risen to approximately £700m now.

You seem very preoccupied about SAFC. How dare little SAFC want to improve our lot. Worry about your club and let us worry about ours.

 

[leerik_canamole]

The ground was built so it would be easy to upgrade, the roof just lifts up. In today's prices it would cost pennies in comparison for us to upgrade.

When you consider how many concerts we've lost out on due to not being able to offer enough corporate boxes etc, the increase in capacity would pay for itself.

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

The ground was built so it would be easy to upgrade, the roof just lifts up. In today's prices it would cost pennies in comparison for us to upgrade.

When you consider how many concerts we've lost out on due to not being able to offer enough corporate boxes etc, the increase in capacity would pay for itself.

I would say the club is uniquely placed in this country with the relative ease for expansion and the land (whatever your views on him, thanks Sir Bob).

If other clubs were in our favourable position would they be looking at expanding? There are many clubs who would love to be in our position do I would say yes.

With all the developments taking place in Sheepfolds expansion would future proof the SOL and allow us to be even more creative with ticketing, particularly around kids and help us build tomorrow’s support and season ticket holders. Getting top concerts will also generate the funds for the work.

I can, to a degree, see why those who think we shouldn’t expand, but I think the club needs to be bold given our rivals in the area. We have to get kids through the door to build our support imho.

 

[CaptainRed]

If we had not extended from 42000 we would sell out for a significant amount of our games..your logic belongs with the dodo mate and the therapists chair to cure your fear of empty seats..if we were to stay as we are and not expand the stadium i might agree with you but it looks like were adding boxes(spending millions doing so)so it would be madness not to add extra seats in the process as the cost would be a small % of the build.....a bigger capacity stadium will result in more revenue in the long term nomatter what you say!

why the hell would they announce stuff before getting a ball park figure ?

If we had not extended from 42000 we would sell out for a significant amount of our games..your logic belongs with the dodo mate and the therapists chair to cure your fear of empty seats..if we were to stay as we are and not expand the stadium i might agree with you but it looks like were adding boxes(spending millions doing so)so it would be madness not to add extra seats in the process as the cost would be a small % of the build.....a bigger capacity stadium will result in more revenue in the long term nomatter what you say!

why the hell would they announce stuff before getting a ball park figure ?

We never fill the seats we've got, and looking back throughout history we rarely have (2 seasons under Reid apart) and you say my logic of wanting to modernise what we have instead of spending £100m+ adding more unused seats is pointless

Construction costs are through the roof presently. If Champions League Villa, who sell out every week have backed off because of the cost I very much doubt a Championship team who never sell out are going to press on ahead!

 

[Zimba]

The ground was built so it would be easy to upgrade, the roof just lifts up. In today's prices it would cost pennies in comparison for us to upgrade.

When you consider how many concerts we've lost out on due to not being able to offer enough corporate boxes etc, the increase in capacity would pay for itself.

That's just speculation mind.

 

[halfpast3]

I would say the club is uniquely placed in this country with the relative ease for expansion and the land (whatever your views on him, thanks Sir Bob).

If other clubs were in our favourable position would they be looking at expanding? There are many clubs who would love to be in our position do I would say yes.

With all the developments taking place in Sheepfolds expansion would future proof the SOL and allow us to be even more creative with ticketing, particularly around kids and help us build tomorrow’s support and season ticket holders. Getting top concerts will also generate the funds for the work.

I can, to a degree, see why those who think we shouldn’t expand, but I think the club needs to be bold given our rivals in the area. We have to get kids through the door to build our support imho.

Not saying we should build it but if they did and we have empty seats just give kids free season tickets. Just hook them onto Sunderland

 

[CaptainRed]

I would say the club is uniquely placed in this country with the relative ease for expansion and the land (whatever your views on him, thanks Sir Bob).

If other clubs were in our favourable position would they be looking at expanding? There are many clubs who would love to be in our position do I would say yes.

With all the developments taking place in Sheepfolds expansion would future proof the SOL and allow us to be even more creative with ticketing, particularly around kids and help us build tomorrow’s support and season ticket holders. Getting top concerts will also generate the funds for the work.

I can, to a degree, see why those who think we shouldn’t expand, but I think the club needs to be bold given our rivals in the area. We have to get kids through the door to build our support imho.

We can do all that now. Anybody can rock up tonight and buy a ticket on the day. There'll be 1000s of empty seats. Why spend £100m+ adding more of them when there'll be no return on that?

If we went to 55k for example it would probably be little over half full on tonight's attendance (people actually inside the stadium). It would be grim.

Makes absolutely zero sense from a business perspective as well. I was reading something the other week saying the average price of an adult ticket in the Premier League is £48. From a purely financial point of view and looking at it through a Chairman's eyes it makes far more sense to price the tickets in line with other clubs, should we get promoted, the current capacity would be more than adequate, and you're saving £100+ on building costs that you'd see no return on.

Stadium size is fine. Modernising and improving what we've got should be the priority. Restore the place to its former glory.

 

[Wearson]

Hopefully any new ticket manager will have a lot more customer focus than you. We are literally turning kids away because they haven’t a bank card. I can understand people sitting at home with a fire stick given the difficulty of SAFC ticketing arrangements as a general point.

I really can’t get my head around supposed supporters who want to make it as difficult as possible for fellow supporters to support. As been stated by better people than me gaining entry to the SOL is akin to an Escape Room game.

The club needs to be inclusive in everything it does.

A couple of points.
I think you are widely exaggerating the difficulty to enter the SoL.
You are also imagining and exaggerating this potential customer base.

If you are so inspired to help those fans without a bank account or phone then do something about it, set something up or volunteer your services to the club. Don’t just virtue signal on here.

If they have no bank account or phone due to difficult circumstances, then you should really be advising them to spend their £30 on something else. Harsh but true.

So once you get these cash only fans into the ground what can they buy? Nothing, but they can gamble their cash I think ?? Great.

I am more about the welfare of the thousands of supporters who regularly solve the Escape Room esque problems and somehow get themselves into the SoL. I don’t think the club would be that keen on just letting anyone rock up and gain entry with no checks or links to their identity.
We have segregated away supporters for a reason. Sadly these days we have disruptive protesters, mad knife attackers and even terrorist activists, all of who could simply walk in at will. Not saying they can’t find a way in, but cash turnstiles would not help security.

That’s all I’ll say on the matter, it’s not happening anyway.
If it does, I’ll come down an pay the first customer in

 

[excalibur]

Extension isn’t necessary. Redevelopment and modernisation is

Agree fully with this. It’s amazing how tired it is already. The concourses (can’t comment on premier concourse), we all know are not wide enough but also they are cold and unappealing places when they could be a real hub and attract people way before kick off if done right to get us spending coinage on drinks, food etc.

I’m no structural engineer but last time I looked around in the concourse, the walls with the turnstiles didn’t look like load bearing at all as they all had steal structure above the breeze blocks. So I’m sure that whilst not full way around, certain areas they could take out the turnstiles (or move outwards) and build out single storey brick built spaces to have sections with more space and comfort making it warmer and nicer place to be.

Don’t see it would be stupid money in the grand scheme of things either but could help increase revenue before matches.

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

A couple of points.
I think you are widely exaggerating the difficulty to enter the SoL.
You are also imagining and exaggerating this potential customer base.

If you are so inspired to help those fans without a bank account or phone then do something about it, set something up or volunteer your services to the club. Don’t just virtue signal on here.

If they have no bank account or phone due to difficult circumstances, then you should really be advising them to spend their £30 on something else. Harsh but true.

So once you get these cash only fans into the ground what can they buy? Nothing, but they can gamble their cash I think ?? Great.

I am more about the welfare of the thousands of supporters who regularly solve the Escape Room esque problems and somehow get themselves into the SoL. I don’t think the club would be that keen on just letting anyone rock up and gain entry with no checks or links to their identity.
We have segregated away supporters for a reason. Sadly these days we have disruptive protesters, mad knife attackers and even terrorist activists, all of who could simply walk in at will. Not saying they can’t find a way in, but cash turnstiles would not help security.

That’s all I’ll say on the matter, it’s not happening anyway.
If it does, I’ll come down an pay the first customer in

This is not the thread to discuss this and it’s been discussed elsewhere but the I’m alright Jack attitude fck the rest of our support by a few of our supporters is disappointing.

People have witnessed kids being turned away and for those with limited tech it’s a massive problem.

Let’s have a little understanding and empathy.

The club should have an ethos of making it as easy as possible to get into the SOL and being inclusive.

We can do all that now. Anybody can rock up tonight and buy a ticket on the day. There'll be 1000s of empty seats. Why spend £100m+ adding more of them when there'll be no return on that?

If we went to 55k for example it would probably be little over half full on tonight's attendance (people actually inside the stadium). It would be grim.

Makes absolutely zero sense from a business perspective as well. I was reading something the other week saying the average price of an adult ticket in the Premier League is £48. From a purely financial point of view and looking at it through a Chairman's eyes it makes far more sense to price the tickets in line with other clubs, should we get promoted, the current capacity would be more than adequate, and you're saving £100+ on building costs that you'd see no return on.

Stadium size is fine. Modernising and improving what we've got should be the priority. Restore the place to its former glory.

No they can’t and I’m not sure where the £100m figure comes from.

 

[Wearson]

This is not the thread to discuss this and it’s been discussed elsewhere but the I’m alright Jack attitude fck the rest of our support by a few of our supporters is disappointing.

People have witnessed kids being turned away and for those with limited tech it’s a massive problem.

Let’s have a little understanding and empathy.

The club should have an ethos of making it as easy as possible to get into the SOL and being inclusive.

No they can’t and I’m not sure where the £100m figure comes from.

Alright Mother Teresa.

Do a bit of research into numbers and costs ( and security as mentioned) then you might see why it is what it is.

 

[CaptainRed]

This is not the thread to discuss this and it’s been discussed elsewhere but the I’m alright Jack attitude fck the rest of our support by a few of our supporters is disappointing.

People have witnessed kids being turned away and for those with limited tech it’s a massive problem.

Let’s have a little understanding and empathy.

The club should have an ethos of making it as easy as possible to get into the SOL and being inclusive.

No they can’t and I’m not sure where the £100m figure comes from.

It cost Liverpool £200m to add 14k seats and costs are spiralling all the time. Villa, who have far more cash than we do have had to shelve plans to add 10k seats because of cost so I'm not sure what chance we have! They need an increase as well as they are sold out every week.

There's 1000s of unsold tickets again for tonight. Stadium capacity is stopping literally nobody from attending tonight's fixture.