SOL expansion

[Be Here Now]

And if results went sour again we'd be stuck with even more empty seats

No need for the personal insults as my post didn’t require that.

Additionally, the north stand also houses home support in the NW corner so your post was even more nonsensical.

There is no need whatsoever to belittle our support. Given the past 80 years it is the best in world football imho.

No need for the personal insults as my post didn’t require that.

Additionally, the north stand also houses home support in the NW corner so your post was even more nonsensical.

There is no need whatsoever to belittle our support. Given the past 80 years it is the best in world football imho.

 

[AndrewP]

So you don’t think looking at extending the offering, improving the stadium and increasing availability of seating and increasing revenue isn’t realistic forward planning.

I don't think it isn't realistic forward planning. Correct.

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

In division 3, before the stadium was built? I only remember 35k. Notts county maybe.

Makes sense, but then other than just adding boxes at the back of the NEC/East Stand, then it'll mean adding more regular seats too.

Apologies, 45,000 was our last spell.

I think the 87/88 season the highest gate was 30,000 v Northampton, which I believe was the biggest gate in the NE that season. Little old Sunderland.

And if results went sour again we'd be stuck with even more empty seats

Great measured response. I have had no dealings with you but can understand why other posters have a poor opinion of you if this is your k look even if debate.

Belittling SAFCs support at every opportunity makes you look a bit daft imho.

 

[AndrewP]

Apologies, 45,000 was our last spell.

I think the 87/88 season the highest gate was 30,000 v Northampton, which I believe was the biggest gate in the NE that season. Little old Sunderland.

I remembered it being higher, but also remember it being the wrong team. I was young.

I was there though.

 

[RedandWhiteRebel]

Would it not be possible to mirror the West stand but instead of 27 rows of seats like the Premier concourse have maybe 2 rows of boxes and a 3 row of a premium bar then only something like 12 rows of seats above them.
Much needed additional hospitality and a few thousand extra seats, something like 55,000 capacity.

Good shout it would be interesting to see how that would look.

It could be a good compromise of adding much needed hospitality space while not adding too many regular seats.

 

[AndrewP]

I notice any mention of the new hospitality you’re all over it being negative despite it having no impact on you. I find it bizarre that you’re concerned with what others are willing to spend going to watch a match.

I think you read things that aren't there to be honest mate. I think I've said multiple times that it's probably a good idea to increase the availability of hospitality. I also couldn't care less what others spend at the match, they could triple the price of all hospitality for all I care, it's extra income for the club and it's not my money.

I think it's the adding of over 10k extra seats that I think might be a mistake.

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

I remembered it being higher, but also remember it being the wrong team. I was young.

I was there though.

I was on the pitch v Northampton

If I remember right Notts County was a big crowd and I think that was pretty much the first game when the Mainstand seats really found a voice. A lot of anger to notts county given the fairly recent miners strike.

 

[Ricci's Special Kebabs]

That was when we were in league one.
Are we planning on going back there anytime soon?

No, but being back in the Championship is a distinct possibility after next season. Midweek games are littered with empty seats, and cup games are lucky to have it half full as it is.

We don't need more seats, better facilities, yes. more Corporate, maybe.

 

[Dog in a pram]

Expanding capacity would be a vanity project. I’d much rather they spent the money on the pitch and looked for smart ways to maximise revenue generation from what we have through more targeted upgrades.

Murray played an absolute blinder getting the SOL built for £15m. And even the north stand extension was value at £7m. Materials, labour costs have gone up massively and design standard expectations will be much more expensive than they were back then.

As a wild guess I would bet it would cost double or triple the original cost of the stadium just to expand the south stand to two tiers in today’s money. I just can’t see it stacking up financially given we have some of the cheapest ticket prices around a we as consumers are very cost sensitive. We wouldn’t fill what we have if they put prices up substantially.

 

[AndrewP]

If they are going to build any hospitality it will be a stand extension. Absolutely no other way to do it

Nonsense, to be fair.

 

[Scotcat]

Good shout it would be interesting to see how that would look.

It could be a good compromise of adding much needed hospitality space while not adding too many regular seats.

I can kind of picture it in my head, would be great to see a mock up but that's way beyond my skill set sadly.

 

[DonaldDownTheWing]

That was when we were in league one.
Are we planning on going back there anytime soon?

I’m not sure we ever planned on going there at all mate, but we did.

 

[AndrewP]

I was on the pitch v Northampton

If I remember right Notts County was a big crowd and I think that was pretty much the first game when the Mainstand seats really found a voice. A lot of anger to notts county given the fairly recent miners strike.

I think I was probably confusing it because Notts County were our main rivals that season from what I remember.

I was on the pitch v Northampton

Are you Colin Pascoe?

 

[Northumberland Rocks]

I can kind of picture it in my head, would be great to see a mock up but that's way beyond my skill set sadly.

There was some images knocking around a while back with the SOL fully completed with the second tier all the way around.

It looked pretty impressive to say the least

 

[JackL]

Expanding capacity would be a vanity project. I’d much rather they spent the money on the pitch and looked for smart ways to maximise revenue generation from what we have through more targeted upgrades.

Murray played an absolute blinder getting the SOL built for £15m. And even the north stand extension was value at £7m. Materials, labour costs have gone up massively and design standard expectations will be much more expensive than they were back then.

As a wild guess I would bet it would cost double or triple the original cost of the stadium just to expand the south stand to two tiers in today’s money. I just can’t see it stacking up financially given we have some of the cheapest ticket prices around a we as consumers are very cost sensitive. We wouldn’t fill what we have if they put prices up substantially.

The people on here aren't thinking about financial viability though, they're just interested in winning a dick swinging contest in terms of who's got the biggest ground

 

[ClassicDom]

People think an owner who’s put precisely zero equity into the club is going to cough up to extend the stadium?

 

[Trauntrian]

Anyone else just find this chat about extension we have yearly hilarious as we've not got close to selling it out consistently for 23 years haha. Like why do we bother and chat about it?

Last decent season in the Premier (ie pre-2016) we averaged well over 43K (ie pre-2016) and had 5 matches over 45K ( and another 5 over the 44K mark ) with large losses in capacity due to segregation. That's pretty close to the capacity.

In the championship not long after that, Sunderland has an average of just over 29K, last season in the same division we averaged well over 40K.

It wouldn't surprise me if the home-ends are either sold out or just have a few tickets available here or there for most games next season.

If we ever achieve any consistency or start competing in the mid-table areas, new supporters won't be able to get tickets for love nor money without extra capacity.

 

[Scotcat]

There was some images knocking around a while back with the SOL fully completed with the second tier all the way around.

It looked pretty impressive to say the least

I remember seeing those. It's not too hard to picture that with extra hospitality and fewer rows of seats.

 

[Bacon]

I think if we sell out next season and there were a waiting list of say 5000 season tickets for example then there’s no way they’ll expand, they’ll use the demand to increase prices further hoping that anyone who jacks it in over price will easily be replaced, looking at what they’re now charging the season after we could looking at around £30m in gate receipts that’s a huge uplift. Not good for fans (especially those who put up with L1 days) but that’s what they’ll be looking to do.

 

[North Yorks Mackem]

Apologies, 45,000 was our last spell.

I think the 87/88 season the highest gate was 30,000 v Northampton, which I believe was the biggest gate in the NE that season. Little old Sunderland.

Great measured response. I have had no dealings with you but can understand why other posters have a poor opinion of you if this is your k look even if debate.

Belittling SAFCs support at every opportunity makes you look a bit daft imho.

Tbf you had a go at him for throwing personal insults off the back of him insinuating you were being delusional which you responded to by saying his argument was nonsensical. Now youre getting personal. Sometimes he really can't win.

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Can't be true. Read on here it's a done deal to start extending the east stand.