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Current state of the SOL and surrounding area.

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Frankey said:
I cannot believe we were seduced into that.

Sold as bringing supporters together and being a part of the clubs rebuild, a collaborative effort.

They then showed their true cowboy colours, and really they saved the cost of labour, minus the cost of a few burgers. chancers.
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True, the sol is at the point where I'd paint the steels (at ground level) myself just so it looks better.
 

Frankey said:
would you provide a little number from your book of rhymes, grimes me old Mucka? If so I am in. If not, naturally, I'm out.
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What do you mean mate? Don’t follow you but happy to help with anything you need
Rizla said:
Would work at the start of the season and perhaps at the end but during the autumn and winter months might not be too popular if the weather is crap.
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Dress appropriately works in Germany mate, can also have outdoor heaters etc
 
Grimes said:
What do you mean mate? Don’t follow you but happy to help with anything you need

Dress appropriately works in Germany mate, can also have outdoor heaters etc
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Formally sinatra mate. I don't need anything cheers mate. As long as the Griffiths Suite at the Hilton isn't booked up I'm happy.

I was referring to the songs you used to write and then post. We haven't had one for a while.
 
kildaremackem said:
when ypu say it adds nothing..are the bars there now..charging more for alcohol than the previous ones?
If so, they may be adding money,..and i have heard that can be used to buy things...
football is a middle class game now..thats why posh boys want to own clubs
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There's very little middle class going to Sunderland certainly in the concourses. They aren't as inviting as they were. As your not a supporter I don't expect you to understand the supporter experience and how a positive one can result in increased revenue.
 
Firstly, the surrounding area surely has nowt to do with the club. That’s down to the council and private developers.

Secondly, the stadium is flawed in the sense that the concourses are small and (in my view) dangerous and the East and South stands look crap from the outside (because half of the seating in those stands is underground). I can’t see that this can be rectified.

So, you’re probably looking at a lick of paint job as all that can be done.
 
does look shite on tele when watching our sky games back in the North and south stand, as said above not covered and when it rains people then move up the stand and it makes the SoL look empty
 
Cuban Pete said:
Certainly true, but KLD has done little to nothing to reverse the neglect in the near two years he's been in control. I've always felt it's a negative sign about his long-term intentions.

For all their faults, at least Donald and Methven tried to improve the customer experience (seats, fan zone, run out music, concerts) which is what any rational person would do if they bought an underachieving business.
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See there you go. I’m afraid that’s just what SD and CM wanted you to think.

KLD has heavily invested in getting the football side right, the academy and all the new staff etc. think they’ve spent a few hundred grand on the gym alone.

It’s all minuted about planning the match day experience for fans and improvements to the sol. Long term plans are being worked on.
 
Football Dinosaur said:
There's very little middle class going to Sunderland certainly in the concourses. They aren't as inviting as they were. As your not a supporter I don't expect you to understand the supporter experience and how a positive one can result in increased revenue.
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so thats whay safc revenue is lower than it might be..its not enticing the middle class supporters in the way the successful clubs are...
of course the enhnaced supporter experience increases revenue..thats my point...enhance the experience and the middle class will come and increase revenue
 
Wise Man Says said:
Firstly, the surrounding area surely has nowt to do with the club. That’s down to the council and private developers.

Secondly, the stadium is flawed in the sense that the concourses are small and (in my view) dangerous and the East and South stands look crap from the outside (because half of the seating in those stands is underground). I can’t see that this can be rectified.

So, you’re probably looking at a lick of paint job as all that can be done.
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Couldn’t you move the bottom part out so it’s in line with the overhang around the SOL?
 
kildaremackem said:
so thats whay safc revenue is lower than it might be..its not enticing the middle class supporters in the way the successful clubs are...
of course the enhnaced supporter experience increases revenue..thats my point...enhance the experience and the middle class will come and increase revenue
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If you'd been to Sunderland you'd know its not the richest part of ne or UK. We won't get random rocking up here until we go up. Until then we have to cater for our supporters, you know the ones who keep the club going.
 
Football Dinosaur said:
If you'd been to Sunderland you'd know its not the richest part of ne or UK. We won't get random rocking up here until we go up. Until then we have to cater for our supporters, you know the ones who keep the club going.
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no the owners keep the club going..it loses money evrry year which they put in. when you say sunderland isnt the wealthiest area in the UK im sure you are rught..but aere you saying they arent any middle class people? Not in durham, a university city?
SAFC attendances are amazing..the next step is to grow the yield per attender..that is..get each attending fan to spend more..thats how you grow and progress and become a successful club, not the shit show of the past decade
 
Blyth said:
Couldn’t you move the bottom part out so it’s in line with the overhang around the SOL?
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It looks like it is designed to enable this to happen.
I’m no structural engineer but the current wall does not look load bearing.
It would give the room that’s needed.

However, the gap in quality between SoL and the modern grounds like Spurs and Wembley is massive now.
 
Rizla said:
A new stadium in today's money is hundreds of million, isn't it?

Return on investment is the conundrum. Would fans be willing to pay an extra £100+ a year on their season tickets for wider concourses and better match day experience?
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Out of interest, would people prefer a new stadium or stay at the SOL?
 
It's looking a bit rough round the edges in some parts but it is now 25 years old after all and being realistic they won't be able to spend considerable money on tarting it up until we are back in the PL.

And it's still the best stadium outside the Premier League by a country mile!
 
Steedy M said:
Out of interest, would people prefer a new stadium or stay at the SOL?
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Could the SOL not be redeveloped?It’s sited in the Riverside Development area which will change the area completely from it’s current run down state. I’m sure good architects could draw up plans which include expanding the North,South and East Stands to widen the concourse. Also the metal cladding looks very dated now.
 
Been watching the lads for 50 years plus
Anyone complaining about the Sol needs to get a grip.
Walk in -beer -seat -enjoy
I’m 60 ish !this is bad ?
We are really getting soft as yer kna what -the modern way
( fower nor five tin hats) !
 
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Superkenwynejones said:
Get shot of the shite Ice bar and Flame grilled burger branding
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Aye I hate that shit. Would be interested to know how it came to them being left like that after one of the gigs because I’m fairly sure it didn’t stay like that after the first ever gig(s). I went to a few of the early ones like Oasis and that branding was always brought in for the gigs then it was back to the SAFC legends branding for the start of the season. Then it seems like after one gig someone’s just decided they can’t be arsed to change it back.

On the whole I think except a jet wash and lick of paint in places there’s not a lot wrong with the SoL since they got the seats sorted (probably the only decent thing Donald & Co achieved), bearing in mind it is a football ground and not a shopping centre or hotel. It could just do with a slight modernisation. A bit more colour (red and white to replace grey) on the concourses would improve them and historic/legends photos or something.
 
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