SOL expansion

[Rotherham red'n'white]

The club originally applied for planning permission back in 1999 for an extension to the South Stand (circa 7k seats), and a hotel in the car park behind the main stand, with a bridge over the car park for hotel-guest access. Being a bit nerdy, I downloaded the planning applications from the council's planning page at the time and kept them. They're an interesting read from a "what might have been point" of view. Bob Murray said at the time he hoped to then double the east stand, as part of the WOrld Cup (or was it Euro?) bids of 2004/2006 etc, knowing there would be government funding available. Of the three applications the only one that happended was the north stand.

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[North Yorks Mackem]

How many times have we sold out in the last 15 years? Not many at all. Talk of an expansion now is completely bonkers imo. Let's get established in the PL and then consider it if we're consistently selling out.

 

[Zidane]

I've always said and still maintain its big enough as it is.

Even when in the premier league it's been big enough.

 

[Ava Ava Ava]

Waskerley?

Used to be a major railway centre a century and a half ago.

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

How many times have we sold out in the last 15 years? Not many at all. Talk of an expansion now is completely bonkers imo. Let's get established in the PL and then consider it if we're consistently selling out.

Extension isn’t necessary. Redevelopment and modernisation is

 

[Big Duke Six]

Used to be a major railway centre a century and a half ago.

I know. I can still remember trains running across to Durhills quarry.

 

[Sidewinder2]

That’s because we were shite.

What when we finished 7th two years in a row?

 

[Big Duke Six]

What when we finished 7th two years in a row?

No, not then.

 

[Wrenthorpe Mackem]

Please define your version of relatively cheaply, stadium builds and extensions will have gone up alarmingly since 1997 probably by 10/15 times.

It would make absolutely no financial sense whatsoever for KLD to expand the SOL at this point in time.

If Sunderland get promoted which I would like to see by the way they will almost certainly sell out the SOL regularly, but from an owners prospective that isn't reason enough to expand the stadium capacity in the short term.

The reasoning for the above is that firstly he could simply raise ticket prices incrementally and test the waters for long term demand, I know for a fact that Sunderland fans in general are quite sensitive in regards to ticket price increases and have bulked at multiple Cup ties in the past even when the tickets were priced very fairly. Arsenal in the FA Cup, and Manchester United in the League Cup semi final both spring to mind with low attendances in both of those games as examples.

Most sensible owners will raise ticket prices with increased demand and keep on raising them if the games are still selling out and a season ticket waiting list appears and grows consistently then is the time to expand the stadiums capacity, with planning done previously.

Most football fans want a bigger capacity stadium but building or expanding a stadium just for a cock waving contest for fans makes no financial sense, those saying that concerts will pay for the building costs are living in Cuckoo land unfortunately.

Sorry for the War and Peace novel

Some reasonable points but the Arsenal and Man Utd cup games years ago now. We got 30K for a third or fourth round cup replay with Fulham recently. Not saying huge but better attendance.

I think most are saying corporate facilities need improving/increasing although not all I know.

I think we will just see prices go up if we get promoted. The owners may indeed test the waters on pricing.

I know. I just don't agree it would work at Sunderland

Why not?

 

[DiscopantsSoL]

It's in Bob Murrays book that there is a plan to extend the South Stand. However I'm not sure how many extra seats that would mean, if any. It could just be extended for hospitality. But extending the east stand would make more sense for the concerts etc

South Stand Extension would be 7,232 seats at the same profile of the Premier Concourse.

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[JPS]

Imagine the amount of early leavers if we extended. Folk trying to beat the queues once a fortnight

 

[BucketBiff]

With the new bridge, the next extension surely has to be the south stand with a nice big glass facade etc, make the place look proper imposing as your walking across the bridge.

Not that I think we need to extend but if we did I d love them to make one big fuck off home end like Dortmund if it was possible. Oh and get rid of the Roker End name.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

You will see changes to the SOL in the next couple of seasons but the changes will be to the hospitality offerings. Expect some change within the north stand first.

 

[horselover]

Noticed the new ticket office is on show now

 

[Weststand]

You will see changes to the SOL in the next couple of seasons but the changes will be to the hospitality offerings. Expect some change within the north stand first.

No brainer the BCB needs a massive overhaul

 

[Hank Scorpio]

No brainer the BCB needs a massive overhaul

I suspect the BCB will go completely mate. You will see it replaced with a mix of boxes and high end hospitality

 

[Weststand]

I suspect the BCB will go completely mate. You will see it replaced with a mix of boxes and high end hospitality

Good to hear

 

[Di Canios Knees]

Wasn’t there “apparently” plans of reducing capacity by a couple of thousand or so to allow the to bring the boxes all the way round the stadium at some point recently?

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Wasn’t there “apparently” plans of reducing capacity by a couple of thousand or so to allow the to bring the boxes all the way round the stadium at some point recently?

Very long-term bud.

 

[Di Canios Knees]

Very long-term bud.

That was definitely mentioned wasn’t it? Bring the boxes all the way round, will probably reduce capacity to about 45,000 but will bring in much more revenue with hospitality?