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SoL To Undergo Multi-Million-Pound Investment Programme

Looks class.

I've suggested this elsewhere, but I really think we should add some red LED lights within the ground, specifically pointed to the underside of the roof and to the top of entrance ways. This is used to good effect in other stadiums around europe.

See the underside of the roof at Monchengladbach's stadium as an example of what I mean:

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And

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I've suggested it to @Becs in the past, but unsure if things like this are raised in the fan meetings.
Good idea this, I've been to that stadium and the lights are a nice touch. Doesn't seem like much but as it started to get dark it just added to the feel of the place.
 

From a selfish point of view I want it extended ASAP.

I'm locked out of the Saudi match and other tickets are a scramble so increased capacity would benefit me.

I initially thought an extension would come sooner rather than later due to high demand but maybe not.
It will be minimum 3 years imo.

The club will want to test demand and ticket pricing before extending. The logic is sound in my view.
 
The issue no one seems to be aware of or discussing which will impact all current season ticket holders is that the scarcity of tickets now is playing into the hands of the club. Where demand outstrips supply it leads to only one thing. Price rises. Our season tickets have been some of the cheapest around for years. Not because of the economics of the area but because supply always outstripped demand. Now that this has reversed it means the club can and will put prices up. We saw it last year. Expect another big increase this year. If we sell out again next season you can then almost be certain an extension will come.
 
Yeah but the reality is it could happen, or we could become perpetual strugglers again.
Who cares? Like that’s the same whether 45k, 55k. It just is. It’s like small time mentality. Birmingham, Leeds, Villa, Forest etc aren’t thinking like that.
By who, tourists? Can’t tell me local Sunderland fans have any more of a clamour for it these days than 10 years ago? Find it a bit depressing if there is a desperate clamour to extend so we can pad crowds out with Premier League tourists. I know it would be ‘progression’ and keeping up with other teams such as your West Ham’s (it’s gone well for them…) but it’s depressing all the same.
I’ve spoke to 2 fans this week saying they’ve tried for tickets and haven’t got them so they’ve kinda given up. They had season tickets previously up until 3 year ago and tried to get new ones this season. Aye bandwagon etc but these aren’t tourists.
 
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Who cares? Like that’s the same whether 45k, 55k. It just is. It’s like small time mentality. Birmingham, Leeds, Villa, Forest etc aren’t thinking like that.

I’ve spoke to 2 fans this week saying they’ve tried for tickets and haven’t got them so they’ve kinda given up. They had season tickets previously up until 3 year ago and tried to get new ones this season. Aye bandwagon etc but these aren’t tourists.

the extra Bournemouth tickets 1500 of them were on sale for just short of 8 hours before they all got bought so plenty of opportunity.

i personally think we getting ahead ourselves by pushing for an extension, a few bad results and the demand will drop.

we are about right now capacity wise to keep the steady demand for home tickets going.
 
Does it though? If we are talking about the South Stand then it won't have much impact as that is usually the end with the stage in front of it. Yes it could switch to being at the North end but you then only gain whatever extra seating and corporate you can build into the new extension compared to the previous one. Can't be a huge difference there surely?
Some stages are in the centre of the pitch at stadium gigs now. Ed Sheeran was iirc.
 
By who, tourists? Can’t tell me local Sunderland fans have any more of a clamour for it these days than 10 years ago? Find it a bit depressing if there is a desperate clamour to extend so we can pad crowds out with Premier League tourists. I know it would be ‘progression’ and keeping up with other teams such as your West Ham’s (it’s gone well for them…) but it’s depressing all the same.

Nobody is suggesting we stand still, they’re just saying let’s not jump the gun. At the moment we’ve been doing anything but standing still. By this logic every PL team should be looking to expand because grounds are full. I would be fully behind it if the newer comers that have taken our crowds from 40k+ to 46-47k are still turning up every week after a couple of years.

By who, tourists? Can’t tell me local Sunderland fans have any more of a clamour for it these days than 10 years ago? Find it a bit depressing if there is a desperate clamour to extend so we can pad crowds out with Premier League tourists. I know it would be ‘progression’ and keeping up with other teams such as your West Ham’s (it’s gone well for them…) but it’s depressing all the same.

Nobody is suggesting we stand still, they’re just saying let’s not jump the gun. At the moment we’ve been doing anything but standing still. By this logic every PL team should be looking to expand because grounds are full. I would be fully behind it if the newer comers that have taken our crowds from 40k+ to 46-47k are still turning up every week after a couple of years.
There’s been a post Covid boom across the board- Premier League, Football League, Non League. Attendances at most clubs are on the up. Compare our championship attendances from the noughties with this decade, and then our Premier League attendances now blow our previous ones out of the water. Away attendances are up at most clubs as well. Ours have always been strong but gone are the days of say Fulham bringing 300 up.

Cheap tickets over the years have built our fanbase and we have a larger core, and seemingly a younger attending fan base than a lot of clubs.

Obviously fans who usually don’t commit as much when we’re in the Championship/L1 are more eager to attend now - that’s just a given really and hopefully the catch the bug and eventually buy season tickets. Then you’ll have your tourist fans which is a sign of the times but this is also the biggest sports league world over, so it’s naturally going to attract those who wouldn’t give lower tier football a second thought.

Live entertainment in general seems to have exploded in popularity in recent years.
 
This might be a bit outdated, but we are currently at stage 0, possibly Stage 1.

Stage 7 is when we actually get to use the new extension -

RIBA Plan of Work – The 8 Stages

🔵 Stage 0 — Strategic Definition

Establish the project’s need and feasibility.

Consider site options, funding, client requirements.

No design yet — high-level strategy only.



---

🟣 Stage 1 — Preparation & Briefing

Develop project objectives and constraints.

Prepare the initial Project Brief.

Assemble the project team.

Early cost planning and risk assessment.



---

🟢 Stage 2 — Concept Design

Initial design ideas and sketch proposals.

Explore options for layout, form, materials.

Set the Concept Design that responds to the brief.



---

🟡 Stage 3 — Spatial Coordination

(Previously “Developed Design”)

Coordinate architectural, structural, MEP designs.

Designs become more detailed and integrated.

Updated cost plan, planning application usually submitted here.



---

🟠 Stage 4 — Technical Design

Full technical drawings and specifications.

Finalise all details for construction.

Building regulations and tender documentation prepared.



---

🔴 Stage 5 — Manufacturing & Construction

Construction works take place on site.

Off-site manufacturing (if any) completed.

Regular site inspections and contract administration.



---

🟤 Stage 6 — Handover

Building completed and handed over to the client.

Snagging, commissioning, user training.

Preparation for occupation.



---

⚫ Stage 7 — Use

Post-occupancy evaluation.

Building maintenance and review.

Feedback to improve future projects.
I follow this exact plan when I make an omelette. They're always absolute belters too, so this process definitely works.
 
the extra Bournemouth tickets 1500 of them were on sale for just short of 8 hours before they all got bought so plenty of opportunity.

i personally think we getting ahead ourselves by pushing for an extension, a few bad results and the demand will drop.

we are about right now capacity wise to keep the steady demand for home tickets going.
To be fair though, they weren't massively advertised - went on sale at 10am and were all sold before 5pm, so most people hadn't finished work - all over 10 days before the game
 
Who cares? Like that’s the same whether 45k, 55k. It just is. It’s like small time mentality. Birmingham, Leeds, Villa, Forest etc aren’t thinking like that.

I’ve spoke to 2 fans this week saying they’ve tried for tickets and haven’t got them so they’ve kinda given up. They had season tickets previously up until 3 year ago and tried to get new ones this season. Aye bandwagon etc but these aren’t tourists.
That’s unfortunate and I genuinely feel for people who want to get in and can’t, and I don’t at all mean for this to sound as brutal as it will come across, but it is what it is really and a simple case of supply and demand. They had their tickets, gave them up when things weren’t so great, and then had to wait in the line with everyone else when they decided they wanted to return after promotion. I’m sure them and many others like them will get the opportunity again if the newcomer fans either: a) stick it out with the rest of us for the longer haul meaning an extension will definitely be needed beyond doubt, or b) wrap in again at the first sign of any struggle - in which case the seats become free again.

All I’m saying is I think committing to an extension after just 3 months of consistently selling out the stadium for the first time in 20 years is premature. Not that we shouldn’t be aspiring to do it and putting early plans in place to look into it, just that it is premature.

I obviously hope this doesn’t happen but say this season tailed off and we finished 15th and rather than every match selling out, it was only the occasional one, and that then carried on into next season where we hung around the bottom half of the league for most of it and again crowds were a healthy 43k-45k or so but without selling out every time. Would it really be worth it?
 
The issue no one seems to be aware of or discussing which will impact all current season ticket holders is that the scarcity of tickets now is playing into the hands of the club. Where demand outstrips supply it leads to only one thing. Price rises. Our season tickets have been some of the cheapest around for years. Not because of the economics of the area but because supply always outstripped demand. Now that this has reversed it means the club can and will put prices up. We saw it last year. Expect another big increase this year. If we sell out again next season you can then almost be certain an extension will come.
Agree. Of course this is what they'll do. Not saying necessarily huge increases but they'll test demand on pricing. I think 3 years minimum before they look to extend.
 
To be fair though, they weren't massively advertised - went on sale at 10am and were all sold before 5pm, so most people hadn't finished work - all over 10 days before the game
Yea but with an extension you talking an extra 5000 seats.

Look at the stadium plan now, there’s loads of hospitality seats available and has been for every game this season. When sales aren’t great the club have sold “padded seats “ …..still on sale for Bournemouth and have been on sale for every game this season ….Yes they’re a little bit more expensive than your standard ticket but if we had crazy demand then even these seat will sell straight away.


The new extension won’t be just standard seats, it will only be worth while doing if we can offer hospitality as well . We not selling out the hospitality we have now never mind adding more.

Just my opinion
 
Yea but with an extension you talking an extra 5000 seats.

Look at the stadium plan now, there’s loads of hospitality seats available and has been for every game this season. When sales aren’t great the club have sold “padded seats “ …..still on sale for Bournemouth and have been on sale for every game this season ….Yes they’re a little bit more expensive than your standard ticket but if we had crazy demand then even these seat will sell straight away.


The new extension won’t be just standard seats, it will only be worth while doing if we can offer hospitality as well . We not selling out the hospitality we have now never mind adding more.

Just my opinion

The only hospitality not selling out is 76 Yards, plus a dozen or so seats in Banks on the Wear. 76 Yards has a credibility problem - an awful lot of people just see it as a rebadged BCB (in fact, it's a lot of an upgrade), and the price uplift from the old BCB prices was a deterrent. For boxes in particular, demand appears to way outstrip supply. There's also scope for another suite at the Monty's level. We're losing out on concert income as our hospitality options are seen as inadequate. There#s much to be gained from an expanded East Stand with good hospitality options, and increased general seating for which there is clearly demand.
 
That’s unfortunate and I genuinely feel for people who want to get in and can’t, and I don’t at all mean for this to sound as brutal as it will come across, but it is what it is really and a simple case of supply and demand. They had their tickets, gave them up when things weren’t so great, and then had to wait in the line with everyone else when they decided they wanted to return after promotion. I’m sure them and many others like them will get the opportunity again if the newcomer fans either: a) stick it out with the rest of us for the longer haul meaning an extension will definitely be needed beyond doubt, or b) wrap in again at the first sign of any struggle - in which case the seats become free again.

All I’m saying is I think committing to an extension after just 3 months of consistently selling out the stadium for the first time in 20 years is premature. Not that we shouldn’t be aspiring to do it and putting early plans in place to look into it, just that it is premature.

I obviously hope this doesn’t happen but say this season tailed off and we finished 15th and rather than every match selling out, it was only the occasional one, and that then carried on into next season where we hung around the bottom half of the league for most of it and again crowds were a healthy 43k-45k or so but without selling out every time. Would it really be worth it?
At the end of the day KLD will decide if and when to increase. I would personally be in favour sooner rather than later, unlike you, however whatever we think is the best time is irrelevant. We are 6 months away from the end of the season, initial planning application will probably take until then. After that detailed extension plans submitted, acceptance required. New season begins, everything from procurement would need sorting along with a multitude of other things. The earliest it would/could be started is the end of the 26/27 season. To the neighsayers let’s wait a couple of years, it couldn’t be any earlier really..
 
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