IIRC the planning permission has already been renewed at least once that I am aware of. When the stadium was built the piles were put in place for the extension so I suppose technically we have already started work.
That's a good point Mate so maybe there are less obstacles than I thought which may make the process smoother if they decide to go ahead. Like I have said above there are a lot of things to consider when planning something of this nature and it will not be something which is done without a lot of due care and attention. I work primarily on large construction projects and the amount of planning and pre-construction works can take years, I understand that this is maybe not on that scale but would still be a big undertaking by the club. They may decide just to upgrade the existing but I think the feasibility studies will have probably started some time last year which makes me start to think about what is maybe going on in the background regarding investors and sponsors ETC.
Personally I think that it would be preferable to extend the east stand to provide additional corporate facilities. IIRC the lack of corporate facilities was one of the reasons given for the failure to clinch a really large act /concert. However, someone did make a good point in relation to the redevelopment of Sheepfolds and the possible problems this may cause to the South Stand extension, hence why we are having this conversation now, possibly.
It's my recollection,and it's been discussed many times on here,that Bob Murray's legacy will be that the stadium was constructed in such a way as to allow expansion to 64,000 without the need for expensive restructure. Fact which I'm certain has not been lost on KLD. In my lifetime,we've filled a stadium with those numbers on a few occasions, but I would hesitate to commit to them on a week by week basis,unless we were rampaging top of the EPL. Certain away matches, and those at Wembley, are not necessarily representative.....they attract a fair number of glory hunters,who will disappear when we get back to the run-of-the-mill matches....human nature I suppose. I would much rather we play in front of a full 48k than a quarter empty 64k. The home atmosphere is something I've been concerned about for a bit. It appears our city is about to go through a kind of metamorphisis,and it's good to think that the club will be at the forefront of it. I think KLD,JS and their associates will be well aware of the investment opportunity which prevails....on the pitch and off.
exactly what i remember. the stadium was designed for extending if and when it was needed with the absolute minimum of fuss and disruption..the only real 'disruption' on the original extension was that supporters were supplied with plastic macs to keep the rain off, seem to remember a very quick and safe job, rather than entire stands being closed down while work was done and 60,000+ was the figure that we heard. i understand that there will obviously still be plenty of planning and discussions covering many topics before they even consider it but i very much doubt the supporter numbers will be the main reason, they will most certainly be looking at concerts and other non-football events...with the work already done around the quayside and gateshead plus the work happening around sunderland this region may well offer a lot more than it previously has done, the football support is second to none and improving the region to make a 'going to the game' into a full day out and about can only benefit everyone.
Apparently the current roof framework can be unbolted and swung up backwards to form the wall of the next tier. Read that a couple of times over the years. Good rumour anyway. Plus I posted earlier on imagining what it would be like if we were ever successful. 60K could be small given regular champions league and culture of winning over 20 years like at Liverpool, Man U etc. We are so ingrained on 10 wins a season or one good season every five year that we just can't properly imagine what it could be like.
Building out towards the sheepfolds up to the boundary that the club own. Same as they could do for the east stand into to car park
What about it? North stand is maxd out. Had to be build before the aquatic otherwise the club wouldn't have got permission
My understanding was that the club owned the land that Black Cat House stands on but the actual car park land was still held by the development agency or whatever took its place. This was based upon information for the redevelopment of Sheepfolds but was some time ago. If the club subsequently have purchased the land it's passed me by.
Which they would have to do anyway if they wanted to rebuild the east stand. The east stand concourse is a nightmare before and at half time
True, you can see the logic though, East stand to mirror the west stand and include more corporate boxes, south stand eventually built up into the 'home end' More corporate facilities are the easier win for more income
Definitely. Good opportunity to move the club shop to the East as well. Be very interesting to see the plans and drawings if/when they lodge the planning permission. I'd take the opportunity to change all of the turnstiles as well tbh. Those floor to ceiling metal bars feel like you are entering some sort of maximum security prison. And they always clip the back of my heels when I go in
I always assume that the East Stand is so busy because people in West/South/North use those turnstiles to get in when they walk over from Black Cat House/Tavern direction? Queues always seem massive outside the East Stand - is that reflected elsewhere in the stadium? What are people's experiences?
