So now that (with any FA penalty taken into account) looking nailed-on for the Play Offs and looking good for automatic, what do think the club should do about the East Stand ? I would have thought throwing up something temporary in the close season would be an option IF we went up.
If we plan on having a fourth stand in time for late August, then we really, really need to go up automatically. An extra few weeks would probably make it impossible.
We need a stand, however, is there any point in putting one up if we can't fill it? Need a stand though, this 3 sided affair is embarassing.
what is the criteria for a Premiership stadium (e.g. 4 sides, minimum capacity?)? do we actually need the stand yet, embarrassment aside.
yes it's embarrassing, and yes we need one if we go up (not sure about the rules though) but...i'm sure they will hold back til the result of the hearing is known...
I think that is why the Pozzos and Duxbury want to ensure we can get gates of 15k on a regular basis to make the building of a new stand worthwhille.
Note to self - do NOT attempt to multi-task while posting a message. And always check the spelling and grammar before submitting. It's only 11 AM here so I can't even blame booze. Shameful.
When we were first in the Prem in 99 we put up temporary seating next to the East Stand. Blackpool put up a temporary stand a couple of seasons ago when they were in the Prem (they still have it, the away end Im talking about)
I found something regarding Blackpool when they were promoted in 2010, they only had a 12,000 capacity which was under the 16,000 figure that the Premiership require. I think that we have over this capacity but not sure if this figure has changed in the last couple of years. As some have already said, should we be spending a large amount of money on a new stand that may not be filled? Would it be better to sort out the Rookery/Rous corner first, move the changing rooms and player tunnel and maybe put up a temporary stand (5000 capacity) until proper plans for the new stadium are decided?
Read somewhere that promotion this year is worth around £100 million. More than enough to build a nice new stand. The pozzos have spotted an opportunity in Watford and will without doubt back it if we go up. We will have no problem getting 20000 plus every week. The population of Watford is over 100000. We have always taken 35000 plus to playoff finals. The only other option as people say will b to build a temporary stand and a new stadium elsewhere. Tbh I think this wont b necessary as the other 3 stands are nice enough and they have already put in a lot of work with the pitch/corners etc. first things first let's get promoted then we can worry about what to do with the money
Welcome Danhornet! On the subject though , I think we should build a new stand and call it the Lloyd Doyley stand, but i think they're calling it the Graham Taylor Stand. Both are equally good names
Put it this way - if we go up I would rather we put £3.5 million towards a new stand than an alternative inanimate object of similar weight and size like last time
I believe that the population of Watford Borough is around 80,000 and it is the smallest of the triangle of towns (Hemel and St Albans). Of course if you include these and Three Rivers, Northwood, Borehamwood etc., then our catchment area is well over 300,000. So Dan you are probably correct in claiming that we would have no problem getting 20,000 every week if we were to build a new Main Stand (hate the term East Stand.....) even with the London competition factor. The kind of football that we are (mostly) playing at the moment, together with the prospect of more quality players from our "sister" clubs, and a stay in the top flight longer than the obligatory 3 seasons (Autumn, Winter & Spring) all mean that this time we would be a far more attractive proposition crowd-wise.
A temporary stand shouldn't be a problem, though the old one would have to be removed first. In Christchurch a temporary 18000 seat stadium was built very quickly after the earthquake and it had to satisfy earthquake building regulations, which shouldn't be necessary for Watford!
If we do go up the stand will become higher up the list of to do things. There is planning approval for a scheme, but we don't know if the Pozzos would want to go along with that as it stands. There are many problems with building on that side of the ground, the distance from pitchside to the road is rather small. I do remember that when the old stand was condemmed it was stated that the costs involved in just clearing everything away was over £1m. There is a buzz around the club now that has been missing for too long and providing that that feeling can be maintained then I think crowds will continue to grow. If that happens the expense would be worth a punt, something that I would not have said last season.
After 3 consecutive seasons in the Prem, even with a new East Stand we still would not get over 20k. Too many kids pretending they are Arsenal/Spurs fans.
