Nicola doesn't need to submit plans, he just snaps his fingers at the City Council and they roll on their backs. I love your new strap line Godders btw.
Its from our season ticket DVD which I can only dream of owning. I don't think it is an actual plan but is there to show that there are more future plans to get excited about. This is only the beginning.
That is where I copied it from as I bought my ST (and of course the very lovey Mrs Godders' ST as well) on Friday having just got back from my holidays. Some art work has obviously been done and one must only assume that moves are afoot for some major development work at St Mary's.
Apparently Southampton Council are planning a waterfront development with a 'Saints Square' (not sure of actual name)...this may be a part of that with SFC and the Council hand-in-hand. Would make sense and would suggest that the Council would have a strong interest in keeping SMS where it is rather than have it move out of the City. Years down the road I suspect, but may mean we get permission to extend if financially viable.
I know it's only an artist's impression, but it looks like the extra seating is contained in cantilevered extensions to the existing stands, so may not make the footprint of the stadium any larger as they would be supported by struts running at an angle back to the existing stadium walls.
Nothing firm yet, but It does mean there are plans to do it if permission can be granted. As optimistic saint says, the Kingsland extension will likely be supportend by pillars, as essentially will the rest of the expansion, so the existing part of the stadium won't need any major structural changes and the footprint of the stadium won't need to be bigger than it is now. If we do this, I can see it being great for both the club and the city.
I know Cortese isn't above a tease, but definitely shows plans are afoot, even if only in one of his dreams.
Meant to comment about this earlier. I've seen the outline plans Southampton CC involving the Itchen waterside, and it does indeed have a Saints Square, or some such place, in front of St Marys stadium. I suspect Saints have been much more in contact with SCC than we know. What we do know is that whatever Nicola says he will do, does eventually happen. Even the things he has merely hinted at seem to have substance, and he has more than hinted that Saints will eventually expand the stadium or move. The recent DVD already shows that Saints have done research into potential supporter numbers and their financial/social category, so I think Cortese believes he can justify a 50,000 stadium. As I mentioned before, I think Saints are just waiting for SCC to approve their plans. In my opinion, it is just a matter of time.
I'd much rather expand St Mary's than move out of town. I'd cite the Amex as a good reason not to. There were only about 20,000 people there, but the infrastucture was bursting at the seams. Getting 50,000 to a place like that all at once would be a logistical nightmare.
Totally agree, and knowing Saints reputation for customer service there would be no parking and the only way to access the stadium would be by park and ride priced at £5 return.
To be fair, the present road system to St Marys stadium isn't that brilliant, and I think that might be one sticking point in the whole expansion. The other might be the railway line. The roads cope with the present maximum capacity, but would they cope with 50,000, arriving en masse..? EDIT: By the way, I don't think moving would constitute leaving town.
