Even with expansion we will be around mid table. Should we expand further or is 33,000 enough? How much longer can Swansea compete with the leagues smallest crowds by some margin? http://espnfc.com/stats/attendance/_/league/eng.1/barclays-premier-league?cc=5739
I think 33,000 is enough for the moment, if and when we becomes an established premier league side then talk of further expansion can be discussed. VT is a shrew business man and I do not think he will expand any more until he is confident of a return of his investment or when he decides to float the club. The Swans are also expanding their ground but I am not sure to what capacity but I am led to believe it will begin shortly....
See the plans in Sunday's match programme? 33k for next season but further plans to put upper tiers on Grange and Canton ends and eventually bring the tiers into the corners. This would give a 45k capacity. On the face of it that would put us on a par with Liverpool but they have plans to extend Anfield having bought most of the houses around the ground. Also the Spammers move into the Olympic Stadium in the next couple of years and Spurs plan to increase WHL to 56/60k. Are Man City extending the Etihad as well? Minimum 45/50k seaters appear the way forward as long as the money is sloshing around so Hilts question about the Swans is valid although I think their plans will take them to about 35/36k eventually. I can't see us going to 45k until established in the Prem after 2 or 3 seasons
There are currently over 6500 Swan supporters on a waiting list for season tickets?? And have been for nearly three years, plans for expansion have been approved, and would increase our capacity by 11,000 when fully completed, though the first stage of a second tier in the east stand would increase capacity by 7000. I think the remit is to have eventually a Max of 32000 seater stadium. It has in my view been put on the back burner some what, with the development of out academy facilities at Landore and Fairwood taking priority, which are pretty much now completed, and with the appointment of a top Spanish coach as head consultant of our academy to overseer a new and continental style training system from the youngest age group up. The club want the next crop of youngsters to be completely competent with ball retention and passing skills, and are committed to the current first team model being emulated right down through the development academy. I have to say that while selfishly I would have preferred not to have been stuck on this waiting list, I see it as a sacrifice that is well worth it, as our academy in my view rightly should have taken priority, and is pretty much coming to the end. Our players for the first time in decades will no longer have to share facilities with the general public, though in fairness over the years, the locals (Skewen/Neath) have been very respectful, and left our boys to get on with it at Llandarcy. In conclusion I think the club are targeting 2014 for the first phase of the expansion, which will see most on the waiting list get their long awaited season tickets, though if we where to get relegated (Highly Unlikely) then it would definitely be mothballed!.....................
In other words, if we don't, there's no need. On the other hand, if we (and especially Tan) fail to think positive, we might as well kiss goodbye to it ever happening. Anything over 40,000 in the mid term would plenty be big enough - 33,000 for next season would be a great start.
Confucious says....The last league attendance we had of over 33,000 was in 1975/76 season in the third division against Hereford. Now what makes us all think we would fill a 40k stadium week after week ?
Hereford was one of them once in every 5 years thing, I've never seen 26k+ week in week out like this before. The odd 40k now and again but nothing to compare to today. I think there are 6k on the waiting list for ST. It will take up to 10 years in the top division before all those Manure, Liverpool & Arsenal tops around Cardiff and the Valleys change to CCFC. P.S. I think the Hereford gate was a lot more than 33k, good accounting ?
The noise is intimidating enough as it is. Just think whet the impact of another 6k supporters would be.
What DPJ said is correct. Hilts raises the question of how long Swansea "can remain competitive" and we've done very well so far, thanks. League attendances and capacity are only a part of the picture because TV money is the biggie. Other factors on competitiveness include how much you shell out on players, their wages, the profit you make on resale and of course any burgeoning debt you have. You should have a bigger stadium because of demographics. I'd be amazed if you didn't. But as DPJ says we have an expansion planned but when it'll happen is anyone's guess. As Swansea is currently held up by most as an example of how a Club should be run I doubt anyone from the Boardroom to the Management to the fans is worried about increasing capacity any time soon.
With the massive fall in council income from the Welsh Assembly now might be a good time for the Swans to try to buy the liberty. Get rid of the egg chasers and be your own masters. I'm sure that an extension to 28k could be filled.
I don't think that's a high priority Dai. As DPJ said we're well overdue in developing the training facilities and the Academy. It may happen eventually though.
Plus its council owned and that egg chassing team will have a say as its as much their ground as the footballs .
If the plan is to keep selling players like Allen to fund squad building then the stadium doesn't matter. If you want to move up a level as a club then a 20k ground isn't going to cut it. I agree with isaw that a 40k stadium would probably equal about 8k of empty seats for most matches but I'm glad our owner does recognise to be an established PL side long term you can't afford to be at the bottom of the match day revenue ladder.
Though not in Wales there is a big interest in regional rugby in Ulster. Tickets cant be got for love nor money. That said Irish league football crowds are pish poor, sometimes less than 5k for all games.
