Thetownend.com

Couple good articles today in the adver re: County Ground redvelopment. I say just build a brick wall around the outside to create the illusion of a new stadium. That though has been shot down as an incredibly spasticated idea so i think we should go for something like this (with red seats though) which would like quite smart. (Photoshoppers if you can amend to red. Good Luck!

ARKELLS STAND
[url width=603 height=222]http://www.footballgroundguide.com/peterborough_united/peterboro21.jpg[/url]

TOWN TOWN END/STRATTON BANK
[url width=600 height=268]http://www.footballgroundguide.com/colchester_united/colchester_united2.jpg[/url]

DON ROGERS STAND
[url width=600 height=281]http://www.footballgroundguide.com/swindon_town/swindon_town1.jpg[/url]

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/5039873.Stadium_revamp_won_t_break_the_bank__says_Watkins/

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/5040275.County_Ground_redevelopment_set_to_start/

They found Mr Whippy's fag packet then?

I like Preston NE's ground. Something similar would be immense.

[url width=605 height=345]http://www.footballgroundguide.com/preston_north_end/preston41.jpg[/url]

Townend:

[url width=600 height=400]http://www.ultras-avanti.com/wp-content/2009/03/asm-om-02.jpg[/url]
[url width=475 height=356]http://www.tz-online.de/bilder/2009/12/13/556894/739131227-fans-nuernberg.9.jpg[/url]

[url width=600 height=400]http://www.tmwmtt.com/history_images/PortmanRoad2003-1.jpg[/url]


Would like something like this behind the goals, this is Porman Rd Ipswich.

http://www.wembleystadium.com/buildingwembley/photodiary/turf/1.htm

I found this on Fitton's desk.

i like the idea of incorporating the Arkles intp the townend similar to Nottingham Forests ground
with the Brian Clough stand being the Arkles with the Town end attached. sort of a mirror image to the City Ground

[url width=517 height=288]http://www.3dcityground.com/images/CG%20all%20pic.jpg[/url]

[url width=564 height=102]http://www.3dcityground.com/images/bridgfordendstand.jpg[/url]

I like the idea of having a ground like Preston but I'm afraid we're more likely to have something like Shrewsbury.

Preston's ground would be too big for us, as would something like those stands behind the goal at Ipswich. I quite like Gazza's suggestion, although to be honest I'd rather keep the DRS, redevelop the TE and Arkells, and keep the SB as it is for away fans :D

I'd love something like the Britannia, although smaller. Redevelop the TE and SB in the same style and height as the DRS, with the corners filled, then replace the arkells last, with an all singing all dancing snazzy new Main Stand.

We need to make the stratton bank like this

[http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3641178046_3a573ed74d_o.jpg]

fixed it for you

Cheers, as you can tell I'm a tard  :)

fixed it again.

you'll fit right in

I feel like one of the crew  :D

I don't think either of the stands behind the goals should have 2 levels.

I think the Town End should be a stand built for the comfort of fan, 2 tiers, nice areas to hang around in before the game and at half time, good bars/food, shop, ticket office, safe standing, flare zone etc.

Then the Arkells can be the corporate arse kissing and family stand.

And with any empty upper tier

 :D

This is last week at Orient isn't it ?

http://www.grandstandhire.co.uk/graphics/STAND1X.jpg

We might get accused of pinching the bristol rovers blueprint  :D

We can't fill one tiered stands let alone two!

i'd like to see a decent supporters club bar-social club included.not just a matchday thing either.one that's open daily.live sky matches,sunday league team,pool darts,etc,etc.you know what i'm getting at.....

something like this would be nice. fc groningens euroborg stadium, capacity 22,329.
gronigen has a population of 188,000.  pretty much bang on the same as swindon!
fc groningen play in the dutch first tier & their average attendance is just over 21,000

http://www.nqn555.com/images/euroborg_southeast_by_day.jpg

http://www.medicalfacts.nl/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/fc-groningen-euroborg.jpg

http://members.multimania.nl/gebouweningroningen/euroborg/euroborg.jpg

Would love ideally something along the lines of carrow road, was well impressed with that ground when i went there this season just maybe on a slightly smaller scale.

Oooh, I like the Groningen one

But thats a brand new ground. They want to develop the CG so that would be out the question.

I would like to see something like the New Den, although just renovating the Arkells would be a start!

I like this one

[url width=601 height=354]http://cache.wists.com/thumbnails/9/30/930b18ed7037747cfd71cf4956bd21d7-orig[/url]

Hahaha!

You mean like we used to have until an early example of prawn sandwichitis caused it to be turned into hospitality  :(

Reading between the lines, it looks like the emphasis will be on something structural, for use other than football and something cheap and cheerful, with the rest...probably a bit like Notts County.

Would the O*frod template offend, if something like a hotel or conference facility was built into the empty bit?

We're desperate for another hotel in Swindon...

There must be better business ideas? How about a shit hot small/medium sized music venue, an upmarket night club or space for a chain like TGI's to rent out?

Should have a hotel, a coffee shop and a branch of Greggs. Swindon needs more of all of those.

yeah i remember it,and i worked with the fella who ran it after he got moved on.torquay have a nice one.no reason why we can't have a better one.

obligatory norwegian related post, sorry...

lillestrom's ground has an "outer rim" of offices, apartments and a mercedez-benz dealership whilst still retaining the look and feel of a football stadium when inside and outside. never seen that here before.

norway's national stadium has shops around the outside and a burger king. it looks like a shopping centre.

Here's your problem....just what economic driver fits into the CG footprint?

Rikki Hunt had his casino idea...not a bad thought. I'll stick with my mine...Britain's first council run legalised brothel

haha, it seems to have worked in nevada.

Got to be a winner....you could have a different theme for each corner of the ground.

Players could be given a staff discount....might interest Avram Grant in becoming manager.

[url width=625 height=419]http://www.oldgrounds.co.uk/theden1.jpg[/url]

The Den?

I liked The Victoria Ground and Roker Park.

The fact that it's in Preston would also make it completely unsuitable.

It never stopped us getting the Aldershot Tattoo stand...

Maybe we could have Anfield transported here when Liverpool move to Stanley Park.

A safe standing equivalent of a kop end would be immense and entirely feasible. Not sure it would get filled, but it would be good.

All those fans stacked up behind the goal at Craven Cottage was class.

I thought a casino was a good idea back in the day, no reason why we couldn't have one in one of the corners?

Defeatist

Rikki Hunt's plan was based on some changes in the laws to do with casinos. These were shelved when Labour won the 97 election.

I doubt it's now just a case of you can have one if you want one.

Pretty certain the changes did go through (then some got put on hold) but they didn't affect Swindon, we're still a no casino town. Bloody stupid the law is so strict when its so easy gambling online, but that's how it is.

That would be ace. Bin the car park at the Town End and build one I say.

http://stadiony.net/projects/falmer_stadium/falmer_stadium02.jpg

Took a peak of this on Monday...looks brilliant,a new ground in nice surroundings.

it looks great leefer, the stand that is already got the structure up is only half the size of the east stand, its going to be fucking huge

Was really impressed...think they move in next season as well.

It's a bit out of the way but it does look impressive.

About time, and I should get free entry first game for standing in the freezing cold at their current shithole countless times.

http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/StadiumGallery/0,,10433~1982667,00.html

they dont move in until 2011/2012 season

This.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/djurg%2525C3%2525A5rdens%20if/pingispg/Djurgarden-Gefle/Avspark.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/djurg%2525C3%2525A5rdens%20if/pingispg/Djurgarden-Gefle/Entretillstadion.jpg

http://www.groundhopping.se/Djurgarden.htm

At least Sonic should like it.  Oh and without the running track clearly.

fucking swedes

Whatever you do to vegetables in your spare time is your own business.

But has it got a portcullis?

I'd like to think the Town End would be redeveloped first, be good to see a single tier stand pushing further back towards the car park. Something similar to the end we were in at Fulham would be good (maybe not quite as big - say 4-5k). As Gazza points out a stand similar to the one at posh to replace the Arkells (make this the largest stand - say 8k). Make the bank a 3k covered end for the away fans......job done, a 20-21k ground would suit us fine. If for any reason we needed a bigger capacity in the future then the corners could be filled in and/or the DRS replaced.

That, sir, is a great idea.  Who doesn't like a good portcullis?

A mate of mine went to Hibs recently and how they have redeveloped a couple of the stands at Easter Road would fit quite well in the County Ground footprint. I hope the floodlight pylons are retained as when you drive towards the CG for an evening game it makes a fantastic sight.

The Town End is where there is loads of space behind so it would have the capacity for building some form of entertainment venue, maybe on a smaller scale to what is at the Ricoh Arena. A concert venue, health club or casino could be easily incorporated. Went out in Nottingham for the Carl Froch fight and there are 2 or 3 casinos in the city centre so I think planning would be less of an issue.

The Stratton Bank is going to be the problem unless we can move the pitch towards the Townend and maybe round off the end with the Don Rogers, maybe that's a 3000-4000 end left for away fans if we have less room there.

[attachment deleted by admin]

I have been to the Djurgarden stadium (and the Rasunda National stadium) when in Stockholm a couple of years ago. It's the original 1912 Olympic stadium and has got wooden stands and seats but was a fantastic afternoons football. The Swedish fans are nutters and lots of Italian style flag waving and people standing on crash barriers with loud speakers

Oooh, and can we have a moat, too? And a duck island to go in it? We wouldn't have to pay for them, even, Anne Snelgrove could whack them on expenses.

I like the look of the Groningen one. I'm always a bit dubious about filled corners but that looks class. Looks like fans are right on top of the pitch which is always a bonus.

Can anyone make out what that is on the roof?  ???

Is it a box for commentators?

commentary gantry

Missile silo.

One of those fly killer things, but for pterodactyls.

Fuck yeah a big fuck off moat.

And trebuchets.

Bless you.

This I like.

That is quite similar to PSV's ground which is very tidy. At 35k capacity would be probably too big (and I guess we wouldn't be able to afford the massive heaters in the roof) but its a pretty tidy blueprint.

Have they given any indication as to the scale of the redevelopment? Especially, if they are hoping to include the cricket pitch and county ground extension in the plans, maybe for retail and residential?

Not a chance.

There must be a chance of sorts as they have talked in the past of rotating the pitch 90 degrees, which would only be possible by extending over the cricket pitch. Unless they demolished the south stand and built a new one further back, which isn't going to happen.

I'm sure the current board were talking of residential development, where would that go if not on the surrounding land?

As TT says, the only way you'd be able to include those would be as part of a sports complex - ie the athletics/cricket club/extension would have to stay pretty much as is (albeit improve the athletics track, and some scope to move round the athletics track and extension if needed) but could be incorporated into a larger sports/leisure complex. But unless things have shifted very significantly in the past 18 months or so (and I've seen no sign they have), they won't be building on them

THAT was the old board..... They also thought the council would give them £50M for free build the thing

Does anyone know if there any cliff's around and not the puffett type.

Unusual ground I've been to:

[url width=640 height=480]http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/takebou/img_0215.jpg[/url]

I was actually at that game pictured.

That stadium rocks.

That is fucking cool. Must be great acoustics too.

The game was ended like a cliff hanger though.

Puns asides, that stadium is fucking brilliant.

What are the issues with including them with the redevelopment?

Is it just that the council wouldn't allow it, would providing replacement facilities elsewhere be acceptable?

Fitton definitely talked about residential development, so where is he planning to put it?

Its weird to get to. You have to track up hill to get to it, and all the concourses are above ground, so at the top of the stand. You have to go down three flights of stairs to get to the bottom levels of the stands.

This is the other view from the cliff side:

[url width=320 height=240]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_J9NbOTMAqkM/Rd6jNcPrO2I/AAAAAAAAABc/3yuaezoF_6M/s320/braga+stadium.jpg[/url]

The ground holds around 25k.

The most sensible approach:

http://www.truststfc.co.uk/CG_main.php (http://www.truststfc.co.uk/CG_main.php)

http://www.truststfc.co.uk/pdf/SwindonCommunitySportsHub.pdf (http://www.truststfc.co.uk/pdf/SwindonCommunitySportsHub.pdf)

So one end is open? There's only 2 stands? That's a shame..

There's several issues. In relation the cricket club/athletics track, it's all very well saying "Oh well we'll move them somewhere else" but there's the small matter of whether they want to move. Certainly the cricket club have been quite vehement that they very much value their current central location, for all the same reasons why we value having the football club in that location. They'd need some persuading to give that up. Then there's the question of where you'd put replacement facilities with commensurate ease of access, (presumably) upgraded facilities/more land etc as a sweetener etc etc without incurring such exorbitant costs in buying land, rebuilds etc that it would render the whole exercise prohibitively expensive. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's a lot more difficult (and expensive) than just airily saying "Oh, well, we'll just move them".

On the question of the extension, there's serious planning issues around the provision of green space in the central area. IIRC, the wards that make up the central area are already seriously underprovisioned in terms of open green space in accordance with local/regional planning guidelines. Again, this can't just be brushed aside and as the issue is around the provision of green space in a much narrower area, it's very difficult to see where else in the central area land could be made available to provide substitute green space should the CG extension be built on.
I've not seen any such quote, tbh. Be interested to see if you could dig it out. But assuming he did say such a thing, I'd imagine it would be along the lines of "We'd look at all the options including residential/commercial/leisure/hotels/casinos/hyper-brothels" rather than "We're definitely going to build 800 houses on the County Ground and you can all fucking lump it".

Oh, and the rotating the pitch 90 degrees was the old board, not Fitton.

I think we should rotate the pitch 180 degrees to put the opposition off.

Paul is spot on about the open space in Central Ward. The longer term residents were already fuming about the loss of the sports grounds along the Shrivvy Road to high density housing before the old board/St Modwens fantasy of moving to Shaw and covering the CG site with yet more houses.

In a lot of ways those sports grounds were an opportunity lost, they would have been ideal for (e.g) a relocated cricket pitch if the council planners had had more foresight.

At half time!

I'd still like to see a cantilevered Stratton Bank that we can just tip up on hydraulic legs and tip Lids/Wovers/Saints fans out the back of the stand if they start getting hufty. Or just for our own amusement

Just put the ground on a rotating table, then let the wind do the rest.

I've always liked the idea of adding a roof to the Stratton Bank, using it exclusively for away fans and to install a sprinkler system in the roof to rain on them with icy cold water in all weathers. Maybe even supplement it with a snow machine and iced seats or something.

The cricket pitch isn't an open space though is it, so objections to that being built on would be limited, and if that went it would leave plenty of space for the running track and some open space as well as plenty of land for development.

I got the impression from Fitton that the redevelopment would to a large degree be self funding, I don't see how they could even get close to that unless at least some of the surrounding land was used as well and the club were involved in the development deal for it. Or is there some massive income potential I'm missing?

i think the club should be allowed to do something with the area behind the stratton bank.its a shitty run down rec now that has been left in a right mess the last few years.smashed glass on the crumbling paths,dog shit and litter all over the place.
that area could be spruced up by developing it without the need to touch the cricket-athletics-bowls clubs

No-one said it was. They were two separate points:
1) Moving existing facilities (cricket ground/athletics track/bowls green)
2) Not being able to just build on CG extension because of loss of open space

And the pavillion would have to go somewhere as well or get used for something as it is a listed building I beleive although I am led to beleive it can be moved

There is an option for something as both the athletics facilities and cricket pitch are not up to certain standards and if they was improved they could be used more often bring in more money, and hold county events but from what I vaguely recall laying a new cricket strip takes quite a while to bed in and they would not want to move when they could not play.

I would like to see the CG and surrounding area turned into a Sports centre so that different types of sports can be played and the facilities used all year round, let's face it the Oasis and Link are falling apart and I'm sure the council probably has not got the money to do much with them so there is an opportunity.

 I've said it before and I'll say it again....I love the way when talk of new ground comes along, people get completely carried away.

 If you read, Watkins' statement in the Adver, it gives a pretty clear idea of the sort of thing in their mind....

 “It is a company which has got a raft of experience in and around the areas we are looking at, which is redevelopment of a stadium in situ, maximising the potential capacity during that redevelopment."

 

Well, yes, they've always said that's the preferred option. That's not a surprise to anyone, surely?

There's a few posting here, who seem to think we're looking at shifting out the CC, SAC and the Bowls Club.

Maybe AF got a few ideas from Barry Hearn on Saturday.

Indeed. The topic comes up every six months or so and the same suggestions ensue about huge development, a brand new stadium, moving all of the other facilities etc etc etc.

Can we find one of the more detailed threads from the past and sticky it?

They're not mutually exclusive though. "In situ" means that they're looking to redevelop the stadium on the current site and probably within the current footprint. That doesn't preclude that they'd want to do that as part of a wider redevelopment of the overall site, which would bring these factors into play.

Incidentally, AF wouldn't need to have spoken to Mr Hearn on Saturday to get some ideas about building flats etc into the ground - we included these kinds of ideas in the Trust proposals published 3 years ago which we know the board have looked at as part of their overall investigation into what would be possible.

It would be great if any big ground redevelopment had a very small carbon footprint.

Good point, insofar as some are considering quite a dramatic change. However, it is possible for a slight move to take place, like Blackpool did. One example would be to move the pitch towards County Road a bit to give us more options for redevelopment of the SB.

Rotating the pitch and having the DRS behind one of the goals and building 3 stands like the DRS would look very good!

When Watkins says 'raft', I don't think he's thinking of floating the pitch, like Brunel building the Tamar Bridge.

Trust me...the pitch is going nowhere. Far more likely is something like the Orient model.

 This from their ground description...

"The ground has seen a lot of re-development in recent years, with the construction of three new stands. Finance for this has chiefly come from the proceeds of selling part of the Brisbane Road site to a property developer. In this ground breaking development, the corners of the ground have been filled with blocks of residential apartments, which certainly gives the stadium a unique look. Some other clubs are looking at the scheme with interest and I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar take place at another league ground at some point in the future"

Watkins talked about a Hotel. Hotels or other income generating facilities aren't small. I can't see it all fitting onto the current County Ground (football) site even if the stadium itself is not a mega structure.

Although as Reg has just mentioned, flats on site could be one possibility.

I'm 99% certain the quote was from Fitton, was in the Adver, referred to residential development and was in response to a comment from the council. It was along the lines of "we're not talking about building massive tower blocks that would dominate the skyline but something that would be in keeping with the surrounding area".

As Si Pie said, I don't get how self funding re-development of the CG can take place within the existing footprint. Along with comments from Fitton and co I just assumed, quite possible wrongly, that it would expand on to some of the surrounding land. Though I don't actually recall anything 100% being said about this either way by anyone.

Is there any potential to build on the land behind the DRS? Or are the trees protected? Or is there some really, really rare worm that lives there?

No the trees are resident to a pair of Goldcrests Britains smallest Bird so fuck off and build the ground on Shaw Tip.........happy days.

well said tel

What he actually said was:
ie one among several examples of the kind of thing that could be done, but which there's no point whatever in doing if there's no demand for.Again, that might not mean residential development so much as be referring to the potential size of any build up of the existing stands. But there is scope for building residential elements into a redeveloped stadium itself.

You also don't need to expand the footprint hugely to dramatically increase the floorspace available within the stadium - by building up and out (slightly), the amount of available floorspace increases substantially, a lot of which the club itself would not need and hence could be made available for commercial use, for example.

But sure, it's a lot easier to do if you can expand out to encompass the whole site, or a majority of it as part of an overall redevelopment of the whole site. But that doesn't then necessarily mean you get the bulldozers out and build over everything that's currently there.

I really think there's a large element of people (mis)reading between the lines as if the really rather general comments that the board have made so far about the kind of things that might or might not be feasible are some kind of mystic utterances, like a cross between scripture and the Da Vinci Code.

Of we all just read a little more between the lines, I'm sure we can see a CG blueprint for a Camp Nou 2

Thinking about it, they're definitely going to have to expand the footprint to fit the moat in

I think you read too much into my post Paul. Watkins mentioned a hotel, I didn't say the club definitely wanted to build one or had to.

Clearly the Board feel that if the demand was there, they would look into the possibility of building something sizeable into the site that's all.

There are quite a few hurdles to get through with the ground redevelopment and Nick Watkins mentioned the next stage is a 12 week consultation process so I don't think we'll get too many answers in the near future.

The biggest issue is going to be the council and the leasehold on the County Ground which if I think runs out in 2012. What will the council look to do and on what terms will they want to re-negotiate, it's been quite favourable to the council with a share of gate receipts.

Will the council look to re-negotiate on more commercial terms or will they recognise the club's community impact. Is the current board interested in purchasing the freehold on the CG, it the figures coming out of Pompey are true their ground had a value of £10 million. It might suit Fitton and Co to puchase as this would provide an asset to provide security for their investment so far. Interesting, then if that's owned by the football club or the holding company.

We will also get the question of the covenant on the CG that it must be used for the leisure purposes for the people of Swindon. This might allow the health club, concert venue facilities route and would the Council want to participate in that.

I am sure this discussion is going to go on and on until we see plans, the physical building work is probably the least complicated.

Yeah, sorry Si (and jonny). I was using your quotes as examples to make the broader point about the whole "reading the runes" thing. Which is rarely a good idea.

I think Oaksey's post makes the broader points better. We don't know what shape the proposals will take, clearly the board have taken considerable time and effort to ensure they try to do it all right and so will not endanger that by lifting the skirts before everything's been done properly. Which is a refreshing change. I'm happy to wait and see what they come up with

Don't apologise. Call me a cunt and disagree. It's far more interesting.

I'm far too much of a gentleman for that

Fixed it for you.

Cheers. Much better now

I'm sat watching the Falkirk and Celtic match on Sky and just had a nose at Falkirk's place. I quite like what they've done so far...

[url width=600 height=450]http://www.gentles.info/KAP/Gallery/2005/Falkirk-Stadium.jpg[/url]

Small...but nice Ralphy.

Shame about the pitch also.

Yeah the pitch is shocking!

Falkirk also have Enoch Showunmi up front!

That big copyright logo won't be helping matters

The end behind the left hand goal looks like a similar design to the Kassam minus the wooden fence

Don't talk about James like that you bully.

I think they're going to build the 4th stand aren't they?

Who knows! They've been saying they'll get promoted for a few years now and THAT hasn't happened...

Who are we talking about now?

I thought you were talking about the yellow ones? I'm lost.

I was on about Falkirk. I thought the pox ground was designed to have 3 sides

The one behind the goal is already built Si.

Just one side left to rebuild.

Sticking to a Scottish theme, Tynecastle is also very nice. The ground currently has a capacity of 18,000.

3 very smart, single tiered stands....

[url width=400 height=300]http://www.stadiumdb.com/images/stadiums/europe/scotland/edinburgh/tynecastle-stadium.jpg[/url]

Good lad Ralphy! Was my football home for a season back when Hearts had their best season ever! When the place is full (against the Old Firm or Hibs) you get a cracking atmosphere there as well.

I was reading that they are also planning to build a larger 2 tiered stand on the final 4th side of the ground. It will look the business.

[url width=900 height=675]http://www.photo-pimp.com/stu/new_tynie/Tynecastle2.jpg[/url]

That does look the nuts to be fair! Pretty sure that work is due to start at the end of this season.

If we could have a slightly smaller version that'd be the quality. Football wise it's just a compact, tidy ground, then the circular structure around the main stand adds all the cash making bits and bobs we need as well as giving us a bloody good looking ground

Nice ground. A capacity of c.20k seems about right, doesn't it?

I like the feel of Tynecastle, the mother in law lives a stones throw from there and it has a nice feel to the whole ground, very compact with nice views from all round the new stands.

20k would be perfect for a club of our size and the feel is still almost "old school" with having square corners and not rounded stands in the corners.

As stated above the extra arched entrance way would add some good room for extra facilities not club related, such as hotel, gym, shopping etc.

A nice vision and one I would love Swindon to also adopt.

Both Tynecastle and Easter Road in Edinburgh are both perfectly situated in their respective areas surrounded by houses and good pubs. Used to love matchdays at Tynecastle as you could leave the pub at 2.50 and be in your seat in time for kick off!

That was just because the crowds were so shit ;)

I'll take the bait.

Hearts' attendances have been very good recently. When I went it was full houses every week! (think the average attendance that season would have been around 18k.

SPL average attendances this season......

Celtic    50435
Rangers    47379
Hearts    14389
Hibernian    12637
Aberdeen    11423


I'm surprised Aberdeen don't get better gates.

fuck me have you seen where it is Ralphy ???

Yeah I have. A big City with no other clubs for miles and miles. They should be getting gates of 20k.

dont be daft................. they are all on the rigs or off caber tossing mate

Dons and Hearts are having awful seasons. Best Hibs season for years and they can barely half fill their stadium.

Its an average size city (not much bigger than Swindon only just over 200,000 people and they are the only thing for miles and miles!

Little success and only 2 teams worth watching all season (sorry Bob!) they get under 16,000 for home games with the big two and some games get only 7 or 8k, they are fucking miles from anywhere with shit roads/rail links it takes ages getting there and out again!

I'd have thought signing Ifil should have pulled in at least another five thousand.

No, the fans stand outside the stadium now so they can see more of the ball.  ;)

Rosenborg anyone? Lerkendal stadium. Current capacity of 21,166

[url width=768 height=432]http://www.rbk.no/multimedia/archive/00101/Lerkendal_flomlys16_101195b.jpg[/url]

^^^^
SY goes into swoon...

Wow. Can we just steal that? Ace looking ground.

agreed, love it. Looks pricey though.

Even a simplified version without all the fancy bits would do

but I like the fancy bits!

It's my understanding that this summer, Arsenal plan to incorporate the old clock from
Highbury's Clock End into the Emirates.

It would be nice if we could still have the Rolex Clock from the Stratton Bank, included in
the CG redevelopment.

We should incorporate it into a statue of Lescinel Jean-Francois dressed as Flavor Flave.

good lampshade action in the corners

and the scoreboard.

ahhhhh

No way will the clock be ditched, that's unique to us.

Only if you're operating it Sonic!

It should be included, renamed the Matty Hewlett memorial clock and have a bronze statue of our answer to Wayne Bridge hoofing a bronzed ball over it/into it

found this thread whilst looking around.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=8650cd50c4fff43a96ae371fe16d9779&t=809808

some quality stadiums in there and excellent pictures

Some great stadiums there.

Thinking specifically about STFC, some of the smaller French grounds on page 2 of that thread would be quite nice templates.

Reims:
[url width=600 height=400]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3285791271_7368ae5f9d_o.jpg[/url]

Troyes:
[url width=900 height=642]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/3286608956_deee03ee62_o.jpg[/url]

Montpellier (Herault Rugby Club):
[url width=798 height=505]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3285791577_b4b4819ec6_o.jpg[/url]

That stand opposite the big one at Troyes is exactly like the DRS. the rest would be a god blueprint i reckon.

And it's got poplar trees...

These grounds are all well and good, but the CG isn't exactly terrible and does meet most of our needs...what it lacks is the 7 day a week usage.  Nobody seems to be addressing this issue.

Ok, we haven't discussed it much, but I think we all know the ground needs certain facilities. People are just concerned that it's going to look exactly the same as every other ground that's been built recently, hence th discussion about design.

I might be wildly wrong here, but I don't think innovative design is going to be at the forefront of this project.  More as much bang for your buck as possible.

JJ correctly covered the question of extra facilities.Why couldn't we see this around the outside of the DRS,
safeguarding the trees and greenery on the inside,with facilities on the outer edge and also behind a new Town End stand.

 I missed that the first time round....certainly could be an interesting possibilty.

Reims:
[url width=600 height=400]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3285791271_7368ae5f9d_o.jpg[/url]

I've actually been to Reims and to the cathedral in the background.

Stadium looks neat and tidy.Champagne area of France.

I'm sort of ashamed to say, i've been to most of the bars there, but never the ground or the cathedral.

I've been on a stag weekend to Reims.  Champagne tours by day, beer by night.  It was great.

I think you're right (had to happen, eventually) :)

Brentford's stadium plans are interesting, lots of additional stuff for 7 day use: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/

That looks like exactly the sort of thing we should be looking for in terms of size and facilities.

I cannot help but think some folks are losing the plot with regard to CG re-development. It's all very well looking at French stadia etc yet these were built from scratch, not re-developed, so we can forget that one. The Brentford model refers to re-developing a site and a new ground, possibly similar to the Britannia stadium, with hotel, gym and other social facilities which DO NOT financially benefit the football club. So we can also forget that one, not least because the area surrounding the CG is too small, currently provides social facilities and is certainly not a brownfield site awaiting re-development. I would imagine that AF is looking at relatively meagre improvements, perhaps with better hospitality facilities. Surely, nothing else would provide regular income for the club ?

The club is not going to make (significantly) more money by improving the hospitality facilities. We need a 7 day a week income, rather than once a fortnight. Things like hotels, conferencing, leisure facilities etc.

I'm sure this is what the consultation period's for anyway, so we'll find out in due course.

I've said it before, but for me a ground like Boavista's would be ideal:

[url width=460 height=302]http://www.albertosa.pt/Ficheiros/Temas/referencias/aobrarealizada_files/Estadio%20do%20Bessa.jpg[/url]

[url width=482 height=316]http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/328760.jpg[/url]

Good conference facilities would be a must, like others have said. End of the day, a football club is a business and many businesses cannot function on just one day a week income.

I like that.

I bet the acoustics are great.

Its better than one of those souless bowls put it that way.

Chesst brillant!

Knight matches would be ace!

It's a design that Fitton should check, mate.

Wonder if the players will get to watch pawn in the board room after the matches?

.

Rookies would find it a good place to play.

What and bash the bishop?

I like that stadium

With regards to the money making facilities, as others have said conference facilities and the like are important, but i'd like to see a decent gym in the town centre, which would also benefit the players.

The council would probably be interested in a partnership to run a leisure centre. The Oasis is past it's sell by date. If you could get a leisure centre on site with an Olympic size swimming pool and decent facilities that would probably help meet council priorities more so than conference/hotel/casino etc etc.

The County Ground could become a community sporting hub, this would see 7 days a week income and a partnership between club and council. Build it all on the Town End car park and CG extension and hey presto.

Pretty certain the Oasis has reached the end of its life expectancy (or will do soon) and a replacement is on the cards at some point. Don't see how you could fit it on the CG site unless the cricket pitch and field were included, though I guess this would free up the Oasis site for development.

That's pretty much what we proposed 3 years ago in the Trust proposals, referenced earlier in this thread. jonny's right though, you couldn't put a full Oasis replacement at the CG without using the pretty much the whole site, although you can do a lot without using the cricket pitch but not all of it. IIRC, the swimming pool was the big space issue.

What about having a retractable pitch that slides away underneath the side stands to reveal a swimming pool underneath. Now that's an idea!

I think I actually suggested that back then.

I think it was our relegation season so a mid game retraction and drowning cover up was also thought of...

That does vaguely ring a bell of cold late nights in an underheated disused toilet :) Diamandis could have used it as a James Bond villain style piranha pool. He could sit in the Arkells, white cat on lap while unwanted chief execs/disillusioned investors strode across the pitch, only for him to click a hidden button, retract the cover and dump into the ravenous pirahnas belief. He leans back, a satisfied smile on his face as he surveys the boiling thrashing water and mutters "It was a loan....."

Ah, what might have been ...

This organisation does not tolerate failure, Mr Bond...

Can't see Diamandis saying that, his whole business model seems to be built on failure :)

This organisation does not tolerate success Mr Fitton