Thetownend.com

Swindon develop new stadium plans

Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton hopes to have a basic blueprint for the redevelopment of the County Ground in the next six months.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/8317965.stm

Interesting...be nice to see some pics.

Do we think it will actually happen?

Its the only way forward...the sooner the better.

Yeh definatley, it would really help us

It's more likely to go ahead than any other plan previously. The last plan is apparently still stuck in Mr Whippy's head !!

What a flake.

I expect the plans to be pretty good and reasonable considering a) This board aren't as clueless as Diamond Mike and Co and b) the time spent looking into the options and preparing and speaking to all parties involved.

Also theyve come to the conclusion we best stay at the County Ground...the best part of the plans.

I'm feeling a bit put off by the thought of 3 new stands a bit like the DRS being built.

In other words pretty basic and bland...of course I may be wrong, but the Arkells, was at the time quite impressive. If you include the seats of the old stand, and all the features underneath, it was why we used to get the odd U21 game. I'd like to think a new main stand would be similarly impressive, then the rest could be basic.

For me Reg leave the two main stands...a roof on the bank..make the Townend higher...then join the corners.....get rid of the floodlights and put lights on the stands ..we only use th em about ten times a season.

Due to the crowds the U-21's now get the FA now only go to grounds with capacities in excess of 20k, but due to the fact the club has good relations now at the FA (we've had England womens team here a few months ago, as well as an U19 game last season), there is a possibility with a ground development that we could get an U21 game.

I only ever remember us getting one under 21 game and I also remember it being the most boring 0-0 ever.

We've had at least 2 U-21 games, one against Italy in the mid 80's and about 10 years ago against the Swiss (the boring 0-0).

Think its pretty obvious what the new stadium would look like.

Don Rogers Stand and 2 similar end stands to the DR Stand

Then where the Arkells is will be a tier 2 stand similar to Peterborough's main stand so we can get revenue from boxes etc. The lights would then be along the roof of the stands, sorted, plain but does the job

Fitton mentioned about having room to expand before, ie perhaps that would mean filling in the corners?

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

Either that or just build a wall around the stadium creating the illusion of a new stadium.

I reckon you are pretty near with that Gazza.

I've heard from several sources that there is a un-used second concourse hidden within the Don Rogers Stand.

In fact sometimes at half time I study the infrastructure to try and establish whether this could possibly be true or not, and I can confirm that I think it is entirely possible.

If the Don Rogers Stand is to remain in place, and let's face it even 15+ years old as it is now it remains one of the best stands in the league, then I hope the board exploit this extra revenue option.

Im probably miles behind the times here but are they talking about redevoloping it with the Council still having ownership  or is there some plan for the club to gain ownership/part ownership of the land?

As for any plans I hate to say it but I can see Fitton and co going for souless cheapness with plenty of scope to entertain  Corperates with little regard for tradition and atmosphere.

Fitton's said that before.

Can you explain that please? I dont quite get it.  :-[

Fitton was asked that last night and wouldn't be drawn on it. All options open I guess, but the club don't need to own all the land, just enough to have security of tenure or a several centuries freehold on the footprint of the stadium then own the buildings on top would do it.

I am sure that SBC would love to have the freehold for the CG bought back by the club.

It would mean a kick start to the town centre redevelopment. The council could build their new HQ on the former police station site and remove one set of hoardings.  ::)

AAF said after the takeover that apparently the DR stand was built with the ability to put Exec boxes in it. It never actually happened, but could still be done. How god only knows but that's whta was said

Gotcha  :nod: