County Ground developers selected

[wheretherealredsare]

get rid of the floodlights.
am i the only one who thinks the lights have got dimmer over the years?
they've served us well but aint really up with the modern game.
times change.some decent lights along the top of the stands is the way to go

No doubt you were warned as a young man that "it" would make you go blind?

[Arriba]

hahaha.must be true,as i've been wearing glasses just over a year.

[Oaksey Moonraker]

I caught a bit of the Fitton interview on BBC Swindon on that way to the ground. Fitton said that the stands will be redeveloped on similar lines to the DRS in look and feel. They had considered rotating the ground 90 degrees but felt it was an unneccessary and that would add unwanted costs. What Fitton did say is that re-developed Town End would be the focal peice of ground with a glazed front that would add to the Swindon gateway and that they were considering changing the exit to the ground straight onto the Magic Roundabout.

[thedarkprince]

Presumably the glass front would be so people could sit in comfort and watch the visiting fans try and negotiate the magic roundabout?

[Riddick]

please not to similar to DRS it will take hours to get everyone out of the ground!

[Ardiles]

I caught a bit of the Fitton interview on BBC Swindon on that way to the ground. Fitton said that the stands will be redeveloped on similar lines to the DRS in look and feel. They had considered rotating the ground 90 degrees but felt it was an unneccessary and that would add unwanted costs. What Fitton did say is that re-developed Town End would be the focal peice of ground with a glazed front that would add to the Swindon gateway and that they were considering changing the exit to the ground straight onto the Magic Roundabout.

Seems very sensible - but in terms of size, I'd be interested to hear what the plans are for the Arkells Stand.  If we were simply going to build a near replica of the DRS on the site of the Arkells Stand, we would be looking at a reduction in capacity.  Now I've heard the summary, I'm keen to see the detail (if there is any yet).

[suttonred]

Sure they'll build a bigger version of the DRS as the main sit down stand, from what we've heard it would have to be bigger than the current Arkells capacity if we were looking at 20k+

[sn5_red]

even if arkells capacity was reduced surely the TE and SB would be much bigger than they are atm?

[suttonred]

4 x DRS would equal about 18k, maybe that's the capacity we'll go for.

[Ardiles]

Or we could be really radical and do something along these lines...

Arkells Stand  - 9,500 capacity
DRS (existing) - 4,500 capacity
Town End       - 4,000 capacity
Stratton Bank - fence

[hobodan]

On the existing footprint I don't think the capacity of the CG will increase significantly.

Stratton bank: rebuilt, don't think the size will change much  2,500

Don rogers: to stay, 5,000

Town end: rebuilt with hotel etc adjacent, prob single tier (watford, wolves) 5,000 ish maybe extending around corner adjoining new north stand

North stand: rebuilt with two tier, supporting glass front executive boxes in between the tiers
capacity slightly bigger than existing north stand 8,000 ish

total capacity would prob be around: 20,500 ish. Don't think it will be any bigger tbh.
Looking forward to the plans. I have no doubt attendances will increase greatly with a new stadium. In 1970 our average attendance was 19,600! Let's hope we can pull in some great crowds again

[Sippo]

Hopefully they'll build something with future expansion if needed.

[hobodan]

We would never need bigger than 25k, even in the prem.
Don't know if the trees behind the Don Rogers are protected? If not then expanding or adding another tier could add another 3-4,000.

I don't think fitton & co will go for 25k straight away, 20,500 max (probably slighty less)

[(.)Boobies(.)]

We would never need bigger than 25k, even in the prem.
Don't know if the trees behind the Don Rogers are protected? If not then expanding or adding another tier could add another 3-4,000.

I don't think fitton & co will go for 25k straight away, 20,500 max (probably slighty less)

Why not? We were turning fans away and have planning permission granted and alot of the supports built ready under ground to increase to 38,500. In the Poremiership with the tag alongs, you would almost certainly break 30,000, and if you stay there, more so.

Aim for the sky and reach for the stars!

Pleased your redevelopment plans are underway, and I hope you do keep a few old features like the floodlights. New stadiums are mostly boring and very repetative.

[url width=470 height=200]http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/images/2006/10/11/470_expansion_4_470x200.jpg[/url]

[url width=470 height=200]http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/images/2006/10/11/470_expansion_2_470x200.jpg[/url]

It's a bit Arsenal, but the three stands expanded will remain one tier, the main one currently 8500 will be around 14000.

Got to get back there first tho, so this is very much on hold now.

[hobodan]

Who knows, we could push over 25k in the prem, Untill we're there again we'll never know.
Reading & Swindon are similar sized clubs, without madjetski & still at elm park reading would prob be averaging the same attendances as us.

38,500 is very ambitious though! :O
there are big prem clubs that don't average 38k! Everton, Villa etc