Get it built !!!

[Keen Blade]

Article in the Yorkshire Post suggests the South Stand development was a McCabe thing and the plans have now been dumped by the club.

The only Stadium works that the club wish to proceed with are the removal of the Kop pillars... disappointing if true.

Link ?

 

[Keen Blade]

Article in the Yorkshire Post suggests the South Stand development was a McCabe thing and the plans have now been dumped by the club.

The only Stadium works that the club wish to proceed with are the removal of the Kop pillars... disappointing if true.

This would be a very generous move by the Club - spending quite a bit on restructuring the Kop roof for not one penny in additional income ? I don't know how they'd justify this without increasing ticket prices.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Link ?

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[bromtom]

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You could read that as they're not continuing with McCabe's idea of a South Stand development though, which is fair enough because it's a bit dated.

 

[nickwr37]

That article gives me hope. Positive spin and wouldn't be allowed to be published if a load of bollox. Onwards and upwards. COYRAWW!

 

[YES Blade]

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Excellent news! Removing the Kop pillars is a good, cheapish improvement, which is needed.

Hopefully the Prince will have much bigger long term plans than McCabe’s awful cheap expansions.

 

[Keen Blade]

Interpretation of YP article :
Forget the SS expansion development.
Forget the Kop expansion development.
It would have been nice to remove the Kop poles as a favour to supporters but once we realised the roof would then fall down , we had to put it on hold + now Covid has impacted our finances , so we can't really afford a cantilever roof , plus evil Kev won't sell us the 2 bits of land so basically the Kop will stay like it's been for 30 years.
We had to build CW a better facility at Shirecliffe coz he gave us one of his stares.

All very sensible stuff.

The only bit I don't quite get is a new pitch - has the Desso worn out already ?

If this YP article is accurate , there'll be no ground expansions in the foreseeable future , so this thread can be shut down.

 

[Keen Blade]

Excellent news! Removing the Kop pillars is a good, cheapish improvement, which is needed.

Hopefully the Prince will have much bigger long term plans than McCabe’s awful cheap expansions.

Yes , his big long-term plan will be to survive in the PL.
He won't be obsessed with construction projects like Kev the property developer.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

You could read that as they're not continuing with McCabe's idea of a South Stand development though, which is fair enough because it's a bit dated.

As I mentioned above, it seemed like we applied in March this year to either extend the existing planning deadline, or show that works had begun in a minor way. Someone with some planning knowledge might have a better sense of what they asked for in this, but it would suggest we haven’t binned the plans.

 

[Keen Blade]

The SS & Kop expansion plans were part of Kev's crazy fantasy of the Lane being included in a World Cup bid when we were in L1.
That's how much he was obsessed with construction projects as opposed to the football team.
All those plans need to be consigned to the dustbin , along with that awful corner stand by the Kop.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Interpretation of YP article :
Forget the SS expansion development.
Forget the Kop expansion development.
It would have been nice to remove the Kop poles as a favour to supporters but once we realised the roof would then fall down , we had to put it on hold + now Covid has impacted our finances , so we can't really afford a cantilever roof , plus evil Kev won't sell us the 2 bits of land so basically the Kop will stay like it's been for 30 years.
We had to build CW a better facility at Shirecliffe coz he gave us one of his stares.

All very sensible stuff.

The only bit I don't quite get is a new pitch - has the Desso worn out already ?

If this YP article is accurate , there'll be no ground expansions in the foreseeable future , so this thread can be shut down.

I don’t see how you’re interpreting that to say the kop poles aren’t going to be removed.? It clearly states removal of the poles is still the intention.

 

[YES Blade]

Yes , his big long-term plan will be to survive in the PL.
He won't be obsessed with construction projects like Kev the property developer.

Increasing revenues from the Lane will help us to be competitive. If we can establish ourselves in the Premier League there is no reason we shouldn’t look to improve the Lane.

 

[bladesmanluke]

I don’t see how you’re interpreting that to say the kop poles aren’t going to be removed.? It clearly states removal of the poles is still the intention.

Removing the poles on the kop will certainly involve an extension at the same time. There's no way they're about to take the roof off and build a new one without expanding the kop.

 

[Crafty Blade]

Worst case scenario is we increase the capacity and, even if we don't get that many more home fans initially, we can just give away teams both tiers of the Bramall Lane End and increase revenue and overall attendances. Most PL sides would sell 5k out and it would improve atmosphere further. I've always loved home games with a big away following.

But if this club is serious about establishing itself as a regular PL side, then demand will go up for home tickets, and we need to be able to facilitate growth of the fan base.

In fact, for me, increasing the fan base should be one of the key aims of those in charge at the minute. Expansion of the ground means we can reduce ticket prices and grow the fan base for future generations, who will bring their kids and so on. This will make us much more resilient and competitive financially, and therefore likely to stay in the PL or bounce back quicker if/when we are relegated.

 

[Crafty Blade]

As I mentioned above, it seemed like we applied in March this year to either extend the existing planning deadline, or show that works had begun in a minor way. Someone with some planning knowledge might have a better sense of what they asked for in this, but it would suggest we haven’t binned the plans.

View attachment 86531

Planning permissions have a time limit for implementation, usually 3 years, then they lapse, unless the development begins. If the development begins, then there is no time limit for completion.

This application appears to be United trying to prove to the planners that the development has begun and, as such, the permission is now valid indefinitely.

Apparently, they have laid some drainage associated with the south stand extension, and therefore, have begun implementation. Make no mistake, this is clearly a minimal piece of work undertaken simply keep the permission alive (they are clearly not yet building the South Stand extension), but this has been accepted by the planners, according to the decision, and therefore the south stand expansion is indeed now live indefinitely.

The planning permission lay with the land, so while McCabe will have been behind the plans initially, there is nothing stopping the club building what has permission.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I appreciate the opportunity of an empty ground for now but when fans return in reduced capacity they are gonna have to be spread out over all the available space , so no scope for construction.
You say just borrow the money and it won't impact player spending but the repayments will.
The club has just borrowed £50m to buy the ground and it hasn't even obtained the 2 bits of land behind the Kop , so there's no way the Kop is getting developed till those bits are acquired.
Anyway , in the present circs , who is gonna lend us another huge chunk of change on top of the £50m ?
Our PL survival is not guaranteed and our owner is not a sugar daddy.
Ground extensions are a fantasy at the moment.
The squad & the training facilities are our priority.
If the Club wanted to increase match day income it could try increasing ticket prices + just watch the gates tumble if it did.
There is no way the Club is gonna put itself into substantial debt to make the ground bigger.

I disagree with most of what you’ve put, of course United could borrow money the 50 million wouldn’t prevent that so I disagree that ground extension is a fantasy.
It’s also like you’re trying to have a pop at the club for trying to increase match day income like it’s a bad thing. If we’re to stay at this level it’s essential for both the ground to increase capacity and for their to be more corporate boxes. Look back at the table Silent shared the other day and see how much of our revenue comes from matchday streams compared to our rivals.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Make no mistake, this is clearly a minimal piece of work undertaken simply keep the permission alive (they are clearly not yet building the South Stand extension), but this has been accepted by the planners, according to the decision, and therefore the south stand expansion is indeed now live indefinitely.

Really helpful to know, thanks, thought it may have been something along those lines. I couldn’t recall us getting an extension for the Kop plans but I imagine now that they probably did something similar on the site that would have similarly removed the need to get one. It of course doesn’t mean that they won’t amend the plans at a future date or ditch them completely, but interesting that with McCabe gone they opted to give themselves that flexibility anyway.

 

[TJ blade]

The Kops needed doing for years and years I don’t think we need to do the south stand as that would be overkill
Would love them to crack on with the kop while we can’t attend say for the next 6 months.

Anyone know how long it would take to redevelop the kop 6 months ? A year ?

6months!! There will be no football clubs left if that's the case.

 

[Stevo71]

Excellent news! Removing the Kop pillars is a good, cheapish improvement, which is needed.

Hopefully the Prince will have much bigger long term plans than McCabe’s awful cheap expansions.

A small tier on the JSS (3K) & 3K on the kop would look awsome

 

[Brinsworth Blade]

Was John Street built to take another tier, it would be impressive

 

[bromtom]

Was John Street built to take another tier, it would be impressive

It's as high as allowed due to buildings behind it I think.

 

[Keen Blade]

I don’t see how you’re interpreting that to say the kop poles aren’t going to be removed.? It clearly states removal of the poles is still the intention.

"At a later stage"

 

[Keen Blade]

Increasing revenues from the Lane will help us to be competitive. If we can establish ourselves in the Premier League there is no reason we shouldn’t look to improve the Lane.

I agree but it's a big IF. Like any Blade I'd love to see the Lane improved but not at the expense of our place in the PL , which will be vulnerable for a while yet.

 

[Keen Blade]

Removing the poles on the kop will certainly involve an extension at the same time. There's no way they're about to take the roof off and build a new one without expanding the kop.

And this won't happen for a few years yet.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

Id be happy for whole stadium to be floored, dont mind as long as we stay at the lane. Gotta get rid of the office block, ive always thought it has no place in a football ground.

 

[Keen Blade]

I disagree with most of what you’ve put, of course United could borrow money the 50 million wouldn’t prevent that so I disagree that ground extension is a fantasy.
It’s also like you’re trying to have a pop at the club for trying to increase match day income like it’s a bad thing. If we’re to stay at this level it’s essential for both the ground to increase capacity and for their to be more corporate boxes. Look back at the table Silent shared the other day and see how much of our revenue comes from matchday streams compared to our rivals.

Your points about matchday revenue are valid in the long term.
But not right now.

 

[Keen Blade]

Id be happy for whole stadium to be floored, dont mind as long as we stay at the lane. Gotta get rid of the office block, ive always thought it has no place in a football ground.

But we've just bought the office block !

 

[bladesmanluke]

And this won't happen for a few years yet.

Why not? The ground is effectively full every week and will be even more so as soon as crowds are allowed back in full. Now is the time to do it whilst it doesn't temporarily lower the capacity.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

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[Keen Blade]

Why not? The ground is effectively full every week and will be even more so as soon as crowds are allowed back in full. Now is the time to do it whilst it doesn't temporarily lower the capacity.

I've already given my reasons.
We'll just have to disagree.
My guess is that we might add some boxes to the SS if we survive next season.
Let's see if the Club prefers your advice and extends the SS & Kop whilst there are no spectators.
They might want you to pay for it though.