South Stand or Kop

[Flatulent_Bob]

 

[yorkshirecoast]

The Kop definitely needs big improvements. Remove the pillars, improve the facilities and generally modernise it. It looks like a L2 stand when viewed from Shoreham Street.

 

[blade67]

Was thinking about this earlier today.

Add 2000-3000 to SS with bags more corporate as well.

We then have the space to move people whilst the kop is given a 21st century uplift extension

In 3 or 4 years we have a proper 38,000 premier League ground

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

When I was first taken to the Lane they’d just turned the first sod

First proper season for me was the one before, so I had the privilege of being sold a dummy!
Me and my same-generation footy mates still referred to it as the New South Stand until a couple of yers ago!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

One of the things mentioned by Prince Mosaad at the forum last autumn was that the club would be consulting fans on improvements to the stadium.

Has the club actually ever consulted fans on any potential changes, be it past seasons or this, and if so what’s the main venue for that? Is the official supporters club ever involved in this sort of thing? I know Linz and Foxy have when they’ve met the club asked on here for things to discuss – do those sorts of meeting still happen?

It does feel that on issues for example like rail seating, while other clubs in our division and ones below are leading the way on this we’re not really visibly doing anything either on it, or in preparation for it. Considering we pride ourselves on Bramall Lane for so many firsts in football, it’s a bit disappointing that we’ve been slow on the uptake on this.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Have to agree with those advocating the extension to the South Stand first, for all of the obvious reasons; return on investment, less disruption to attendances, creating a better perception to outsiders through improved corporate facilities etc.

An extension to the South Stand would presumably add something like 5000 extra seats, assuming it would be a second tier approximately half the size of the current south stand below. This would give the stadium a 36/37k overall capacity.

We then wouldn't really need to add too much additional capacity to the Kop. Improve the rake, make it safe standing ready & improve the facilities outside of it. If in the process we can add 2k extra seats, great. But not essential.

For those arguing about it looking lopsided, this has never been a concern of mine. I like stadiums with that sort of character.

 

[Jon Bon II]

Do either of the developments begin with razing the Pukka Pies corner ?
Thanks in advance.

I‘d volunteer to knock that horrible little stand down myself for free, with a 14lb hammer and a Stihl saw. It has to be the worst piece of modern football stadium architecture I’ve ever seen.
I’m not a great fan of putting office blocks into the corner of football stadiums, but in the interests of symmetry I’d much prefer to see another office block there than the monstrosity that is there now.

The Pukka Pie corner is earmarked to be a disabled section with wheelchair access, under the kop expansion scheme. It will have either hospitality or press boxes at the back as well, I think. Will have another look to confirm.

Edit: The PP corner will be executive boxes. Don't know where I got disabled section from?

 

[PLAIN BLADE]

Neither just make John st stand , twice the size , after making a fresh bunch of students live underneath .

 

[BobblesBlade]

No more office blocks.

 

[jt64]

Kop clearly needs it more, but from a practical/financial point of view it makes 100% sense to do the South first, the last thing we need is a half arsed job of the Kop. South first would provide the additional capacity to do the Kop properly

 

[originaltrueblade]

I thought the Kop would have been over 80% but it isn’t

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Was thinking about this earlier today.

Add 2000-3000 to SS with bags more corporate as well.

We then have the space to move people whilst the kop is given a 21st century uplift extension

In 3 or 4 years we have a proper 38,000 premier League ground

Higher! Higher!

50,000 for me! (Not just for me but you know what I mean).

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Neither, by the look of it, other than taking the kop pillars out:-

Prince Abdullah has more on his radar after training ground plan

Prince Abdullah has more on his radar after yesterday's announcement

www.examinerlive.co.uk

“South Stand development
There were plans to improve the South Stand and it had got to the design stage with images of how it could look released.
However, this was McCabe's idea and there are no plans for the club to continue with this development.”

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Kop.
But only pillar removal and improved facilìties at the rear.

Escalators! That’s what we need. Escalators!

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Escalators! That’s what we need. Escalators!

To the Quinoa Bar

 

[XM657]

Lots on here advocate the removal of the Kop pillars without consideration as to what that entails.
Whilst not being a structural engineer, I would imagine by the time the canter lever braces are constructed these would also, or could form a concourse area at the rear of the Kop.
A not so cheap option I would have thought. Knock it down, now's the time, covid etc. no or little crowds, rebuild incorporating the two corners of JSS and SS(depending on age NSS).
In order to suit another section of the support, make provision, in a new Kop, for a micro brewery, producing craft ales and beers for consumption in BDTBL and sale to any out let who would purchase the products. Also a bakery for pies etc., same product outlets.
All that drivel just to make my point, regards building, rebuilding Kop and SS(NSS).
My take is, I'd strip the roofs off both, sell to the scrap man and put the money towards the transfer kitty. Squad before stands, otherwise it's rather like the red hat scenario.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

To the Quinoa Bar

Had quinoa for the first time in my life this week. It wasn't really a conscious choice. We'd ordered several little tapas dishes at this pub out in Derbyshire that had been recommended to us for it's "unusual" tapas. I thought it was cous-cous - I said to our Petnunia - "What's this?" and she said she thought it was quinoa. The landlord chimed in and confirmed it was quinoa. Only thing is, Petunia and I pronounced it "Quinn-o-a" whereas the landlord pronounced it (correctly) as "Kin-wah".

From now on my life is changed. It's "Kin-wah" all the way for me - and I can't wait till they start putting it in Pukka pies so I can show off a bit more with my knowledge of how to pronounce it.

 

[Whiston Blade]

Why does everyone hate the Pukka corner so much? it's a toilet block for the Kop with a few seats strapped to the back, serves it's main purpose and adds a tiny bit to the family stand capacity.

Cos it's shit. Another big screen wouldn't go amiss there.

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

Had quinoa for the first time in my life this week. It wasn't really a conscious choice. We'd ordered several little tapas dishes at this pub out in Derbyshire that had been recommended to us for it's "unusual" tapas. I thought it was cous-cous - I said to our Petnunia - "What's this?" and she said she thought it was quinoa. The landlord chimed in and confirmed it was quinoa. Only thing is, Petunia and I pronounced it "Quinn-o-a" whereas the landlord pronounced it (correctly) as "Kin-wah".

From now on my life is changed. It's "Kin-wah" all the way for me - and I can't wait till they start putting it in Pukka pies so I can show off a bit more with my knowledge of how to pronounce it.

What’s the point of it?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

What’s the point of it?

It's one of these super-foods - very rich in protein, fibres, vitamins etc. Couldn't really tell you what it tastes like, even though I've had it!

 

[kevreedy]

Kop needs rebuilding. all I see is back of peoples neck. when utd attack toward that end. a new kop that joins john street stand.that will get rid of that pukka pie eyesore. and joins the tony Currie stand at the other end.a capacity of at least 20,000.exec boxes at the top.big concourse.like the magnificent spurs stadium.another tier in the south stand.exec boxes in the middle and at the top.a capacity of at least 18,000.total capacity 48,000. you might think I,m a dreamer..but it would be great won,t it.

 

[BladeByChoice]

I’ve posted about improvements in the past and don’t want to repeat,

Lets be sensible about this and look at it from the point of view of the club wanting to generate extra income as soon as possible from any improvements ………….

I was discussing this today…….

But I think as a club we need to think big and think long term (5 to 10 years), we also have to consider generating income from new seats ASAP, ground access during building work and KM still owning bits a bobs of land around the ground.
All the kopites want is the posts gone in the short term, but this isn’t a small change and cannot be taken in isolation, cantilever roofs are major pieces of work.

I’m not considering finances or planning permission here but in my opinion:

Lets start by demolishing the Pukka corner and building a new cantilever roof over the cop the Pukka corner and the commentary box corner, just a roof nothing else, this could be done during the season and the old roof removed during the closed season. That’s phase one of the kop done.

Next start building in the south stand carpark, a new upper tier for the south stand, it can be started during the season and completed during the closed season (see the pictures of Annfield from my previous post) we now have a few thousand seats and some posh boxes to generate income.

We then go to phase 2 of the kop and dig out the slag heap to start with an area of level land under the new roof where we can rebuild the kop properly this time. Steeper rake, safe standing and a decent concourse. If this cannot be completed in the closed season, we have the new south stand tier to house the kopites for a month or two.

 

[Jon Bon II]

Lets start by demolishing the Pukka corner and building a new cantilever roof over the cop the Pukka corner and the commentary box corner, just a roof nothing else, this could be done during the season and the old roof removed during the closed season. That’s phase one of the kop done.

Next start building in the south stand carpark, a new upper tier for the south stand, it can be started during the season and completed during the closed season (see the pictures of Annfield from my previous post) we now have a few thousand seats and some posh boxes to generate income.

We then go to phase 2 of the kop and dig out the slag heap to start with an area of level land under the new roof where we can rebuild the kop properly this time. Steeper rake, safe standing and a decent concourse. If this cannot be completed in the closed season, we have the new south stand tier to house the kopites for a month or two.

Fucking hell. I'm glad I'm not paying you to do improvement work on our house.

 

[Sheffsteel]

We then go to phase 2 of the kop and dig out the slag heap to start with an area of level land under the new roof where we can rebuild the kop properly this time. Steeper rake, safe standing and a decent concourse. If this cannot be completed in the closed season, we have the new south stand tier to house the kopites for a month or two.

Not sure if you’ve seen the old design but the original plan was to incorporate steeper rake at the back, a modern spacious enclosed concourse and it could still incorporate safe standing. We should copy what Liverpool are doing with their Anfield Road end by building on the back of what’s already there.
If you build in the back then the Kop can remain open throughout.....less hassle/ upheaval for lifelong Blades.

No one has explained what a totally new stand brings
The positives are more office/ banqueting space underneath BUT don’t think we need that as the new South stand will double our current executive facilities.
However the negatives are poor value for money....would be somexpensive before we even start building with the loss of income with a massively reduced capacity.
This “let’s build it properly” comment is so idealistic.....it’s easy to want it when it’s someone elses money.

Liverpool have just finished building on the back of their main stand and hope to start work at the back of their away end (Anfield Road)
I’d be surprised if their fans have criticised their plans saying the whole stand should be demolished and re-built from scratch.

 

[BladeByChoice]

Fucking hell. I'm glad I'm not paying you to do improvement work on our house.

Well football stadium seats cost about 20 quid each, so you start a crowdfunding page and I’ll drop 20 quid in, that’s my seat paid for.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Even when it was built 30 years ago the Kop was an antiquated design. In comparison to the South Stand the Kop is truly poor. Yes the South stand is also showing it’s age.......But at least it’s fit for purpose in a 21st century football stadium.

 

[BladeByChoice]

Even when it was built 30 years ago the Kop was an antiquated design. In comparison to the South Stand the Kop is truly poor. Yes the South stand is also showing it’s age.......But at least it’s fit for purpose in a 21st century football stadium.

With so many memories, happy and sad, over the years, it’s difficult to take off the rose tinted glasses and look at the kop objectively.

But yes, as a place to watch a game of football, its truly poor.

 

[YES Blade]

Not sure if you’ve seen the old design but the original plan was to incorporate steeper rake at the back, a modern spacious enclosed concourse and it could still incorporate safe standing. We should copy what Liverpool are doing with their Anfield Road end by building on the back of what’s already there.
If you build in the back then the Kop can remain open throughout.....less hassle/ upheaval for lifelong Blades.

No one has explained what a totally new stand brings
The positives are more office/ banqueting space underneath BUT don’t think we need that as the new South stand will double our current executive facilities.
However the negatives are poor value for money....would be somexpensive before we even start building with the loss of income with a massively reduced capacity.
This “let’s build it properly” comment is so idealistic.....it’s easy to want it when it’s someone elses money.

Liverpool have just finished building on the back of their main stand and hope to start work at the back of their away end (Anfield Road)
I’d be surprised if their fans have criticised their plans saying the whole stand should be demolished and re-built from scratch.

You can’t compare the Kop to Liverpool’s expansions or any other club for that matter. Who else has a stand built on a spoil heap and are looking to keep it?

The positives of knocking it down is more legroom, steeper stand so better view and better facilities. We could even build the Kop further back once the land issue is sorted, giving us more options to extend/rebuild the Lane End and John Street.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Do either of the developments begin with razing the Pukka Pies corner ?
Thanks in advance.

I’ll see your development and raise you 2 Pukka pies.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

With so many memories, happy and sad, over the years, it’s difficult to take off the rose tinted glasses and look at the kop objectively.

But yes, as a place to watch a game of football, its truly poor.

They should have never got rid of the high step I agree.