The Kop is the worse part of the ground….it hasn’t changed that much since the 80’s….which is pretty disgraceful really.
McCabe is a property developer and his architects decided the best “value for money“ option was to
Take out all the pillars, build it bigger at the back increasing capacity by 3,200
and building massively improved concourse areas, more bars, more toilets, more space and more importantly all undercover away from the wind and rain.
This is still the most realistic/ sensible option but with “safe standing“ being trialled in the new year.
It might be more sensible to wait until we see how successful it becomes.
Might be able to do a new Kop design with extensive safe standing built in.
The more ambitious option that is more of a “statement of intent/ show-off” vanity project
that would be really expensive taking decades to recoup the investment would be a new South stand. The main point of these works isn’t to increase capacity, altho a new upper tier would give us 5,500 extra seats, wouldn’t be needed unless doing reasonably well in the PL.
The main purpose of this work is new/ expanded/ posh changing rooms, posh/ expanded media centre, expanded and massively improved executive and boardroom facilities.
Basically any prospective signings, journalists who write about us, radio and TV personnel who report about us, VIP visitors/potential sponsors would be really impressed with Bramall Lane and the whole brand called “Sheffield United FC”.
The stadium is part of the clubs identity, so it would strengthen our claim to be a big club worthy of regular PL football.