Stadium Development

[The Fox]

what are you on about nowt to do with Bramall Lane developments £150m ???

Just a estimate based on recent ground improvement, stand building at other clubs .
I was referring to the previous post regarding a south stand extension and and new kop stand ( not just pillar removal) .
If the south stand was half as much as the Liverpool extension it's still £40m.. a new stand at the kop ( removal of the existing )wouldn't be far short of another £80m or so
Given inflation loss of earning etc during its probably not far off .

 

[reedy63]

Okay you seem to be a expert on this are you a builder and know these things.. the Billion include top players you need to buy.

 

[Blade45]

Nah. We need a 45k stadium. If we change the ticketing system thousands more - and their mates - will be clamouring for tickets………

We certainly have a fanbase that can support that. If we intend on going back to Premier League and staying there, we need at least 42k. 45k is preferable.

It's about time we establish dominance over the pigs.

 

[Sean Thornton]

We certainly have a fanbase that can support that. If we intend on going back to Premier League and staying there, we need at least 42k. 45k is preferable.

It's about time we establish dominance over the pigs.

Sadly only in the PL. That’s the issue. An average season in the Championship would see 15000 plus empty seats. Let’s not go Wensdeh about attendances.

 

[Blade45]

Sadly only in the PL. That’s the issue. An average season in the Championship would see 15000 plus empty seats. Let’s not go Wensdeh about attendances.

Am I stupid to believe we could get at least 33-34k in the Championship?

And hopefully, in the long term, we establish ourselves in the Premier league.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Am I stupid to believe we could get at least 33-34k in the Championship?

And hopefully, in the long term, we establish ourselves in the Premier league.

It’s not stupid but we’d need to hit the ground running and be challenging throughout the season. Big call though.

(And l’m not one of the miseries who constantly deride the club, believe me)

 

[Blade45]

It’s not stupid but we’d need to hit the ground running and be challenging throughout the season. Big call though.

(And l’m not one of the miseries who constantly deride the club, believe me)

No matter how many fans we draw in the Championship, if we have any ambition of being better than a yo-yo club, a newly renovated stadium would be great.

 

[The Fox]

Okay you seem to be a expert on this are you a builder and know these things.. the Billion include top players you need to buy.

Think you've got mixed up here , the billion was from another poster.
I'm not an expert by any means , just looking at recent ground development costs elsewhere for a guide .
The costs are mad granted .

 

[reedy63]

I did quote one billon but never mind

 

[MadDad38]

Given recent costs ot other clubs it's probably in the region of £150m possibly more .
For what's essentially a loss making enterprise without capacity issues that's quite an undertaking .
I'd like a swanky ground , but quite like it as it is too.
Remember a citeh poster once calling it a mini colleseum, quite liked that .

Wasn't it the flowery tongued (and convicted sex offending) Stuart Hall who called it the Colosseum on his match reports for Five live?

 

[The Fox]

Wasn't it the flowery tongued (and convicted sex offending) Stuart Hall who called it the Colosseum on his match reports for Five live?

I thought that was anfield but it's a long time ago. I think he invented the " theatre of dreams " phrase for old trafford and the " theatre of base comedy " for maine rd

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

I don’t get those who deride ambitions to increase the size of our fanbase. We only have to look at ourselves to prove it can be done. The crowds we get now could only be dreamed off not that many years ago.

Anyone with any sense can see the current capacity is going to be an issue moving forward. It already is to an extent. There is no reason we shouldn’t be looking at adding another 5000 home seats with scope to increase even that one day.

The fanbase can’t grow if we can’t get them in the Lane in the first place.

 

[stringjunior]

I've mentioned this before somewhere on here, but there's a theory that says when a venue reaches capacity it can become a turn off for some people and they don't attend. It could the ticketing policies, it could be not being able to sit with friends, it could be the size of the queues on entry that put them off, it could be all sorts. But they're put off. These probably aren't issues for committed fans, but for floating or potential new fans it could be an issue.

Increase capacity and they will come, probably.

 

[St Annington]

The conundrum for most clubs is well documented . . . it goes like this . . . . Say SUFC have 22K ST holders but regularly get 26K home fans turning up for games . . . how do you convert those extra fans into ST holders?

The conundrum is actually this . . . the 'extra' 4K home supporters are clearly NOT the same 4K each game . . . that wouldn't make sense . . . if they were the same 4k then they would just buy a ST.

So clubs like United have around 10 - 20k of floating voters. How do you persuade those floating voters to commit to regular attendance? United can only afford to increase the capacity at BL if they crack that conundrum, or have an extended stay in the PL where they can sell the tickets to away fans.

 

[Inter_blade83]

That’s 2 games. 25k blades this time. And let’s not forget. The prices are reasonable. We haven’t lost. We are very much imo fancied to go up. We are not been ripped off like pigs. We have a far better team than pigs We have a far better stadium than pigs. So where is everybody? Or do we start supporting when we are top 6 ??

I'm not paying over 30 quid to watch championship football.

I can watch it on tv instead for nothing.

 

[Sheffsteel]

The conundrum for most clubs is well documented . . . it goes like this . . . . Say SUFC have 22K ST holders but regularly get 26K home fans turning up for games . . . how do you convert those extra fans into ST holders?

The conundrum is actually this . . . the 'extra' 4K home supporters are clearly NOT the same 4K each game . . . that wouldn't make sense . . . if they were the same 4k then they would just buy a ST.

So clubs like United have around 10 - 20k of floating voters. How do you persuade those floating voters to commit to regular attendance? United can only afford to increase the capacity at BL if they crack that conundrum, or have an extended stay in the PL where they can sell the tickets to away fans.

Another issue that doesn't get mentioned enough and I do wonder if there's still a market and how big that market is in the Sheffield area
and that's the casual "Premier league" football fan, those that love the game and want a chance to see top class football live.

Also what about the Rotherham, Chesterfield or Barnsley fans that when they're playing away
they fancy coming to a big match at Bramall Lane for a different big match experience.

These are the type of people we seem to ignore, the casual football fans who don't initially support United but just fancy 3 or 4 games a season.
Also these people might eventually develop a soft spot for us and might end up becoming regular Blades supporters.

I remember in the mid 80's I'd not seen top flight football since I was a child in the 70's when we had Tony Currie
but when Sheffield Wed reached the top flight in 1985 .....there was a few of us from work....a Watford fan, a Rotherham fan, 2 Blades and 2 Wednesday fans and we always had a works outing when SWFC ever played Watford and sometimes also when they played Liverpool or Man Utd.

I felt a bit dirty but it was a social event, we just turned up at Hillsboro and paid on the turnstiles.

 

[St Annington]

Another issue that doesn't get mentioned enough and I do wonder if there's still a market and how big that market is in the Sheffield area
and that's the casual "Premier league" football fan, those that love the game and want a chance to see top class football live.

Also what about the Rotherham, Chesterfield or Barnsley fans that when they're playing away
they fancy coming to a big match at Bramall Lane for a different big match experience.

These are the type of people we seem to ignore, the casual football fans who don't initially support United but just fancy 3 or 4 games a season.
Also these people might eventually develop a soft spot for us and might end up becoming regular Blades supporters.

I remember in the mid 80's I'd not seen top flight football since I was a child in the 70's when we had Tony Currie
but when Sheffield Wed reached the top flight in 1985 .....there was a few of us from work....a Watford fan, a Rotherham fan, 2 Blades and 2 Wednesday fans and we always had a works outing when SWFC ever played Watford and sometimes also when they played Liverpool or Man Utd.

I felt a bit dirty but it was a social event, we just turned up at Hillsboro and paid on the turnstiles.

Yes you're absolutely correct. The reason(s) behind the 'churn' of casual fans is well understood e.g. Sheffield has a high student population who have no affiliation to either Sheffield club and their attendance at either ground is influenced by factors other than being 'supporters'.

Other factors include shift work, geographically not living within easy access of BL, cost etc.

The challenge is turning churn into loyalty.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Yes you're absolutely correct. The reason(s) behind the 'churn' of casual fans is well understood e.g. Sheffield has a high student population who have no affiliation to either Sheffield club and their attendance at either ground is influenced by factors other than being 'supporters'.

Other factors include shift work, geographically not living within easy access of BL, cost etc.

The challenge is turning churn into loyalty.

If you look at the crowds pre to post warnock and then again with Wilder building further on that a little success sustains crowds for a while

 

[alcoblade]

it dunt really matter in long run. lol. I’m too old to give a fuck. I remember when I use to sit and talk daft every time someone said Wednesday were a far bigger club than us. I use to get upset Fact is they actually were. Now they really not, but the one thing any right minded football fan, blade or otherwise can’t do is slag their support. It’s the one thing they cling to and for good reason. If that makes me a pig so be it lol

You've said so. On a surprising number if occasions.

 

[Stevo71]

Am I stupid to believe we could get at least 33-34k in the Championship?

And hopefully, in the long term, we establish ourselves in the Premier league.

Only if tickets were a whole lot cheaper, the way ticket prices are going/gone the club are/have priced those who are on a low income out of the game.

 

[Stevo71]

I'm not paying over 30 quid to watch championship football.

I can watch it on tv instead for nothing.

Dodgy firestick?

 

[Keen Blade]

Think you must be on a wind up .

Tell me why

 

[Keen Blade]

Am I stupid to believe we could get at least 33-34k in the Championship?

And hopefully, in the long term, we establish ourselves in the Premier league.

33k in the second tier ?
Maybe for pigs , dirties & derby.
Season average , unlikely.
So no basis for investment if stay in second tier with declining income.

Then if we get to PL , income from TV etc £120m , income from gates £6m ?
Whereupon 2 schools of thought :
A) gate income insignificant so can afford to shut kop or SS + rebuild
(but risk relegation coz not spending on wages) ; or
B) gate income insignificant so why bother increasing capacity ?
And when relegated , don't need it.

My thoughts ?

Head says :
3 out of last 5 seasons in PL and we are just as skint as usual.
Still paying off the mortgage for the McCabe assets Inc ground.
Every penny needed for players & player facilities so no spending on ground.

Heart says :
Next time we get in PL , (usually for only one season) major ground improvements coz there will never be any money to do them otherwise.

 

[JJBlade]

The conundrum for most clubs is well documented . . . it goes like this . . . . Say SUFC have 22K ST holders but regularly get 26K home fans turning up for games . . . how do you convert those extra fans into ST holders?

The conundrum is actually this . . . the 'extra' 4K home supporters are clearly NOT the same 4K each game . . . that wouldn't make sense . . . if they were the same 4k then they would just buy a ST.

So clubs like United have around 10 - 20k of floating voters. How do you persuade those floating voters to commit to regular attendance? United can only afford to increase the capacity at BL if they crack that conundrum, or have an extended stay in the PL where they can sell the tickets to away fans.

It doesn't really matter though does it

If United had a team capable of winning the Premier League and playing Champions League football the 26k season ticket holders would be phased out and replaced by 40k more, it's the way things are.......Just ask an Old Man City fan

You'd be amazed how many people would crawl out of the woodwork and pay prices that half of our precious 26k wouldn't

 

[Keen Blade]

Only if tickets were a whole lot cheaper, the way ticket prices are going/gone the club are/have priced those who are on a low income out of the game.

If we spend millions on the ground , are ticket prices likely to go :
A) up ?
B) down ?

What effect is this likely to have on demand for those tickets ?

When a lot of posters on here are already citing the price of tickets as a reason for not attending ...

Get ready for absolutely nothing to happen to the ground in the foreseeable future.

Mr Knees Bruised
Mr Can't See over the head of the bloke in front of me.
Mr Posts in Way

ST holder , Kop
Dreaming of a Steeper Rake

 

[Blade45]

If we spend millions on the ground , are ticket prices likely to go :
A) up ?
B) down ?

What effect is this likely to have on demand for those tickets ?

When a lot of posters on here are already citing the price of tickets as a reason for not attending ...

Get ready for absolutely nothing to happen to the ground in the foreseeable future.

Mr Knees Bruised
Mr Can't See over the head of the bloke in front of me.
Mr Posts in Way

ST holder , Kop
Dreaming of a Steeper Rake

In the short term, tickets may go up (by a bit), but hopefully the allure of an improved stadium will keep the stadium full. In the long term, the prices should go down because there are more seats. More supply.

This could all be negated if Sheffield United do a Wolves and cement ourselves as a solid mid table prem outfit. If that was the case, we’d probably fill a 45k stadium most weeks.

Hopefully, more supply should lead to lower prices.

 

[Stevo71]

If we spend millions on the ground , are ticket prices likely to go :
A) up ?
B) down ?

What effect is this likely to have on demand for those tickets ?

When a lot of posters on here are already citing the price of tickets as a reason for not attending ...

Get ready for absolutely nothing to happen to the ground in the foreseeable future.

Mr Knees Bruised
Mr Can't See over the head of the bloke in front of me.
Mr Posts in Way

ST holder , Kop
Dreaming of a Steeper Rake

Do you actually realise how hard it is for people on low income & how people have been priced out of attending matches or do you walk round with your head up your arse?

 

[SRA76]

You've said so. On a surprising number if occasions.

Not really pal. Just don’t accept bullshit. Don’t call them cunts deluded then say we have a bigger fanbase

 

[SRA76]

I'm not paying over 30 quid to watch championship football.

I can watch it on tv instead for nothing.

I get that

 

[SRA76]

We seem to have found an agreement.......

Agree stats can be manipulated to prove almost everything but that was my point really....almost any stat you can think of....the clubs are surprisingly close. I suppose the main stat that's impressive for SWFC is that they've won the league 4 times, more than Leeds United, so they are officially the most successful club in Yorkshire based on domestic honours.

Also no one can deny they have good support but it's not quite as good as they make out.
Their impressive examples of great support always seem to be one-off matches.

Blades find it difficult to big up their own club.....as we're a negative fanbase
but 2 seasons ago we practically sold out (apart from restricted view) so many home matches averaging 28,746 in the 2nd tier.
It would have been higher but SAG closed down the back rows on the Kop restricting capacity down to 30,200.

The last time SWFC beat 28,746 in the 2nd tier was in 1952, that's 73 years ago.
SWFC have a bigger stadium but even if they were top of the league in the Championship there's no way they'd have an average over 29K.

Agree on most points. But if they were top of championship for most of season theyd smash 30k averages In. It been a cunt I just need to tell it how it is. And tbh I think deep down every body knows it