Capacity increase at The Lane

[BettingBlade]

If the abuse of the points for home games gets anything like what it currently is for the away games then there’s going to have to be a re-think if the system if we have a sustained period in the top flight

 

[BladeTillIDie]

According to wikipedia, our current ground capacity is 32,609. I understand a few seats have been lost to the increased media box, however it should still be around the 32,000 mark. How many games do you think we'll get 32,000?

Probably none.

Most games will unless its Burnley at home on a winters Tuesday night on sky...

Out of curiosity why do you think we wont sell out ANY?

 

[Boxer Blade]

Unfortunately for me, I think every one will sell out. Last time we were in the Premier League we had 19,000 season ticket holders this time we have 26,000.

Is that right, 26,000? Didn't realise we had sold as many, if you add 3,000 away making 29,000 it only leaves around 3,000 and that's presuming no restrictions

 

[nopigfansintown]

This season will show that the South Stand extension needs doing asap. Corporate facilities will be sold out every game, as will general admission tickets - despite us offering only 2000 to away teams. If we are relegated we'll still average 24-26k home fans so any extension will allow a bigger away following taking up the Bramall Lane end, and any increase in attendances from the premier league years (significant last time). The South stand should be done first, because the price per ticket is higher than the kop; likewise the price of any corporate facilities. Tickets are already sparse on this stand for most Championship games.The club will also be looking at non matchday revenue that could result from South stand expansion which fits in with their goal to be an events stadium. Take a look at LIverpool's stadium expansion plans and the rationale behind them. This would be a fitting legacy for McCabe/Wilder.
The alternative is probably significantly bumping up season ticket prices, as it's a bit daft selling something cheaper when you've a queue of people willing to pay more. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[Torrix1889]

26,000 ST holders......2,900 away fans in the Lower Tier = 28,900.....lets say we lose 750 seats due to segregation and the new ground improvements that's about 31,900, so about 2,000 tickets per game available to buy.....

 

[bromtom]

26,000 ST holders......2,900 away fans in the Lower Tier = 28,900.....lets say we lose 750 seats due to segregation and the new ground improvements that's about 31,900, so about 2,000 tickets per game available to buy.....

2 seats will reach general sale, both directly behind a pillar in the Kop

 

[Droppingwell]

I totally agree which is why we need an expansion to grow our base and allow more people to come to odd games.

Also the quality of seating, my Dad is 87 but in decent health. However even last year the kop isn't really suitable for him, south stand sold out, BLUT has no lifts. John Street had around 400 tickets, towards the away end available, so that was all I could go for. This year there will be nothing at all for him. I have even looked at the Corporate options for him and that has sold out as well.

He first went in 1938 - his loyalty points would be awesome!

A nice new tier on the South stand with lifts would do nicely.

 

[Droppingwell]

2 seats will reach general sale, both directly behind a pillar in the Kop

Unfortunately more like everything sold out by the time it reaches members with 20,000 loyalty points. So no chance for kids to build their loyalty points.

 

[MobileBlade]

Not sure how the membership scheme will fit in with this scheme:

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[LoughboroBlade]

But how does a kid (mine is 9) get 20,000 loyalty points?

Pretty obviously you should have done some long-term planning to maximise your kid’s purchase-power chances:

1. Summer 2006: decided to register a nonexistent human child (let’s call him after your then-hero, David Unsworth, a safe name in those days), and periodically add any additional tickets you get to this customer number hereon in.
2. Some-time-in-2009: decide to have a child.
3. Some-time-in-2010: child is born. The child has to be named David Unsworth in order to claim the loyalty points. This is awkward on two fronts. Firstly, merely saying your child’s full name will trigger terrible memories in those that year it. And secondly, David is a girl.
4. 2010-18: with you having promised David’s mother not to take her to a game till she was old enough, continue to top up David’s customer number till she’s 9.
5. Summer 2019: your daughter David has a healthy enough total of loyalty points to join you for the new season.

I don’t know why any people that might have been planning to take someone else in the future didn’t do this in 2006. We were all made very clear at the time that the system would be permanent and never altered.

 

[ghandi]

They must have based the 30K loyalty points on the information on the ticket database, so there must be at least a few hundred without a season ticket but with over 30K points. There is no point setting it so high and only selling a handful of tickets on the first few days.

I have over 30k as does Ball_Sup (Phil) .

 

[MobileBlade]

26,000 ST holders......2,900 away fans in the Lower Tier = 28,900.....lets say we lose 750 seats due to segregation and the new ground improvements that's about 31,900, so about 2,000 tickets per game available to buy.....

Think there will be more. If I recall there were around 900 seats left for ST Holders to buy on the last day of the ST sales. Add to this the 2600 or so for the BLUT and then add the season tickets that have not renewed for various reasons. You will have 4000+ available for general sale I think you will find. Put it this way, if you have more than 20,000 points, even 15,000, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[Tythblade]

We will have to see how it goes, I live in the South West so can’t get to many games; time, cost etc. I’ve followed United since early 70s used to paying on the gate, those were the days, just wondering if we will lose younger fans who won’t be able to get tickets?

 

[grafikhaus]

Its been said a number of times over the years by the owners that it would take a sustained period in the top flight (or with high attendances) to make it worthwhile.

IF we manage to stay up then work to improve and extend the Kop should commence which will then modernise the outdated / poor facilities, increase commercial revenue (better bars, refreshments and possibly office or retail units at the rear) and provide additional seating for say another 3,000 to 4,000.
Whilst these works are in progress then a new permanent structure should be built between the Kop and the South Stand which could then provide a better Media Area as well as possibly more office or corporate facilities (again, increasing commercial revenue).

IF we then managed to achieve a sustained period in the 'upper echelons' of football ...

...etc. But what is a 'sustained period in the top flight'? When Villa last went down four years ago, they'd been in the top flight for 25 years. Sunderland had managed ten but are now in the third division. It's like considering building an extension to your house then thinking 'But if I get made redundant...' Worry about stuff and you'd never do anything.

Whatever this season brings, I'd expect us to be 'there or thereabouts' in the immediate future. We should be planning NOW to rebuild the Kop at the end of this season. Get the steelwork designed and manufactured well before the end of this season, shift the rubble and rebuild as soon as the last home game is done. If necessary, get the authorities to give us 2 or 3 away games at the start of next season. I fail to see how it would take more than 4 or 5 months (unless we get the 'Crossrail' twats on the job).

According to wikipedia, our current ground capacity is 32,609. I understand a few seats have been lost to the increased media box, however it should still be around the 32,000 mark. How many games do you think we'll get 32,000?

Probably none.

'If you build it, they will come.' Arsenal, Spurs, Southampton, Leicester, Brighton etc. have seen massive rises in their home crowds since they rebuilt. It's not just about the quality of the opposition but the 'matchday experience'. Have food/drink facilities*, toilets etc. fit for purpose, dismantle the ludicrous barriers placed in the way of the 'turn up on the day' fans and we could easily be looking at 35k home crowds.

(* While ever burger bars, pubs etc. are doing business outside the ground, we're doing something wrong inside.)

Alternatively stagnate, offer 20th Century facilities with a bit of tarp thrown over the stands and you end up like Wednesday.

I'm not saying build a 'superbowl', but well-thought-out improvements to BDTBL will leave us with a legacy we'll see for the next 40, 50 years.

 

[Worksop II]

There will be extra seats when they bin all the smokers & vapors out the door ................

 

[Tom Bott]

Jaipur on draught?

If Jaipur were still a decent beer but Thornbridge have trashed it along with most others IMO.

 

[snootyfenooty]

A 30k capacity is nothing these days for top flight football. The ones saying it is are the usual doffers who look down rather than up and see us in the same category as Burnley, Bournemouth and co. The poster #14 above who would go with his kids but will probably not go at all if they cannot sit together is the worry as whole chunks of fans will be put off from going rather than encouraged. If I didn't have a ST and had to sit in a shitty obstructed view seat away from my mates I wouldn't bother either, especially at those prices. Things have moved on since we were last in the Prem and the clubs who succeed in it are the ones with the higher ground capacities, not the lower and facilities play a part in it too.

If we stay up a capacity increase will happen anyway either through expansion under McCabe or ground replacement under the Prince so we should only be looking at a one or two year gap to bring things up to scratch, which isn't a big deal really.

 

[blademark]

There will be extra seats when they bin all the smokers & vapors out the door ................

Add the drunks and the every 5 minute pissers, and the stadium will be half empty.

 

[BushBlade]

We will have to see how it goes, I live in the South West so can’t get to many games; time, cost etc. I’ve followed United since early 70s used to paying on the gate, those were the days, just wondering if we will lose younger fans who won’t be able to get tickets?

Just get them to sit on a plastic chair at home and watch the clips of the game in between updating their Facebook status, tweeting, uploading some photos to Instagram and Whatsapping their mates and they’ll not notice the difference. Especially if you make them stand up as you walk past them to go for a piss.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Keep seeing people say do the Kop up first. The plan is specifically the south stand first as it stands. With good reason. Double the hospitality capacity increases revenue and means the ground brings in money year round with weddings and parties etc. Adds 5k to the capacity so will provide wiggle room for when the Kop has to lose seats for a while when being done.

It won't be cheap mind you. Liverpool did it at Anfield and it cost £100 million.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Keep seeing people say do the Kop up first. The plan is specifically the south stand first as it stands. With good reason. Double the hospitality capacity increases revenue and means the ground brings in money year round with weddings and parties etc. Adds 5k to the capacity so will provide wiggle room for when the Kop has to lose seats for a while when being done.

It won't be cheap mind you. Liverpool did it at Anfield and it cost £100 million.

Won't cost anything like that. The bulk of the £100m went towards the purchase of the adjacent housing to make way for the expansion.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Keep seeing people say do the Kop up first. The plan is specifically the south stand first as it stands. With good reason. Double the hospitality capacity increases revenue and means the ground brings in money year round with weddings and parties etc. Adds 5k to the capacity so will provide wiggle room for when the Kop has to lose seats for a while when being done.

It won't be cheap mind you. Liverpool did it at Anfield and it cost £100 million.

Some say do the Kop first...some say do the South stand first
But the last feedback from McCabe was that it would be more cost effective to do BOTH at the same time.

As already said both Kop and South stand designs already have agreed planning permission and both designs means
both the South stand and the Kop can remain open at full capacity during most of the building work.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

I think a lot of people won't bother with memberships because of the different brackets for tickets, so anyone with kids that have less that 2500 points will just chance it on general sale.

My mum's account was randomly blocked a few years back when you could still get more than one ticket at a time so I didn't bother getting it fixed straight away. When I did get it sorted by the ticket office they didn't know why it wasn't working and just created a new account instead, it's never really mattered til now, but with all her old loyalty points gone, she's now a bit short of 2500, which means there's literally no point in her paying to remain a member.

A lot of other people who've only gone to a few games over the past couple of seasons won't have enough points to get tickets either, so although there might not be much choice of seats by the time it gets to general sale, most games will get there.

There should definitely be some kind of timescale for expansion though.

 

[Bill Johnson]

I strongly believe if the big roll Prince wins there will be no lane so it's academic.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Won't cost anything like that. The bulk of the £100m went towards the purchase of the adjacent housing to make way for the expansion.

It would've been a chunk of that amount but I think you overestimate how much those houses cost. They'd been buying those homes since the 90's and leaving them vacant and boarded up so the value of others went down https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...blog/2013/may/06/anfield-liverpool-david-conn

 

[derryblade]

I remember reading the cost was 114 million of which 39 million was for buying the land, 75 million decent wedge that.

 

[bromtom]

Didn't Liverpool add basically a small football grounds attendance though?

Think it was 8k plus, would we add that many? Can't see us going for more than 5k on the South personally. I'm sure that would knock a wedge off the cost.

 

[YES Blade]

...etc. But what is a 'sustained period in the top flight'? When Villa last went down four years ago, they'd been in the top flight for 25 years. Sunderland had managed ten but are now in the third division. It's like considering building an extension to your house then thinking 'But if I get made redundant...' Worry about stuff and you'd never do anything.

Whatever this season brings, I'd expect us to be 'there or thereabouts' in the immediate future. We should be planning NOW to rebuild the Kop at the end of this season. Get the steelwork designed and manufactured well before the end of this season, shift the rubble and rebuild as soon as the last home game is done. If necessary, get the authorities to give us 2 or 3 away games at the start of next season. I fail to see how it would take more than 4 or 5 months (unless we get the 'Crossrail' twats on the job).

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'If you build it, they will come.' Arsenal, Spurs, Southampton, Leicester, Brighton etc. have seen massive rises in their home crowds since they rebuilt. It's not just about the quality of the opposition but the 'matchday experience'. Have food/drink facilities*, toilets etc. fit for purpose, dismantle the ludicrous barriers placed in the way of the 'turn up on the day' fans and we could easily be looking at 35k home crowds.

(* While ever burger bars, pubs etc. are doing business outside the ground, we're doing something wrong inside.)

Alternatively stagnate, offer 20th Century facilities with a bit of tarp thrown over the stands and you end up like Wednesday.

I'm not saying build a 'superbowl', but well-thought-out improvements to BDTBL will leave us with a legacy we'll see for the next 40, 50 years.

100% agree with this, let’s invest in the long term future of the club, as you say 40 or 50 years. Let’s not do what we’ve always done and gone for the cheap option. Either do a proper rebuild or don’t bother!

Those plans for the Kop and South Stand are over 10 years old now, surely we should have a good review and see what other options are possible.

 

[snootyfenooty]

I strongly believe if the big roll Prince wins there will be no lane so it's academic.

That probably wouldn't be too bad a thing as an extended SS on the scale of Liverpools would look fucking ridiculous, especially when all the cladding and other aesthetic features would be done United style, i.e. on the cheap. United should stick to the kop extension as a quick (and cheap) fix and put money into the playing side and at the same time build up a war chest for a new ground. When the time is right do what we should have done 44 years ago and turn the pitch round 90 degrees and do it properly. Or as you say wait for a benefactor to do it for us, elsewhere if need be.

 

[Bill Johnson]

That probably wouldn't be too bad a thing as an extended SS on the scale of Liverpools would look fucking ridiculous, especially when all the cladding and other aesthetic features would be done United style, i.e. on the cheap. United should stick to the kop extension as a quick (and cheap) fix and put money into the playing side and at the same time build up a war chest for a new ground. When the time is right do what we should have done 44 years ago and turn the pitch round 90 degrees and do it properly. Or as you say wait for a benefactor to do it for us, elsewhere if need be.

I meant hed sell it and move us.