South Stand or Kop

[originaltrueblade]

Which development first

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Ground would look lop sided if the South was done. A bigger Kop though would look immense. The Kop as it is lets the whole ground down.

 

[Rodley]

South Stand. Development won’t close any existing seats and will increase commercial income if we increase those facilities. This would offset the requirement for any “normal” ticket price increases.

Kop just needs improved facilities and to be converted to safe standing.

 

[BigBed]

Kop, cos it's the only fucking eyesore I see from my seat, oh add in the library corner in that expansion too!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I didn't see the context of your question before I answered. I thought you were asking which we prefer, so I answered, "South Stand". Better view, better facilities, better entry and egress, more people who knows what egress means.

As to your real question though, about which to develop first, it depends what level of development we are talking about I suppose? I think the kop needs huge construction work to develop it totally, whereas the South Stand would need less, it would be more of a "bolt-on" job I think? (I'm not a construction expert, more of a destruction expert, so correct me if I'm wrong!).

To do the kop properly would take months I imagine - and a lot of ground works and excavation. So that's something that would have to be started on the last weekend of a season and in a season that finishes at the usual time in May, not July. The South Stand, I think, would be an easier construction job and could possibly remain open whilst it's done?

I'd prefer the kop to be done first though. Then all those folks who have gravitated towards the South Stand, but are really better suited to being on the kop, might go back again and people like me can bagsy the best seats in the South Stand and eat my prawn sandwiches in peace.

 

[benn5712]

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

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Think they’ll do minimum requirements job on the Kop (Roof/Pillars, Concourse, Better access etc). Then get stuck into the South Stand (the money earner) if we stay up next year.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

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.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Ground would look lop sided if the South was done. A bigger Kop though would look immense. The Kop as it is lets the whole ground down.

Fucking stanchions blocking the view.
This is 2020.

 

[boggy1959]

Kop,impossible to see anything of note when we are attacking towards it

 

[bladesmanluke]

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 alignment of the seats is one of the funniest sights in football. Literally looks like a 3 year old has scribbled the plans up in half an hour with a wax crayon and we just went with it.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

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.

 

[S64 Blade]

I agree with Cerebus. In an ideal world I'd like the Kop to be redeveloped first, but I think practically, it may have to be the South Stand.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

From a punters view, the kop!

From a club point of view, South stand. Little or no crowd reduction and a big leap in corporate capacity which is where the best financial gain is.

Edit: The other uncertainty with the kop is the future possibility of standing. The club will want something concrete on that before any redevelopment, no such issue with the South stand.

 

[YES Blade]

Neither, brand new designs please

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Kop but needs to be done properly not just removing pillers. It needs to be fit for 2020 and last for years to come.
Not some cheap short sighted version with just pillers removed a bolt on roof and some corrugated roofing put over the kiosks.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Its a tricky choice.

From a fan point of view: The Kop.
Its by far the worse stand...the concourse areas are embarrassing by today’s standards.

From a business/ club point of view. The South stand.
In today’s glamorous PL world it’s useful to have a face that impresses...players, VIP visitors, media, journalists etc.
We could expand and modernise the changing rooms, board room, VIP lounges, players lounge, exhibition/ conference section, club shop etc.
Also executive boxes, catering/ conference/ banqueting facilities brings in more income.

I’m on the fence but would probably edge towards the Kop being done first but would only agree to a bolt on design at the back.
Liverpool are planning a similar bolt on design on their Anfield Road away stand....so capacity is hardly effected.
Closing down the Kop for up to 2 years....stopping fans from attending....wouldn’t be acceptable.

I’d prefer a bolt on design at the back of the South stand compared to knocking the Kop down, clearing the site and starting again....it wouldn’t be a Kop then.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Has to be the Kop. The 'New South Stand' has only just been finished hasn't it?!

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Ground would look lop sided if the South was done. A bigger Kop though would look immense. The Kop as it is lets the whole ground down.

Nobody seems bothered about a lopsided grounds at Anfield, Old Trafford, St James Park or Bellend Road?

 

[nopigfansintown]

The South Stand. It's not really a debate unless health and safety get shirty about entrance and egress on the Kop. My ambition is to see SUFC compete at the highest level as quickly as possible for as long as possible - from my Kop seat. Seeing that happen is going to take a lot of filthy lucre which would come from from conference, dining, non match day and higher average match day ticket prices on the South Stand.As well as any other money making sçhemes they can make from the stand. The fact that the stand could stay open Liverpool style as the construction happens is also an attraction.
The longer we stay in the Prem and the higher the revenue streams, the more chance we have of attracting the type of backing that will enable us to do the Kop properly.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

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.

Is anyone going to be in office blocks in the future though? I thought we were all going to work from home now, in this "new normal"? I reckon another Premier Food Store would be a much better idea.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

South stand. It's all about the money

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Kop,impossible to see anything of note when we are attacking towards it

Is that to do with the view, or the poor use of the ball in the final third?

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

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

 

[GodricBlade]

I can see the South Stand getting the job first to help bring in the revenue for the Kop to be done afterwards.
The Kop desperately needs upgrading though - still got those same lethal steps to the corner of John Street that I regularly used to fall down as a kid.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Has to be the Kop. The 'New South Stand' has only just been finished hasn't it?!

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

Is anyone going to be in office blocks in the future though? I thought we were all going to work from home now, in this "new normal"? I reckon another Premier Food Store would be a much better idea.

No you miss my point, I don’t want any non football architecture jutting into a football stadium at all. But if they’re determined to the fill corners in this way, I’d much prefer to see an office,hotel,media centre in the corner than the embarrassing carbuncle that’s there now.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Is there any way of getting some clarity from the club on their future plans? It's obviously a hot topic for us as we've been engaged in this conversation for a while now.

 

[Crafty Blade]

For me, the Kop is only worth doing when it can be done properly. That is, levelling the site and building the largest single tier stand possible, with safe standing, cantilever roof and a huge concourse underneath with bars etc.

This is an opportunity, and any sort of on field ambition should be mirrored by stadium facilities. As a loyal fan base we deserve that, and a basic kop expansion would still fall short in the long term, in my view.

Failing that, both Kop and South stand could probably be done as Liverpool style bolt ons, as the existing stands would remain. So either could be first, as the scale and complexity of each project would appear similar. Detailed financial analysis would demonstrate the logical first choice.

The current development proposals would more or less max out the capacity at around the 40k mark. The restrictions of Bramall Lane and John street would prevent further expansion.

If we were being a bit ridiculous it could be argued that with any sort of continued on field success, simply expanding the ground as proposed may be a bit short sighted in the long, long term, with reconfiguring the site completely and a brand new stadium possible in theory, if not practice.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

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

No you miss my point, I don’t want any non football architecture jutting into a football stadium at all. But if they’re determined to the fill corners in this way, I’d much prefer to see an office,hotel,media centre in the corner than the embarrassing carbuncle that’s there now.

Yes I get it. Totally agree.

It's years since I sat in that Pukka Pie part of the ground but I seem to recall it's a very restricted view in places? One thing that the club should aim for is no restricted view in any part of the ground - that ought to be possible. If we can't create unrestricted view seating in any part of the ground then the club should consider making that an area for refreshments or toilets.

If I recall, Hull City used to have a William Jackson's Grandways supermarket built into one end of their ground at Boothferry Park. And I think Bolton used to have a supermarket attached as well at Burnden Park? Both looked awful.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

The Kop needs doing properly. The whole spoil heap needs removing and a modern structure built, with concourses housing bars, food stalls, and toilets. The seat size and legroom need to be increased, and provision for easy conversion to safe standing can be built in.

I don`t like idea of tinkering with the Kop as it is. Therefore the South Stand needs doing first. Then we need a plan to do the Kop in a way that allows fans to use it as sections are built, rather than waiting until the whole thing is finished, if that is possible.

It may well need the Prince to bring other investors on board to achieve it, but both on and off the pitch we need to seize the opportunity to become a significant 21st century club.