Stadium and facilities redevelopment post KMC

[HolmesfieldBlade]

The black paint makes it look much better, but the lack of cladding above the Blades badge where they've removed the sign that was there previously completely screws it.

That will obviously be cladded, the panel is just being replaced.

 

[YES Blade]

Wash your mouth out. It might be a shit hole, but it's our shit hole, and the oldest professional shit hole in the world. Don't go bringing that cesspit into the conversation.

I never said it’s a shit hole, you’re the one calling it a shit hole!

 

[103SecondsOfMagic]

P-Busses

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Sick of waiting to see that Kop get extended, but Covid has tempered my impatience somewhat. Having a giant wall of sound as the biggest stand in the ground, behind the goal, would give the stadium the look of how I see the club and our unique fanbase

 

[Ricardo Mantelban]

View attachment 91234

Castle Black.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Said it before a million times and I'll say it again, there's no need for Bramall Lane to be any bigger than it currently is.

A 32,000 capacity is about right for a club of our stature.

The rebuilding or extending of any stand is just pie in the sky unless the club significantly moves forward.

Let's talk about a new Kop in about 10 years if we're still in the Premier League and are playing European football.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Said it before a million times and I'll say it again, there's no need for Bramall Lane to be any bigger than it currently is.

A 32,000 capacity is about right for a club of our stature.

The rebuilding or extending of any stand is just pie in the sky unless the club significantly moves forward.

Let's talk about a new Kop in about 10 years if we're still in the Premier League and are playing European football.

This attitude is why Sheffield lags behind every other major city in the UK

It's not a village

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

This attitude is why Sheffield lags behind every other major city in the UK

It's not a village

We're not Manchester United or Liverpool.

What's the point of spending a fortune on expanding Bramall Lane when we could realistically be back in League One in a few seasons?

 

[Blade56]

Covid has tempered my impatience somewhat

Has it affected your taste and smell as well?

 

[SUFCinks]

For a modern day EPL club aspiring to be a top end player this is polishing a turd for me.

We need a new stand if we are truely ambitious, not a lick of paint.

I think we all want these improvements but will have to be a little patient. at least we now know its on the radar. They wont be able to do all the changes all at once.

I think these changes are a stage 1. If we stay in the league for another 1/2 seasons then i recon they will give the lane the full prem make-over as part of a stage 2. I think stand extensions etc will be considered probably after 5 seasons in the top flight as a stage 3. Because money is tight it is being focused on the new training facilities and player recruitment while we can establish ourselves.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Send in your questions to the Prince re future plans for the fans forum. I have.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

Said it before a million times and I'll say it again, there's no need for Bramall Lane to be any bigger than it currently is.

A 32,000 capacity is about right for a club of our stature.

The rebuilding or extending of any stand is just pie in the sky unless the club significantly moves forward.

Let's talk about a new Kop in about 10 years if we're still in the Premier League and are playing European football.

Hardly clamouring for a brand new 50,000 seater stadium are we? Just asking that as a premier league club maybe our stadium shouldn’t have poles holding up the the roof of its biggest stand. We’ve absolutely more than enough fans to fill a 35,000 seater stadium in the top flight. We’re already up to our limit re: number of season ticket holders.

Sorry but I think you’re wrong, extending the Kop in the next couple of years is a more than sensible level of ambition.

 

[HVR]

Maybe part of it is presentation? Someone, quite rightly, asked, “what is the first impression of the old concrete block upon entering the car park? If you were a potential investor, and you saw that as you got out of the car what would you think? Maybe if we spruced it up, it will look better to the eye?”
Not the start of a master plan incorporating the Kop bogs, just something to look more appealing to first time visitors.

 

[Balham]

Hardly clamouring for a brand new 50,000 seater stadium are we? Just asking that as a premier league club maybe our stadium shouldn’t have poles holding up the the roof of its biggest stand. We’ve absolutely more than enough fans to fill a 35,000 seater stadium in the top flight. We’re already up to our limit re: number of season ticket holders.

Sorry but I think you’re wrong, extending the Kop in the next couple of years is a more than sensible level of ambition.

The problem with extending the Kop is the payback. Let's say we add 5,000 seats at £400 (exVat) each. That's £2m income per year for an extension that would cost £30m+. No sensible company is going to accept a 15+ year payback on a major investment, especially given the risks inherent in trying to predict a football future.

Much better to spend £40m adding those 5,000 seats to the Laver stand at £500 each, along with 100 corporate boxes between the tiers which bring in £15k each and increased hospitality spaces bringing in £2m a year. Liverpool expect to bring in £20m in increased corporate spend in the new Main Stand at Anfield - we're obviously not on the same level as them but there's a reason they worked on the main stand before the Anfield Road end.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

The problem with extending the Kop is the payback. Let's say we add 5,000 seats at £400 (exVat) each. That's £2m income per year for an extension that would cost £30m+. No sensible company is going to accept a 15+ year payback on a major investment, especially given the risks inherent in trying to predict a football future.

Much better to spend £40m adding those 5,000 seats to the Laver stand at £500 each, along with 100 corporate boxes between the tiers which bring in £15k each and increased hospitality spaces bringing in £2m a year. Liverpool expect to bring in £20m in increased corporate spend in the new Main Stand at Anfield - we're obviously not on the same level as them but there's a reason they worked on the main stand before the Anfield Road end.

Surely it isn’t just about payback?
3000 extra seats on the Kop will be cheaper for the paying fan than 3000 extra seats in the South Stand. A lot cheaper.

Also now we’re a Premier League club the better our ground looks from the inside and outside the easier it will be to attract investors and players.

A bigger renovated Kop would go a long way towards that. At the moment the Kop lets the whole ground down.

If it were my choice the Kop would be priority.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I think we all want these improvements but will have to be a little patient. at least we now know its on the radar. They wont be able to do all the changes all at once.

I think these changes are a stage 1. If we stay in the league for another 1/2 seasons then i recon they will give the lane the full prem make-over as part of a stage 2. I think stand extensions etc will be considered probably after 5 seasons in the top flight as a stage 3. Because money is tight it is being focused on the new training facilities and player recruitment while we can establish ourselves.

Maybe your post has been overlooked but I reckon it basically explains the club position.
They are determined the gradually evolve/ improve the club both on and off the pitch.

 

[Harry's Game]

I've not been this excited since the Desso time-lag video!

TBF the Desso time lag video was the highlight of the Adkins era.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Surely it isn’t just about payback?


If it were my choice the Kop would be priority.

It's a business. It's about getting money in to grow the club.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

We’ve absolutely more than enough fans to fill a 35,000 seater stadium in the top flight.

We haven't though.

Again it's this bizarre notion that if we expand the capacity we'll magically just acquire 5,000+ extra fans.

It doesn't work like that.

Sure you'll pack a few more day trippers in when we play the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United but if you think we'll be getting 35,000 on a regular basis when we're playing Fulham, WBA, Brighton, Palace, Burnley etc. then you're living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

 

[YES Blade]

The problem with extending the Kop is the payback. Let's say we add 5,000 seats at £400 (exVat) each. That's £2m income per year for an extension that would cost £30m+. No sensible company is going to accept a 15+ year payback on a major investment, especially given the risks inherent in trying to predict a football future.

Much better to spend £40m adding those 5,000 seats to the Laver stand at £500 each, along with 100 corporate boxes between the tiers which bring in £15k each and increased hospitality spaces bringing in £2m a year. Liverpool expect to bring in £20m in increased corporate spend in the new Main Stand at Anfield - we're obviously not on the same level as them but there's a reason they worked on the main stand before the Anfield Road end.

To be fair, we're talking about football here, all sensible business decisions go out the window. What if it the best return on investment is to move to a new site and sell the Lane for housing? Return on investment is important, but it's not the be all and end all.

 

[Dkc]

We're not Manchester United or Liverpool.

What's the point of spending a fortune on expanding Bramall Lane when we could realistically be back in League One in a few seasons?

Yep. Sizewise, we're more like Southampton or Leicester. They could also be back in League One in a few seasons.

 

[YES Blade]

We haven't though.

Again it's this bizarre notion that if we expand the capacity we'll magically just acquire 5,000+ extra fans.

It just doesn't work like that.

Sure you'll pack a few more day trippers in when we play the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United but if you think we'll be getting 35,000 on a regular basis when we're playing Fulham, WBA, Brighton, Palace, Burnley etc. then you're living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

I do agree, we might need a few extra thousand on the capacity, but corporate facilities are far more important for us at the moment. We must be missing out on millions in potential revenue. It's why I'm more in favour of looking at the whole stadium and not just the Kop and South Stand. We should be looking to add corporate facilities to the Lane End as well as the South Stand.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Yep. Sizewise, we're more like Southampton or Leicester. They could also be back in League One in a few seasons.

Exactly.

That's why their stadiums are the same size as ours.

 

[S64 Blade]

We haven't though.

Again it's this bizarre notion that if we expand the capacity we'll magically just acquire 5,000+ extra fans.

It doesn't work like that.

Sure you'll pack a few more day trippers in when we play the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United but if you think we'll be getting 35,000 on a regular basis when we're playing Fulham, WBA, Brighton, Palace, Burnley etc. then you're living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

I'd challenge that. We had to take season tickets off sale, so could potentially attract a few thousand more in season ticket sales, straight off. 2k additional season tickets would automatically take our average attendance beyond 32k.

Additionally, we saw on many occasions that the only seats available for sale, on the day, were single or restricted view seats - meaning many didn't bother. We probably have 500 seats that are essentially, worthless.

Thirdly, I'd argue that the club were poor in actually selling match day tickets last season. Often, it wasn't until a day or two before that they went on general sale, meaning many didn't have the time to actually plan to go. With the extra capacity, the club could allow a longer lead time for general sale. If you're a 'floating fan', you're not going to be willing to turn up the day before to get a ticket, like a die hard fan would.

EDIT - one other point. We were unable to get very few new fans in to the ground last season (unlike the last time in the Premier League, where increased our average attendance by around 10k and our average attendances held strong thereafter - even in League 1 where we averaged 19k - more than the majority of what we did in the 90s and early 00s). If the club is to grow, we need the space for this too. For games like Fulham, there's nothing stopping the club introducing the deals they've had before - ST holders to bring a mate for £5. Quid a kid etc.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I’ve said it before but if when we do allow fans back at a % of ground capacity, as has been done in non-league I believe, there’s a very immediate reason to get some of the extensions in place for when that happens as it’ll means that reduced capacity is extended. 3000 more seats at the back of the Kop so that 1000 more can get back in for example might not sound like a lot, but if you’re one of the 1000 to benefit I’m sure you’d be delighted.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Exactly.

That's why their stadiums are the same size as ours.

Im sure I’ve read that Leicester City are pressing ahead to expand their stadium to 40,000.

As been mentioned before I believe stadium expansion is a bit of a red herring....it’s not the motivation.
The real motivations is corporate, banqueting, conference facilities as it brings in the most money.
Even changing rooms, media facilities, directors box as now really important as it increases the profile/ image of that club.

Our biggest priority was our training ground....as it wasn’t even average Championship style.
So I’m pleased the club is addressing this....at least Wilder won’t feel embarrased when he invited top players/ officials to the club.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Im sure I’ve read that Leicester City are pressing ahead to expand their stadium to 40,000.

They are. It's what growing clubs do.

Look at Brighton's attendances before and after building a new, larger stadium.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Memorial Garden to be moved

Sheffield United have always had a fine reputation for the way in which the passing of members of its special family are remembered and paid tribute to upon their passing to a higher league. The memorial garden, with its wall remembering those past, is a feature where we have been able to allow some

www.sufc.co.uk

Well this seems like there are plans...

 

[TJB.]

Im sure I’ve read that Leicester City are pressing ahead to expand their stadium to 40,000.

As been mentioned before I believe stadium expansion is a bit of a red herring....it’s not the motivation.
The real motivations is corporate, banqueting, conference facilities as it brings in the most money.
Even changing rooms, media facilities, directors box as now really important as it increases the profile/ image of that club.

Our biggest priority was our training ground....as it wasn’t even average Championship style.
So I’m pleased the club is addressing this....at least Wilder won’t feel embarrased when he invited top players/ officials to the club.

"Developing the King Power Stadium has always been an aim for the owners but they wanted to establish the club in the top flight first, and also wanted to guarantee that the atmosphere would be retained"

As should we.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.le...icester-city-give-clearer-picture-4185505.amp

 

[Sheffsteel]

"Developing the King Power Stadium has always been an aim for the owners but they wanted to establish the club in the top flight first, and also wanted to guarantee that the atmosphere would be retained"

As should we.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.le...icester-city-give-clearer-picture-4185505.amp

Always find it kind of weird how the media always seem to rave about the Leicester City atmosphere....they did the same with Huddersfield Town too.

Then when the tv pans to the crowd...it’s often women, children and pensioners generating noise using them plastic clackers.
Call me old fashioned but it doesn’t seem right....it’s reminds me of the traditional US soccer culture.

It strikes me that clubs that can’t generate an atmosphere.....Fulham is another one.....have all been handed free plastic clackers to make an artificial atmosphere.