Stadium Development

[CarlMcBlade]

Did you ever go to HR?

It was surrounded by old terrace houses and roads. Loved the location but just not enough space for a bigger ground. Add to that we would have been without a ground for a couple of years.

And yes it's been a right shitfest ever since but now with a new owner the only way is up.

We're on another level to before now. We have spent nearly 40m in the last year that we received for Hamer and Gyokeres. Most of our players have been together for a year now so we won't have another bad start. Our 3 strikers got 50 goals last season and have goals right through the team.

We're not the finished article yet. Need a LB and CB. Otherwise we have cover for every position where they are good enough for a starting place. Our biggest problem could be keeping everyone happy.

Hull? They're struggling to bring players in. We even hijacked their attempt to sign Thomas-Asante after it was just about confirmed he was going to them. They're in a worse position than yourselves squad wise and their targets keep going elsewhere.

I used to go out with a saucy little minx from HR.

 

[Sky Blues]

Why you left Highfield Road was un justifiable, you had good crowds for there but nothing close to what was required for new ground, plus complete mismanagement to sell your ticket and food rights away plus paying rent, has there ever been a worse deal in football

We have thousands more season ticket holders now than HR had seats.

What did us was we sold HR to help fund the build costs then got relegated. Homeless and not a pot to piss in. The council took over then shafted our club. Charged us 1.3m a year rent.

A lot more complex than this but this isn't the place for a war and peace sized post.

 

[Jon Bon II]

Ground improvements are almost complete for 2024/25.

Even the rollercoasters are tinpot down at the Lane.

 

[247Blade]

2.5litre tin brilliant white has been budgeted for .... Well thinned down of course !

 

[YES Blade]

This has been addressed twice by the club. Once in an online fan forum during lockdown. There we were told it had been priced and would've happened if not for Covid. Bettis addresses ir here about 35 minutes in:

Sheffield United - Stephen Bettis answers your questions - BBC Sounds

Hear the Sheffield United CEO, who spent an hour on BBC Radio Sheffield

www.bbc.co.uk

I really can’t understand the logic of just removing the posts on the Kop. Same with painting it black. It’s just polishing a turd.

We might as well just do basic maintenance to keep it safe and serviceable until we can do a proper rebuild. (I’m aware that will never happen)

 

[Le Cynique]

Even the rollercoasters are tinpot down at the Lane.

Wouldn’t we just tip the wheelchair user out of it and down the stairs too?

 

[Bladesman]

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Newcastle’s fan park. Very much in the style of box park and looks relatively easy to build. Wonder if we’ll go for something like that.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Who’s that pained on the side? Club ought to have used some of the Basham/Sharp etc graphics by Shoreham Street Magnifique.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

32k is our FULL capacity but what can we sell? Was trying to work out how many wasted seats we have.

 

[SRBlade]

Newcastle’s fan park. Very much in the style of box park and looks relatively easy to build. Wonder if we’ll go for something like that.

They have quite a few of these around the country (Stack brand), there's a great one in Sunderland (on the beach front, but will be covered on New Years Day and ideal to go to before a ridiculous 8pm KO).

Newcastle's works well as its quite central and it will be busy quite a lot of the time so not just match day reliant.

 

[JJBlade]

32k is our FULL capacity but what can we sell? Was trying to work out how many wasted seats we have.

About 5,000 of them aren't worth buying,

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Newcastle’s fan park. Very much in the style of box park and looks relatively easy to build. Wonder if we’ll go for something like that.

This is exactly what I was hoping for.

I used to live very close to 'Pop Brixton' and it was awesome in terms of having so many different food / drink offerings in a small space.
Had a great atmosphere, big screens, lots of cover, heaters etc. etc.

The space we have is big enough to do something really good. I hope the new Owners have more ambition with the space than what we've seen so far.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

This is exactly what I was hoping for.

I used to live very close to 'Pop Brixton' and it was awesome in terms of having so many different food / drink offerings in a small space.
Had a great atmosphere, big screens, lots of cover, heaters etc. etc.

The space we have is big enough to do something really good. I hope the new Owners have more ambition with the space than what we've seen so far.

There’s nothing stopping them having it open at other times too. Selling ale and snap people it would attract young people if done right. Location wise it works.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

32k is our FULL capacity but what can we sell? Was trying to work out how many wasted seats we have.

mattbianco1

 

[Keen Blade]

Should start on the South Stand ASAP as if indeed we get promoted, we'll need the seats. Also as commercial investment, SS needs to happen before the Kop.

Then when the Kop gets done the 10k seats lost will be slightly offset by the SS upper tier being already there.

If we knocked the Kop down now our capacity would be 21,900. If we did the SS first, it would be 27-28k instead.

Don't get the arguments for giving more seats to away fans. The only way we'd do that is if it were reciprocated... so basically just the pigs. We wouldn't need to give more to away fans anyways.

We struggle to sell out because of the lack of seats available, weirdly enough. When trying to buy a ticket you have to jump through hoops to get one first and foremost. Then you end up with single tickets, or restricted view ones. If we had larger capacity we could loosen the restrictions on buying tickets. People would also be able to sit together rather than buying tickets separately... it puts people off.

Usually there are plenty of excellent seats in the BLUT - lack of availability is not why we struggle to sell out - maybe those BLUT seats are too expensive for occasional attenders ?
We have a great advantage in attracting new fans because at most clubs only the worst seats are available to the occasional attender.
At the Lane , the BLUT provides one of the best views in the ground.
Very steep rake , no problem with legroom - fabulous view of the pitch

 

[Corkblade]

Usually there are plenty of excellent seats in the BLUT - lack of availability is not why we struggle to sell out - maybe those BLUT seats are too expensive for occasional attenders ?
We have a great advantage in attracting new fans because at most clubs only the worst seats are available to the occasional attender.
At the Lane , the BLUT provides one of the best views in the ground.
Very steep rake , no problem with legroom - fabulous view of the pitch

This all day long sir,more often than not when I come over to BDTBL l sit in the BLUT .
The view is fabulous, it's a no brainer in my opinion to attract new supporters.

 

[SRA76]

32k is our FULL capacity but what can we sell? Was trying to work out how many wasted seats we have.

We have just played our first home game of season. Saturday 3pm and we had 26k blades in stadium. What’s that tell you ?

 

[Pegster]

It tells me that is cracking support for a team that hasn't won a home league game in 2024 .

 

[CarlMcBlade]

32k is our FULL capacity but what can we sell? Was trying to work out how many wasted seats we have.

I would demolish that bastardised abomination between the kop and John Street in a heartbeat. The architect who came up with that should never have worked again. Huge swathes of seats in this corner stand are either restricted view or (believe it or not) no view at all.

 

[Mossman]

About 5,000 of them aren't worth buying,

Last season, none were worth buying

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

I would demolish that bastardised abomination between the kop and John Street in a heartbeat. The architect who came up with that should never have worked again. Huge swathes of seats in this corner stand are either restricted view or (believe it or not) no view at all.

I like to think of it as Kevin McCabe’s legacy.

 

[Blade56]

Out of adversity comes opportunity…….

 

[Tom Bott]

Cheers handy to see experience other clubs have had.

Though similar happened to us when we developed the South Stand, ended up skint and relegated from Div 1 (PL of the day).

Though these days there is a never ending throng of people expecting 'other people' to spend their money, in politics and football.

 

[brownblade]

Would like to think we don't need to outsource something like this. Can't be that hard to set up and run surely. Outsourcing is giving money away to third parties.

 

[Tom Bott]

I would demolish that bastardised abomination between the kop and John Street in a heartbeat. The architect who came up with that should never have worked again. Huge swathes of seats in this corner stand are either restricted view or (believe it or not) no view at all.

I like to think of it as Kevin McCabe’s legacy.

Though in winter when we had strong Northerly gales blowing through 'the hole', it wasn't great sitting on the kop either.
Filling in the corners also makes the sound better, when the ground is in full voice.

Do you remember the ground before McCabe joined the board, it was like a third division stadium.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Would like to think we don't need to outsource something like this. Can't be that hard to set up and run surely. Outsourcing is giving money away to third parties.

No way are we doing architectural plans for a new kop ourselves and players doing the building work during close season or on evenings after work.

 

[Snowflake]

We have just played our first home game of season. Saturday 3pm and we had 26k blades in stadium. What’s that tell you ?

Not a lot when 2/3,000 are allocated to away fans at a time when many families are away on holiday.
Let’s review in mid September.

 

[CPB]

With the incoming owners arriving.
Does make you wonder what they are thinking regards infrastructure.
We know very little really.

Given they are essentially looking to make a return on us as a club.
There will always be two modes of thought.
1. Will this increase the value of the club for future sale.
2. Is this infrastructure cost worth it short and long term.

I'd like to think that we might see progress coming.
Given we've seen we are making the new training ground up at Whitlow/Dore. And we have got the land back under club ownership this is a positive sign. Because the rumour is these two decisions were influenced by these incoming owners.

In terms of the ground. I think it's fairly unanimous that both south stand and kop need developing. For me I'd rather we didn't waste money on just removing the pillars and a new roof.
I'd rather do a proper job and wait.

This fan park addition though is a little improvement for the kop given you can go over at half time. However when it's bucketing it down how many still will....

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

It tells me that is cracking support for a team that hasn't won a home league game in 2024 .

I was sat there last Saturday thinking this same thing. Why am I still here l. It’s an addiction I suppose!

No other thing in life would let you down as much as United have consistently for a year & you keep turning up to watch it again.

It’s like watching a shite movie on repeat hoping for a different ending