Training ground

SlowDownDerek said:
I just think we're very similar in size to Reading, Swansea, etc. I think the average championship attendance last season was under 20k was it not?

Edit: average was 16,965
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I'd agree with you on us being a similar sized club to Swansea support wise, in this case wouldn't a roughly 20,000 capacity make sense? If we could attract crowds in the are of 18 to 20,000 then this would make an expansion worthwhile, after all it's not unusual for clubs to not sell 100% of capacity for every game.
 
DJ said:
Really good video, super analysis, although lost it a bit for me towards the end with assumption on the kids.

From my experience with a young kid and chatting to parents, they were all desperate for tickets all season. Even when there were empty seats they couldn’t get them. The system to get tickets for newbies is just so complicated that you see the “will to live” leave their bodies whilst trying to explain to them the points system, registering online for each person, linking accounts for friends and family etc etc

You get comments back that it’s just easier to get tickets elsewhere and so that’s what they do…so they are then elsewhere when the bug bites. Or tickets are so scarce that who will ever get into the “habit”, which we all know you need for regular match day goers.
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This is so critical, we're selling out every single game with probably the most complicated, restricted and buggy ticketing system that I've heard about screams the demand is there.

Seriously, explain it to another match going football fan and just focus on their expression. The confusion and disbelief on their face is comical.
 
I hadn’t realised that we have a 15k restriction on the ground as it is… kind of puts to bed the expansion idea unless BCP are willing to re-evaluate…
 
SteveJonesLegend said:
I hadn’t realised that we have a 15k restriction on the ground as it is… kind of puts to bed the expansion idea unless BCP are willing to re-evaluate…
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I thought that. Makes you wonder what the reason for the cap is. If it's proximity to houses then fine but if it's the ability of local roads etc. to cope with the increased numbers then you'd think it prohibits anything much bigger in Kings Park full stop.
 
SteveJonesLegend said:
I hadn’t realised that we have a 15k restriction on the ground as it is… kind of puts to bed the expansion idea unless BCP are willing to re-evaluate…
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I don’t actually remember a figure being put on it. What I do remember, from going to see the south stand plans that feature in that video, that development of the main stand was said to be unlikely due to height of the stand and loss of light etc to the houses behind the east stand.

From those I spoke to it was an assumption and so the south stand development was the only likely thing you could do with the current ground (ignoring ideas like digging down etc).
 
SlowDownDerek said:
I thought that. Makes you wonder what the reason for the cap is. If it's proximity to houses then fine but if it's the ability of local roads etc. to cope with the increased numbers then you'd think it prohibits anything much bigger in Kings Park full stop.
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I think Sam, in the video, just said it was due to the housing being so close... But again, if this is 'actual' thing and a reason to not expand, then why haven't the club just come out and confirmed this...? Just state, that if we expand, 15k is max so we 'have' to move... end of story...
 
KingKieffer said:
Agree with this. 20k is the figure we should be aiming for if it were ever to become financially viable.
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Yep, 20k, or seems pointless building a new ground. Can't cost much more between say 15/16k and 20k.

Reading were getting good attendances after initially dropping from the PL, tapered off in general over recent years though...
 
DJ said:
I don’t actually remember a figure being put on it. What I do remember, from going to see the south stand plans that feature in that video, that development of the main stand was said to be unlikely due to height of the stand and loss of light etc to the houses behind the east stand.

From those I spoke to it was an assumption and so the south stand development was the only likely thing you could do with the current ground (ignoring ideas like digging down etc).
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I am sure that is what was said, but that doesn't make it correct. Remember the purpose of the exhibition was to get a favourable response to the proposed south stand. No one would want to prompt a Nimby reaction by floating or acknowledging the possibility of further expansion after that.

Granted there is next to no scope for increasing the height of the North and East stands. But I doubt there is anything in technical planning requirements which would preclude an extra tier on the Main Stand, which is at least 100 metres away from the houses behind the East Stand.
 
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Sorry Roger said:
I am sure that is what was said, but that doesn't make it correct. Remember the purpose of the exhibition was to get a favourable response to the proposed south stand. No one would want to prompt a Nimby reaction by floating the idea of even further expansion after that.

Granted there is next to no scope for increasing the height of the North and East stands. But I doubt there is anything in technical planning requirements which would preclude an extra tier on the Main Stand, which is at least 100 metres away from the houses behind the East Stand.
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It's pretty close to the houses on Thistlebarrow Road though.
 
I am all for redevelopment of DC, but looking at sam's high level, but still insightful video, it seems unlikely given the cost per seat and potential capacity restrictions...

The only thing about this that doesn't sit right with me though is that if there was zero realistic opportunity of redevelopment, then why did both parties sit round a table several seasons back to discuss the possible buying back of DC...? It's either an option or it isn't... Unless the current regime see/saw an 11k max capacity DC as an asset worth having regardless...
 
What gets me is how the Training ground is on hold ....I realise covid played it's part in that....but surely now, if only a couple of diggers and small gang of men we could push on until such time that we go full ahead......in the great scheme of things it wouldn't cost much to keep things ticking over.....plus the fact it would give the fans belief that the club means business
 
tedisking said:
What gets me is how the Training ground is on hold ....I realise covid played it's part in that....but surely now, if only a couple of diggers and small gang of men we could push on until such time that we go full ahead......in the great scheme of things it wouldn't cost much to keep things ticking over.....plus the fact it would give the fans belief that the club means business
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Doubt construction firms who would be required for a project such as this are just sat around waiting for Neill Blake to give them a call. They’ll all have projects and we would have to join the back of the queue.
 
DJ said:
Doubt construction firms who would be required for a project such as this are just sat around waiting for Neill Blake to give them a call. They’ll all have projects and we would have to join the back of the queue.
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Fair comment......but could we have an insight into the clubs future plans.....pretty please......
 
SteveJonesLegend said:
I am all for redevelopment of DC, but looking at sam's high level, but still insightful video, it seems unlikely given the cost per seat and potential capacity restrictions...

The only thing about this that doesn't sit right with me though is that if there was zero realistic opportunity of redevelopment, then why did both parties sit round a table several seasons back to discuss the possible buying back of DC...? It's either an option or it isn't... Unless the current regime see/saw an 11k max capacity DC as an asset worth having regardless...
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plymouth spent £10m on their new mainstand which includes loads of corporate hospitality and now has a 5k+ capacity

I wonder what their cost per seat was?
 
USCherry said:
wouldn't it be 10m / 5000?
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logically, yes, but isn't there some sort of profitability calculation to take into account so you can work out your bang for your buck?
I think it's only profitable if you have corporate activity added in, not worth just adding seats for the plebs
I may be overcomplicating
 
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