Eyup fanzine

I'd be happy if the big news was a West Stand redevelopment, but not one which reduced its capacity. That would just be silly. Filing the corner in would be good, and I'm all for a single-tiered stand. Something along the lines of the John Street stand at Bramall Lane but slightly smaller would be ideal.

 

The Lorne Street stand at Vale Park holds 5000. Looks ideal.

 

The most efficient way to redevelop the West would be to leave the lower tier as it is then build a new tier on the top or some exec boxes like you have shown. Not sure there would be that much demand for more exec boxes at Oakwell though.

 

New press facilities are certainly needed. As for leaving the existing lower tier, I have no idea how that would work in practice, as I'm sure there are technical considerations which structural engineer could tell you about (but I certainly can't!). Also, the current leg room there isn't exactly great.

 

This. We've got enough exec boxes. Single-tier stand, slightly steeper rake than the current one, new roof that extends round to meet the Ponty. Fill in the gap with either seats or safe standing.

 

the west upper and the west lower are separate structures. Being “cost conscious” as BFC / The Council are keen to be would there be a way to level the upper, keep the lower and build something behind? I’d say that’s the way any redevelopment would go if ever there was a will

 

Yeah I'd leave the lower tier and flatten the wooden box behind it. Then you could have the single tier capacity reducing structure people are fawning over and probably gain capacity. As the prawn sandwich and Thai lady boy sauna boxes would be in essence the third tier.

 

West Lower is basically seats on a stepped concrete base. West Lower is a separate structure on top of a flat concrete base. I’m not expert but I’d imagine knocking down the Upper would have little impact on the Lower. Then you’ve basically got a flat piece of ground where the Upper was to build whatever structure you want to stick on there.

 

I think that would look great and would be a practical solution.

On reduced capacity I disagree slightly. The West holds 4752 seats. As a rough guide, let's say the lower holds 2752 and the upper 2000, so you get rid of the upper (reduction of 2k, but then add in some exec boxes). The new capacity would be roughly 21k plus new exec boxes.

To counteract that reduction, we should make the North Stand fully operational (no more excuses about rusty turnstiles or paying for stewards), give away fans 2200 tickets (i.e. 10%), and home fans 2800 (if the demand is there), with a 1000 seat segregation in the middle.

We would then have roughly 19800 home capacity, so actually an increase. Job's a good un

 

If the West Stand was redeveloped, the whole lot would have to go, including the lower section. From a structural point of view, it won’t work.

In regards executive boxes and hospitality - I’d say more are needed. Mostly always sold out on Matchdays, and has for years. I’m not saying it needs doubling, but it does need increasing. Part of new boxes could be used for press, directors and scouts etc. also allows for more non-Matchday revenue such as meetings rooms, conferences and classrooms for the academy.

 

On one of the most recent Price of Football episodes they commented that Bayern make more from the 5,000 or so executive seats than they do from the 60,000 normal paying fans! Obviously we’re not on that level but it’s interesting just how much more money clubs make from these boxes/premium seats.

 

About right - I enquired into hospitality for the City Champions League semi final at the Etihad. £30k was top package.

And no I didn't go, I'm not rich or a city fan - just a nosey bas7ard.

 

While not wishing to urinate on anybody's french fries, wouldn't a sound plan be to put the money into a team capable of getting to the Championship and staying there? A building can go up in a relatively short time and there'd be more need for it and money to pay for it then.

 

We had several occasions last season where it was needed though.

 

With current talk of Kitching and Kane leaving, it's more urgent than ever to keep them and get promoted. There's very little need right now for extra capacity but a real need to keep our better players and go all out to go up. In my opinion. ;