Can the Ponty end's capacity be extended?

Not that we need the extension of course but l once read this somewhere a few years ago and now its on wikipedia - so it must be true....

If the club were to come into money and complete the final phase of the redevelopment l would rather them build a smaller 4,000 - 4,500 West Stand and add 1,500 or so seats to the Ponty.

 

I think so yes.
But there would be restricted view seats like in north stand.

 

Id rather go all out for best west stand and keep ponty as is. OR - add a couple of hundred seats in the bit between the two stands - but then TV box would need to be shifted (once a season).

More seats = more empty seats

There is all this about the West Stand loos and that competition - I'm still none the wiser as to whether the wooden structures of the West stand need to be out by next season?? - just renovate the whole thing with a Starbucks and Costa Coffee underneath - but I'd vote for a Wetherspoons and chippy!

 

I would like to see the corner filled in

the corner under the floodlight, so that it would sweep round and join on to the west stand , thats if we ever get round to building a new west stand.

 

Re: I would like to see the corner filled in

I'd like that but not sure how it may work logistically as there is not scope to make it sweep round very high and your'd need to mess with the existing ponty structure. If they put seats in they'd end up being like the west lower i.e. no more than about 15 rows deep and open to the elements

 

I guess if you throw enough money at it any structure can be extended

if you've got the space. Can't see it happening to the Ponty End though even if we needed the extra seats, which we clearly don't. It would require a new roof.

I'm sure seating could be put on the corner though, between the Ponty and the West Stand.

 

I've heard it would be a second tier built onto the back bringing it up to the height and capacity of the North Stand. Would be better all round if they were wanting a smaller West Stand so not to disrupt too much the house's on Grove street and keep the capacity to around 23-24 thousand.

All a huge pipedream at the moment and l cant see anything happening unless we are taken over by someone with at least double the money Cryne has or and even bigger if....we won promotion back to the top flight, but l cant see that happening again in my lifetime.

 

have a look at Old Trafford, Anfield, St James Park..to name a few

they all have stands going round corners with roofs a differing hights...it would be no problem at all.

 

Re: I guess if you throw enough money at it any structure can be extended

I've always thought that could be done quite cheaply. If we did have the money l would love a supporters bar there, built on a second level above the turnstiles, we'd lose the smokers corner though which would upset some. The redevelopment of the West Stand is years off and too costly so it would be good if the club thought about developing the two remaining corners to maximise income, l cant see it costing a fortune, another Dimensions stand between the North and East could add more suites and make the ground more compact and pleasing on the eye.

 

Re: have a look at Old Trafford, Anfield, St James Park..to name a few

the biggest bugbear with oakwell for me is the massive gap between the north and east stands which combined with the fact that no one sits over there (certainly not in the north anyway) means it seems to suck what atmosphere there is in the ground straight out.

 

Re: have a look at Old Trafford, Anfield, St James Park..to name a few

Agreed Monk Bretton corner has l call it, the Dimensions stand makes the opposite corner a lot more attractive. I wonder how much that corner cost? nothing anywhere on the internet.

 

the "Monk Bretton" corner as you call it

would be an excellent place to put a TV studio. Ok I know we do not get on the telly that much. But I remember when we had Chelski in the cup, when OdDonkey got the winning goal. They lashed up a reyt shed across the corner of the Ponty and West stands. But whatever, I would love to see the Corners filled to enclose the ground more.
As for the old west stand... I was under the impression that it had been given a Finite life and then it had to be re-built or shut.

 

Correct, if the late Stuart Manley (Stadium Manager) told me was correct.

 

*rolls eyes*.. "OH go on then"... what did he tell you

I will pander to your obvious whim

:smile:

 

Re: *rolls eyes*.. "OH go on then"... what did he tell you

That North and Ponty were built to same structural design, but with the possibility of a quick Premiership return it was decided that the N. Stand would have seating behind the structural pillars.

 

In an Ideal world....

well what is that exactly..its always everyones opinion. But for me I would like to see the existing "Open" corners filled in someway. The west stand now detracts from the rest of the modern stadium..but I hold it dear as it was there that I was taken for my first ever game... sat in the upper halfway back and almost at the kop end of the stand..I think we played Bury , but my mind is weak for that detail. A more up to date west stand would be good ...with more hi tech press and tv facility...I reckon the commentry guys when they do occasionally come absolutely hate the "Crows Nest affair " on the roof. Lastly I would love to see the teams emerge and leave the pitch at the half way line... sorry thats the bluff old traditionlist in me...emerging at a corner or behind a goal "a la wembley" just sucks to me.

 

I reckon we made the North stand far too big 6k capacity innit?

we woulda been better just roofing it temp and puttin some basic seats in (like the terraces of the west)...and making the west stand the main objective.I think we slipped up there

 

Does anyone know of an older in use stand in professional football than the centre section of the west stand? Seriously, I'd like to know if it's a record as it must be well over a century old now and there ain't too many of them around.
Indeed I reckon there's only about 4 English clubs who have had their locations longer.
Get a blue plaque on it!

 

Am I dreaming this?

Or are we really having a conversation about how to extend the stadium?!?

At a push, if we got back to the Premiership, we may fill the ground for the big matches, but we would have to get back to the Premiership and stay there for a good few years before we'd even dream about replacing the West Stand, let alone extending the Ponty and filling the corners.

If we are told that the West Stand can no longer be used at any point in the next few years the only option would be to leave it empty and continue to use just the bottom terrace. If the building work could be used to incorporate an office block then there may be some scope to rebuild the stand, but I wouldn't have thought that likely.

Still, nice dream I suppose.

 

Re: Am I dreaming this?

if a new stand was built ....would the tickets with a restricted view cost more....save some pain i guess!!

anyway ...probably be better reducing capacity and making the tickets £100 a pop...i got that idea from the bfc book of pricing policy!!

hope this helps