The problem with any West Stand Redevelopment

Just been thinking about the West Stand and any potential redevelopments.

Problem is, the other 3 stands are no longer 'modern' - By which I mean you wouldnt build a stand these days that looks like those, with the corrugated metal etc. So any development would still look out of place IMO.

Maybe we could get some nice cladding for the other stands if a new stand was built in place of the west, so that it can all look modern?

 

I don’t they’d get planning permission for a similar sized stand as others tbh with the houses at the back of it .
Imo a new similar sized stand with changing facilities , press area and executive boxes etc would be ideal .

 

They're not but were all built at different times and all look in similar style - wouldn't take much to make a new stand fit in

 

I’d leave it alone, it’s quality

 

The problem is, if we were to build a modern stand there that's the same size as the current west stand, we wouldn't get much of a return on it because it would house a similar amount of fans. The club are stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one. There isn't any point in spending millions on a new stand unless we were to make it bigger or charge fans more to get in so eventually we could get our money back on it and make some profit (which would still take years). Until we start to pack Oakwell out regularly, the club probably wont even be thinking about any major developments to the ground. Also, one of the things that attracted Mr Lee and Mr Conway to the club are the traditional values of the club/town, they may both secretly be big fans of the current west stand, they always seem to sit there.

 

I love the west stand - wouldn’t want to see it demolished

 

Filling the corners in is much more of a priority

 

Agreed they aren't modern nowadays. Slightest bit of rain and the East Stand has big puddles everywhere because the drainage system is clearly knackered.

 

That's nothing to do with the modern or dated design of the stand its because of a fault.

 

Everyone has their own interpretations of what stadium design they would like to see but if we were to redevelop the west, i'd like to also see the corners filled in too.

 

The West Stand should be converted into accessible seating/wheelchair bays in the upper section. The lower part should be safe standing, but until then it can remain as open seating. I think we should keep the design of the stand unique, if it does end up being replaced I do think we should have a similar design, and make it a feature.

Any major development should come in the form of replacing the Ponty and extending the East Stand around the corner, into a reverse L shape. Another stand like the current corner stand could then be built between the New Ponty and the redeveloped West Stand, to house permanent media facilities.

 

Watching the web cams when players come all you can hear is the opposition fans .
When the players came out the roar of the reds fans were deafening in the Ponty but on the web cam all you hear is Oxford.
Come on Chien and council get it sorted and leats have reds entering from west stand .

 

All this talk of redevelopment is fantasy. Nothing will happen until we're settled in the Premier League which we've never ever been and would be a minimum of 10 years away even if we ever made it.

To keep rebuilding stands just because they're over 20 years old would be stupid anyway. We'd be spending money on unnecessary building instead of the squad. I wonder where that would lead us.

 

Take a look at the west stand, if you knocked it down all you would lose are the rear seats under cover, that’s it’s only purpose along with a directors suite and press etc.

If it ever was knocked down the capacity drops by 2500 and then some sort of tiered temporary seating is erected behind the lower tier probably a few years down the line. for all that effort it’s going nowhere unless the authorities tell us to close it, then there’s a decision to be made.

 

Could do a smaller version of the East stand with improved press area and more exec boxes .

 

If they ever did do it, and we didn’t need the extra capacity, then this would seem the best way (with foundations in place to go higher in future if required).

 

It needs to be lovingly restored & maintained like Fulham. It's a link to our heritage & past and it's not a knock down & chuck up an identikit flat pack job.

 

When you fill in the corners, you block the cross-wind. This creates problems with the growth of the grass and also drying out times.

Arsenal spent ££££s in researching this and designing features into The Emirates so it didn’t become an issue.

 

When the new owners bought the club, they said they had a 6 month option on taking half the stake in the ground.

Has this been confirmed that they now own half the ground? They also suggested they'd be talking to the council about the other part of the shared ownership. Again, do we know anything about this?

I can't see any reason for doing any ground work til we show capability of reaching 20k gates on a regular basis

 

Agree. No need to change it until then.

They’ve spent quite a lot on the West Stand recently - internally and externally. Inside is quite fancy now - especially the scouts area which was done last year.

It will sadly get to a point though, where it’ll want more structural work doing that may make it beyond economical repair. That time could be years off though.