Why I hate the North Stand

I don't know the particulars, but I think we can all agree half of it is shut and has been for a long time.

 

it us too big. They should ave built smaller and given the west stand a total re- fit

 

Think small. Be small.

You want a small ikkle away end and a ikkle itty bitty west stand?

Why? Why do we want to aim for obscurity?

 

just my opinion oh just realised opinions are not allowed on here are they

 

It's a tricky one. Build big and don't fill it = no atmosphere and costs more. Build small, invest the difference on improving the team and wind up locking people out.

@Merde Tete in the stadium example you give, most of the space closure is achieved simply by extending the screening at the stand ends almost to the front row.

Admittedly, having the north stand set back from the pitch means our gap is bigger but perhaps a hybrid of longer screening then a large screen scoreboard on a sheet joining the two.

Much as a structure like the south east corner would look nicer it would put the facilities thus offered in the least accessible part of the ground from the road and design would be constrained by the size of the available space. I think maybe the southwest corner would suit that better when the west stand is finally redeveloped.

As an aside, the structure under the existing feeble scoreboard - what is that actually used for nowadays?

 

The structure under the scoreboard was/is used by the Police I think.

 

I keep trying to visualise what that corner would look like with the screening extended, but in my mind's eye it always seems like the North Stand is set too far back from the pitch for it to work. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

Police control room innit?

 

The north east corner of the ground actually has much more space in it than the south west corner has.

In my ideal world the north east would have the facilities I explained above in it due to it being where the family stand is and the south west corner would have one looking exactly the same, scoreboard on the front etc but because the stadium is built into a hill it wouldn't really be able to have a lower floor like the existing corner stand has so the lower of the two balcony levels would essentially be the ground floor from the back, I think this may have been the original plans when we built the first corner stand as the balcony is pretty much exactly at ground level of the west stand corner, so this one would be a supporters bar on the ground floor, with the front balcony area being a more casual hospitality area and it would have an high quality restaurant on the upper floor (negating the need to have a view of the pitch that is blocked by the scoreboard) which would be easily accessible on non matchdays for 365 days a year revenue.

The front lower section built into the slop could be either a small safe standing area, seating area, or simply a storage area for the clubs training and matchday equipment with a front on it.

That just leaves the tunnel corner. Doesn't need a scoreboard anymore so build the same corner stand again. Police control box/security room on the upper floor for all matchday operational control and the ground floor (from outside) a large but simple bar for away fans. Get them spending in Oakwell instead of the Metrodome.


Piece of piss this stadium design lark

 

The problem with putting the scoreboard on a new structure in that East / North corner is that the largest percentage of the crowd is in the East Stand and they wouldn't be able to see it, particularly those in East Upper.

I would rebuild the police control unit in that corner and then put the scoreboard on stilts where the current police unit is. Or rebuild that whole North / West corner in the way you describe with the tunnel entrance beneath it.

 

Your scoreboard drawing is completely unrealistic.

 

I think theres quite abit of context missed here when comparing.
Hearts home attendance at the weekend was 18,790 ours was 11,858.
Hearts fans are well known for creating a good atmosphere. Aside from a section of the ponte ours fan base isn’t really the same.
If we had 18,790 fans all in oakwell singing that place would be absolutely rocking regardless of the size or gaps either side of the north stand.

 

Exactly!

 

I see your point absolutely. I just think that 12/13000 Barnsley fans would sound a hell of a lot louder in a more enclosed stadium.

 

Ideally more than one screen would be good - Perhaps a Supertyke style structure in the NE corner and put a police control centre with scoreboard on top in the SW corner. Unless of course the police control centre is so situated since, much like that corner means most fans can see the scoreboard, it also means they have the best view of most fans.

Maybe this stadium design malarkey isn't actually that straightforward!

 

Knock the west stand down and replace it with the world's Largest scoreboard. A structure as hight as the East Stand itself.

 

The North Stand is built to also accommodate the 1st team, academy and fitness suites underneath. It’s much more than just a stand.

Also, it’s the perfect size - allows us to cash-in on big away following, or, in better days, segregate it for smaller away followings.

It was built with the intention of a successful future at the club, and rightly so. The construction costs have been more than paid for over the years by ticket sales.

6,000 x £35 = £210,000 at full capacity Cat A game. Less 20% Vat, that’s £175,000 straight into the coffers. And it’s utilised everyday for the 1st team and academy below.

The gaps around it are for security - which makes total sense. For me, JD got it spot on.

 

Who is stopping you from expressing your views?

 

Said it before got absolutely nothing to do with any of the stands.. just people unwilling to face the truth ..it's because the vast majority go to oakwell and sit on on their hands and keep their gobs shut..
Sit Daaarn..
4k v Swansea sounded like 20k... quote their goalie..

 

It's deceptively small. Looks a great stadium on the pictures.