New Stand

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2017 23:45:51 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I was at a game in the summer (abroad) where they had one section of the stadium with fold-down seats sort of set into the crush barriers (when they were in the up position), so you could sit if you wanted or your could stand as if it was a normal terrace (only with a lot more crush barriers). I thought it was quite a clever solution to the 'authorities want seats, fans want to stand' problem - perhaps this is what's planned for the Elvis Stand?

As it happened, that part of the stadium was being used as a no-man's-land between two sets of supporters, so was empty, so I never saw the terrace/seats in use, but it did look awfully cramped.

Incidentally, they also had nets hanging down from the roof at various points which could be raised or lowered, depending on where the segregation gap was - presumably to stop fans throwing things at each other.

I believe that solution is what they use in the Bundesliga, and I think Celtic have plans to bring it in as well

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2017 1:57:15 GMT @bendubz said:

Jan 24, 2017 23:45:51 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I was at a game in the summer (abroad) where they had one section of the stadium with fold-down seats sort of set into the crush barriers (when they were in the up position), so you could sit if you wanted or your could stand as if it was a normal terrace (only with a lot more crush barriers). I thought it was quite a clever solution to the 'authorities want seats, fans want to stand' problem - perhaps this is what's planned for the Elvis Stand?

As it happened, that part of the stadium was being used as a no-man's-land between two sets of supporters, so was empty, so I never saw the terrace/seats in use, but it did look awfully cramped.

Incidentally, they also had nets hanging down from the roof at various points which could be raised or lowered, depending on where the segregation gap was - presumably to stop fans throwing things at each other.

I believe that solution is what they use in the Bundesliga, and I think Celtic have plans to bring it in as well

If it's what we're getting, it will be interesting to see how it's used. As I said, it looks very cramped, I'd much prefer to stand on a normal terrace, where you can move around a bit, or sit in a normal seat, with no barrier in front of you. But I guess it's a good way of providing seats if we are obliged to have them - but will they get used? Presumably away supporters who have bought seats will want to actually sit on them (I would!), but sitting down isn't much fun if everyone around you is standing up!

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2017 8:37:32 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Jan 25, 2017 1:57:15 GMT @bendubz said:

I believe that solution is what they use in the Bundesliga, and I think Celtic have plans to bring it in as well

If it's what we're getting, it will be interesting to see how it's used. As I said, it looks very cramped, I'd much prefer to stand on a normal terrace, where you can move around a bit, or sit in a normal seat, with no barrier in front of you. But I guess it's a good way of providing seats if we are obliged to have them - but will they get used? Presumably away supporters who have bought seats will want to actually sit on them (I would!), but sitting down isn't much fun if everyone around you is standing up!

I think the seating is a future development. When the plans were revealed at the initial supporters evening I'm pretty sure they said that it would be plain barriers initially. When the seats are added, it won't be a case of being able to decide whether you want to stand or sit in individual seats, but whole sections (presumably two rows each) will have to be converted on a match by match basis. Also converting to seats will reduce the capacity of that section by a roughly a third.

[Deleted]

I wonder when it will be ready? The obvious first game to go for would be Lincoln, I suppose, as they could bring a decent number down, but that's nearly two months away. Will they need that much time to finish fitting out and get the H&S clearance?

At the moment the away fan experience at the JWW, especially if we're segregated, is terrible, so the quicker that stand is open (or, at the very least, fans can stand in front of it), the better.

If it's possible to get it open earlier, I would go for a 'grand opening' at the Southport game, maybe with reduced prices. They aren't likely to bring many fans, but it's another of those 'must win' games, and with the new stand opening, and the right publicity and reduced admission, we could pack the place out Imagine the atmosphere - one hell of a 12th man!

[steveh21]

Jan 25, 2017 9:17:33 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I wonder when it will be ready? The obvious first game to go for would be Lincoln, I suppose, as they could bring a decent number down, but that's nearly two months away. Will they need that much time to finish fitting out and get the H&S clearance?

At the moment the away fan experience at the JWW, especially if we're segregated, is terrible, so the quicker that stand is open (or, at the very least, fans can stand in front of it), the better.

If it's possible to get it open earlier, I would go for a 'grand opening' at the Southport game, maybe with reduced prices. They aren't likely to bring many fans, but it's another of those 'must win' games, and with the new stand opening, and the right publicity and reduced admission, we could pack the place out Imagine the atmosphere - one hell of a 12th man!

Good shout but not sure why you would need to reduce the prices. We were well over capacity on Saturday and with a better view it will be well worth the usual £15 I'd have thought. Also, the problem with reducing prices for league games is it dilutes the value for season ticket holders.

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2017 9:30:53 GMT steveh21 said:

Jan 25, 2017 9:17:33 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I wonder when it will be ready? The obvious first game to go for would be Lincoln, I suppose, as they could bring a decent number down, but that's nearly two months away. Will they need that much time to finish fitting out and get the H&S clearance?

At the moment the away fan experience at the JWW, especially if we're segregated, is terrible, so the quicker that stand is open (or, at the very least, fans can stand in front of it), the better.

If it's possible to get it open earlier, I would go for a 'grand opening' at the Southport game, maybe with reduced prices. They aren't likely to bring many fans, but it's another of those 'must win' games, and with the new stand opening, and the right publicity and reduced admission, we could pack the place out Imagine the atmosphere - one hell of a 12th man!

Good shout but not sure why you would need to reduce the prices. We were well over capacity on Saturday and with a better view it will be well worth the usual £15 I'd have thought. Also, the problem with reducing prices for league games is it dilutes the value for season ticket holders.

As a ST holder, I could live with that for one game!

The benefit of a special game with reduced prices is it gets the non-fans and non-regulars in - and some of them will come back. Don't forget, our capacity with the new stand will be 4,000+, and we're never going to fill that for a normal league game, even with a decent away turnout.

Also, with reduced prices, although you lose money in theory, in practice you take at least as much through the turnstiles and there's all the extra spending within the ground to take into account. A reduced price game could actually earn the club more money than a normal one.

[steveh21]

I'm still not convinced. £15 is good value in my book and not sure people don't come because it is £15 rather than £12. It's not like our crowds have dropped away. The occasion of opening the new stand and the great view it offers should be enough to tempt people if the marketing/PR is right.

[Deleted]

Anyone know our biggest attendance at London Road (excluding the Charlton replay, where I could hardly see the pitch, let alone the goal line)?

[steveh21]

Jan 25, 2017 10:55:47 GMT headstone said:

Anyone know our biggest attendance at London Road (excluding the Charlton replay, where I could hardly see the pitch, let alone the goal line)?

About 10,000 I think

[soulstone]

Jan 25, 2017 10:55:47 GMT headstone said:

Anyone know our biggest attendance at London Road (excluding the Charlton replay, where I could hardly see the pitch, let alone the goal line)?

12900 V Sittingbourne KSC final 1922 I think.

[Deleted]

I'll put that another way - does anyone know our biggest attendance at London Road since the 1966 Kent Senior Cup Final?

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2017 22:21:55 GMT headstone said:

I'll put that another way - does anyone know our biggest attendance at London Road since the 1966 Kent Senior Cup Final?

I don't.
Although I do remember 124 when we played tonbridge in the ksc around the year 2008. We lost 3 1.
Hope this helps and clears up a mystery in your history.

[Deleted]

I'm having withdrawal symptoms from lack of new stand porn.

Anyone got any pics?

[Loftus Road Stone.]

I noticed the in between steps were being added today what a modern multi use stand this is.

Attachment Deleted

Just like the safe standing rail seating stands that are very common in Germany.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2017 20:44:28 GMT Loftus Road Stone. said:

I noticed the in between steps were being added today what a modern multi use stand this is.

View Attachment

Just like the safe standing rail seating stands that are very common in Germany.

That's the arrangement I was trying to describe the other day the vertical blue bits are fold-down seats.