| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold 07:04 - Jun 12 with 13503 views | unstableblue |
Seen discussions of whether much of the rebuilding of the Cobbold could be completed whilst keeping much of the existing capacity intact for a period to to avoid the 3 sided atmosphere issues that caused Town problems in rebuilding the end stands.
Much like the Anfield Road stand at Liverpool where the 7000 lower tier get going as the upper tier was replaced with a whopping 9000 capacity:
Well I stumbled across this photo from the rebuild of the Pioneer back in there day, where it seems we followed a similar tactic:
I’m sure much of the surrounding works could be completed whilst the Cobbold still functions, but not sure its tier configuration quite lends itself to ‘doing a Liverpool’.
Any historians out there remember if the old west stand/pioneer was out of action for portions of a season? Before my time. |  |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 12:20 - Jun 12 with 2760 views | southnorfolkblue |
Fairly sure it remained in use.
From recollection the East stand was demolished (not that there was much to knock down) and rebuilt in the close season |  |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 12:35 - Jun 12 with 2722 views | Pinewoodblue |
We can’t do a Liverpool unless the current stand were to remain, after the new stand was completed, very much as it is now.
No way will that happen. Suspect Cobbold will be roofless while the additional tier is built behind it. This is what happened at Charlton. They will then demolish the old stand and rebuild. The biggest issue will making access safe through a building site. |  |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 12:37 - Jun 12 with 2713 views | Denny32 |
To be honest I can't see any new stand built .the investors are only going to do so many upgrades and probably the training ground facilities .don't think they are in it for the long haul .they will sell after a few years. Take the money.. | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 12:39 - Jun 12 with 2708 views | Bugs |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 08:52 - Jun 12 by PhilTWTD |
It would be a whole new stand, just with the upper tier built first. |
I think I read somewhere (possibly here), that a new stand has to be 7 meters away from the pitch? But building around an existing stand is away around this, and this way it can stay the same distance from the pitch?
If that is the case, keeping the fans closer to the pitch is only going to help home advantage, and it also helps with potential capacity (as well as inside space). As there is only so far back, the stand will be allowed to go into Portman Rd. |  | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:14 - Jun 12 with 2617 views | Alberto_the_frog |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 08:52 - Jun 12 by PhilTWTD |
It would be a whole new stand, just with the upper tier built first. |
Gravity says no |  | | |
| Brilliant on 13:21 - Jun 12 with 2596 views | unstableblue |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 09:34 - Jun 12 by Churchman |
Interesting pics of the West/Pioneer being rebuilt
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Thanks for sharing | |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:27 - Jun 12 with 2582 views | unstableblue |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 12:37 - Jun 12 by Denny32 |
To be honest I can't see any new stand built .the investors are only going to do so many upgrades and probably the training ground facilities .don't think they are in it for the long haul .they will sell after a few years. Take the money.. |
Not so sure
The original investors seemed to have already recouped their investment. Schwartz did state they think the next TV deal could be even more lucrative.
I think the value of the club would increase if we added 5-10k seats and the associated massively enhanced hospitality revenue. But a balancing act of how much they’d need to invest and the what value of the club would increase by.
I think the original investors will be around for 3-5 years. And we have a new investment team who’ve only just started and will want a return. Which will need a much higher club valuation, than now reached.
Premiership survival though is a massive factor in the clubs ownership and valuation future. | |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:33 - Jun 12 with 2544 views | SmithersJones |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:27 - Jun 12 by unstableblue |
Not so sure
The original investors seemed to have already recouped their investment. Schwartz did state they think the next TV deal could be even more lucrative.
I think the value of the club would increase if we added 5-10k seats and the associated massively enhanced hospitality revenue. But a balancing act of how much they’d need to invest and the what value of the club would increase by.
I think the original investors will be around for 3-5 years. And we have a new investment team who’ve only just started and will want a return. Which will need a much higher club valuation, than now reached.
Premiership survival though is a massive factor in the clubs ownership and valuation future. |
I don’t think it’s correct to say the original investors have recouped their investment, although it’s undoubtedly gained in value.
The new investors put in new money. No shares were sold, so the original investors have seen their share diluted, albeit they now own a smaller percentage of a much more valuable asset. | | | |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:59 - Jun 12 with 2481 views | textbackup |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 08:28 - Jun 12 by PhilTWTD |
I asked Mark Ashton about the part-build idea as I'd heard it mentioned by Portman Road insiders and he confirmed it's something they're thinking about. With the Pioneer Stand, the lower tier of the old stand remained as part of the new structure.
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Of course it’s possible.
New footings for new structure would be totally separate to those used currently. They could have a huge new upper tier sitting above the current cobbold stand operating independently.
Then… bulldozing the sht out of the old stand… then build to join the newly built upper section.
Not sure why people think this is too difficult/above the realms of possibility. |  |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 14:05 - Jun 12 with 2460 views | PhilTWTD |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:59 - Jun 12 by textbackup |
Of course it’s possible.
New footings for new structure would be totally separate to those used currently. They could have a huge new upper tier sitting above the current cobbold stand operating independently.
Then… bulldozing the sht out of the old stand… then build to join the newly built upper section.
Not sure why people think this is too difficult/above the realms of possibility. |
Indeed, I'm sure it's what they'll do as makes sense in terms of not having to reduce the capacity. |  | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 14:18 - Jun 12 with 2423 views | textbackup |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 14:05 - Jun 12 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, I'm sure it's what they'll do as makes sense in terms of not having to reduce the capacity. |
I’m still not completely over the fact that fleetwood have build a new side stand infront of their old one!
Spent most of the last game of the season (2 years back) looking at that | |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 21:56 - Jun 12 with 2164 views | unstableblue |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:33 - Jun 12 by SmithersJones |
I don’t think it’s correct to say the original investors have recouped their investment, although it’s undoubtedly gained in value.
The new investors put in new money. No shares were sold, so the original investors have seen their share diluted, albeit they now own a smaller percentage of a much more valuable asset. |
I agree the original investment and the spend on OPEX/CAPEX into the club since then by the original investment group has not been fully recouped. But it’s not a million miles off.
They bought Ipswich for £40m in 2021. Being pessimistic they’ve had three seasons of £20m losses.
So they’re in for £100m.
They’ve just sold out a portion of the club for £105m (with performance elements). Yes their share holding has reduced. But the asset value is greatly increasing with Premier League revenue. Hugely. If we stay up, that holding starts to look like real profit when they cash in. In a few years. And they’re now sharing the OPEX/CAPEX burden with another group.
It’s been very good business. | |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 22:22 - Jun 12 with 2105 views | PhilTWTD |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 14:18 - Jun 12 by textbackup |
I’m still not completely over the fact that fleetwood have build a new side stand infront of their old one!
Spent most of the last game of the season (2 years back) looking at that |
I parked by that at one game there. Very odd. | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 23:03 - Jun 12 with 2063 views | Churchman |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 12:20 - Jun 12 by southnorfolkblue |
Fairly sure it remained in use.
From recollection the East stand was demolished (not that there was much to knock down) and rebuilt in the close season |
The East Stand known as The Chicken Run was built in 1906 and was not demolished in 1971. It was dismantled and relocated to Foxhall Stadium. I believe the last bit if it came down during the 1987 hurricane.
The Chicken Run really was just that in its early years. It was rented out to a farmer on weekdays to run chickens. That bit of land had been waste ground next to the cricket, rugby and football pitch (the football pitch originally ran East to West where the car park/ that side of the old training pitch is now before that strip was cleared and the East Stand was built.
The Portman (Cobbold) Stand went up in the close season but the original structure didn’t have the end sections. Pictures of the stand roof or of how it looked in the 90s with orange end seats show the extended bits. [Post edited 13 Jun 2024 6:15]
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 10:24 - Jun 13 with 1905 views | lurcher |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 23:03 - Jun 12 by Churchman |
The East Stand known as The Chicken Run was built in 1906 and was not demolished in 1971. It was dismantled and relocated to Foxhall Stadium. I believe the last bit if it came down during the 1987 hurricane.
The Chicken Run really was just that in its early years. It was rented out to a farmer on weekdays to run chickens. That bit of land had been waste ground next to the cricket, rugby and football pitch (the football pitch originally ran East to West where the car park/ that side of the old training pitch is now before that strip was cleared and the East Stand was built.
The Portman (Cobbold) Stand went up in the close season but the original structure didn’t have the end sections. Pictures of the stand roof or of how it looked in the 90s with orange end seats show the extended bits. [Post edited 13 Jun 2024 6:15]
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I think the old stand was complete at Foxhall stadium, until it was completely flattened by the gale of 87. The wind picked it u and deposited it on the 3rd bend Sadly that stand had seats in it which came from Arsenal and were over 100 years old. They were all just cleared and dumped, but they would have been worth quite a bit today. |  | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:16 - Jun 13 with 1772 views | Muncher |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 08:52 - Jun 12 by PhilTWTD |
It would be a whole new stand, just with the upper tier built first. |
I am pretty sure this would be the way they'd go.
They will likely do the groundworks for the structure of the new stand during the summer, build the super structure, top tier and roof of the new stand during the season, demolish the existing stand at the end of that season, at which point those in the old cobbold will move into the complete top tier, while the new bottom tier gets built during the following season. | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:05 - Jun 13 with 1677 views | Battersea_Blue |
What a refreshing thread this is, been watching it progress all day with some really interesting input from a lot of posters.
I wish I could contribute, but I was a youngster when it was “the chicken run” and although I did attend games in it, unfortunately I have no constructive input.
What I do hope happens, when we do ultimately redevelop the east and/or west stands, is that enough consideration is given to the acoustics.
For many years I had season tickets in the west stand, block Y, pretty close to being directly above the directors box. Many times the sound of the away fans was much louder than the north, this being after the north and south stands had been replaced. Sure, the away fans were almost directly opposite, but there must be a way to ensure the noise we want our fans to hear is pushed around the stadium.
Somehow they need to get the noise from the north stand around the ground more. | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:23 - Jun 13 with 1641 views | unstableblue |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:05 - Jun 13 by Battersea_Blue |
What a refreshing thread this is, been watching it progress all day with some really interesting input from a lot of posters.
I wish I could contribute, but I was a youngster when it was “the chicken run” and although I did attend games in it, unfortunately I have no constructive input.
What I do hope happens, when we do ultimately redevelop the east and/or west stands, is that enough consideration is given to the acoustics.
For many years I had season tickets in the west stand, block Y, pretty close to being directly above the directors box. Many times the sound of the away fans was much louder than the north, this being after the north and south stands had been replaced. Sure, the away fans were almost directly opposite, but there must be a way to ensure the noise we want our fans to hear is pushed around the stadium.
Somehow they need to get the noise from the north stand around the ground more. |
Just a few things to add to the thread and your point on atmosphere.
I do think what the ground is missing is one steep, wide and high bank of uninterrupted Town fans. A single section of scale.
With the North development being a missed opportunity to have one very steep bank as a lower and a smaller upper.
I think Block A can evolve into this in the new Cobbold. So a large lower tier to the Cobbold, then exe boxes raised high enough so those below can stand. And then a smaller upper tier. Like Ashton Gates new main stand. But with singers encouraged to be in it. This would be adjacent to the away area. And so quite an atmosphere could be generated. | |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:32 - Jun 13 with 1628 views | lurcher |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:05 - Jun 13 by Battersea_Blue |
What a refreshing thread this is, been watching it progress all day with some really interesting input from a lot of posters.
I wish I could contribute, but I was a youngster when it was “the chicken run” and although I did attend games in it, unfortunately I have no constructive input.
What I do hope happens, when we do ultimately redevelop the east and/or west stands, is that enough consideration is given to the acoustics.
For many years I had season tickets in the west stand, block Y, pretty close to being directly above the directors box. Many times the sound of the away fans was much louder than the north, this being after the north and south stands had been replaced. Sure, the away fans were almost directly opposite, but there must be a way to ensure the noise we want our fans to hear is pushed around the stadium.
Somehow they need to get the noise from the north stand around the ground more. |
The North was designed to amplify the sound of the fans within it. Sadly because its roof is taller than both the side stands, quite a bit of volume is lost into the sky. That would change with a new Cobbold stand | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:48 - Jun 13 with 1605 views | oldburian |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:05 - Jun 13 by Battersea_Blue |
What a refreshing thread this is, been watching it progress all day with some really interesting input from a lot of posters.
I wish I could contribute, but I was a youngster when it was “the chicken run” and although I did attend games in it, unfortunately I have no constructive input.
What I do hope happens, when we do ultimately redevelop the east and/or west stands, is that enough consideration is given to the acoustics.
For many years I had season tickets in the west stand, block Y, pretty close to being directly above the directors box. Many times the sound of the away fans was much louder than the north, this being after the north and south stands had been replaced. Sure, the away fans were almost directly opposite, but there must be a way to ensure the noise we want our fans to hear is pushed around the stadium.
Somehow they need to get the noise from the north stand around the ground more. |
I sat in the chicken run in my first visit in 1950! I must admit that I can remember very little about it but it was end of season and I reckon it was the Suffolk Senior Cup final and presumably Bury Town were in it as it was a three bus journey there and back from Honington. Also there was no way my father could have afforded to sit there for a Town match.
I also remember the stand being at Foxhall Speedway, it fitted in well there. I think prior to the hurricane it also suffered a significant fire, but I am old and the memory sometimes plays tricks.
At the time we added the wings onto the replacement stand we had just sold Miller and Morris to Norwich so they were christened in their names | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 16:10 - Jun 13 with 1562 views | NthQldITFC |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:32 - Jun 13 by lurcher |
The North was designed to amplify the sound of the fans within it. Sadly because its roof is taller than both the side stands, quite a bit of volume is lost into the sky. That would change with a new Cobbold stand |
Is that right? Was there actually design consideration into amplifying or directing the sound in the North Stand? Whilst not knowing too much about it, I would have thought that the kicked up front of the roof is the major problem. And the lack of co-ordination between upper and lower.
I think it would be worth the club looking at re-roofing it (higher at the back and a single downward slope, if some of the houses can be bought up behind, or suitable compensation agreed) and also electronically porting noise from lower to upper and vice-versa to help co-ordinate singing.
A powerful end stand is way better than half of a side stand in my opinion. |  |
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| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 16:17 - Jun 13 with 1534 views | PhilTWTD |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 15:48 - Jun 13 by oldburian |
I sat in the chicken run in my first visit in 1950! I must admit that I can remember very little about it but it was end of season and I reckon it was the Suffolk Senior Cup final and presumably Bury Town were in it as it was a three bus journey there and back from Honington. Also there was no way my father could have afforded to sit there for a Town match.
I also remember the stand being at Foxhall Speedway, it fitted in well there. I think prior to the hurricane it also suffered a significant fire, but I am old and the memory sometimes plays tricks.
At the time we added the wings onto the replacement stand we had just sold Miller and Morris to Norwich so they were christened in their names |
The fire was in 1975-ish, after a meeting against Exeter, if memory serves correctly. Was similar to the source of the Bradford fire, rubbish under the stand ignited by a dropped cigarette. It was fortunate that the fire didn't take hold until after the meeting and people had left and only one end of it was damaged. | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 16:18 - Jun 13 with 1531 views | PhilTWTD |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 13:16 - Jun 13 by Muncher |
I am pretty sure this would be the way they'd go.
They will likely do the groundworks for the structure of the new stand during the summer, build the super structure, top tier and roof of the new stand during the season, demolish the existing stand at the end of that season, at which point those in the old cobbold will move into the complete top tier, while the new bottom tier gets built during the following season. |
Indeed, that was broadly the plan as it was outlined to me. | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 16:20 - Jun 13 with 1521 views | lizzibee |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 07:26 - Jun 12 by EssexBloo |
Knocking it down and starting again would cause so many issues with reduced capacity and atmosphere. I’m sure they will ‘do a Liverpool’ as you have suggested. Those 2 stands look great.
Does anyone else think that with the training ground work not starting yet they may have had a re-think and that they may do the stand first? |
The planning application has just gone in so need to wait eight weeks at least for that to be determined before any works start and probably have conditions to also discharge before commencing. Oh, and building regulations approval | | | |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 16:23 - Jun 13 with 1502 views | lizzibee |
| Talking about ‘doing a Liverpool’ when rebuilding the Cobbold on 08:21 - Jun 12 by LegendofthePhoenix |
Agree that the Cobbold can' be rebuilt - its a dreadful stand that is way too cramped and bars etc inadequate, so it just has to go. Which really does present a problem. I would guess that even with a tailwind it's at least 7 or 8 months to demolish and replace, so if you started in early May you wouldn't be able to use it until January. And with ground capacity reduced to about 22k, we would still have to offer 2,200 seats to away fans, so less than 20k home seats.
It's a helluva conundrum to solve. Could we consider doing a ground share for the first half of a season with them up the road? |
I really hope sharing a ground with that lot wont happen. I will not give them any of my money or sit in a yellow seat | | | |
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