Stadium question which should've been asked tonight 22:21 - Apr 5 with 3359 views | le2blue | In their planning work that is happening at the moment around re-development, what are they aiming for in terms of a capacity to sustain a Premier League / European team? Given the demand in League 1, I'm sure 45k+ will be needed. Especially as we will be drawing crowds from Norfolk and East London given their team's demise. | | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 23:49 - Apr 5 with 2816 views | TheBoyBlue | 45k would be very ambitious I think, but you're right, work on the ground, especially the Cobbold Stand will be needed at some point and I think an increase in capacity at that stage would make sense, though probably 35k would be more like it. Such a question is a long way off needing answering though. | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 01:01 - Apr 6 with 2727 views | bournemouthblue |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 23:49 - Apr 5 by TheBoyBlue | 45k would be very ambitious I think, but you're right, work on the ground, especially the Cobbold Stand will be needed at some point and I think an increase in capacity at that stage would make sense, though probably 35k would be more like it. Such a question is a long way off needing answering though. |
Agreed, 45k would be mad, I think 40k is probably possible if we have healthy away allocations Our record crowd is 38k however when that was set, crowds were then capped to 34k due to crushing in that game I suspect in our the late 70's, early 80's we would have got more than 38k potentially? How many did we take to the FA Cup final? | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 01:56 - Apr 6 with 2701 views | Illinoisblue | Lot of running before we can walk here. Let’s get out of Division 3 first. 45k stadium would be absurd. | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 02:57 - Apr 6 with 2664 views | PioneerBlue | One game at a time folks. All this future looking important chat can start again in the summer. Keep focused on what we need to do on Friday. Live like KMcK ;-) | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 06:11 - Apr 6 with 2580 views | lurcher |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 01:01 - Apr 6 by bournemouthblue | Agreed, 45k would be mad, I think 40k is probably possible if we have healthy away allocations Our record crowd is 38k however when that was set, crowds were then capped to 34k due to crushing in that game I suspect in our the late 70's, early 80's we would have got more than 38k potentially? How many did we take to the FA Cup final? |
We averaged about 25k in the late 70s and early 80s. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 06:16 - Apr 6 with 2573 views | Kropotkin123 | Did anyone ask if McKenna thinks he will be able to handle the pressure of maintaining our European home record in the Champions League? | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 06:52 - Apr 6 with 2462 views | Churchman |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 23:49 - Apr 5 by TheBoyBlue | 45k would be very ambitious I think, but you're right, work on the ground, especially the Cobbold Stand will be needed at some point and I think an increase in capacity at that stage would make sense, though probably 35k would be more like it. Such a question is a long way off needing answering though. |
It was quite clear from Ashton that they are looking at it further down the line, that they fully understand the problem of age, layout, capacity, usability and that there will be no quick fix. The ground needs a lot of work, the obvious one being the East Stand. If that was replaced, something done with the two North Stand corners and that took capacity to say 35000 I think that’s more than enough. Goodness knows what the cost would be. Realistically I can’t see anything major being contemplated, bar tinkering, tidying, improving what there is for some time. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:01 - Apr 6 with 2437 views | SheffordBlue |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 06:52 - Apr 6 by Churchman | It was quite clear from Ashton that they are looking at it further down the line, that they fully understand the problem of age, layout, capacity, usability and that there will be no quick fix. The ground needs a lot of work, the obvious one being the East Stand. If that was replaced, something done with the two North Stand corners and that took capacity to say 35000 I think that’s more than enough. Goodness knows what the cost would be. Realistically I can’t see anything major being contemplated, bar tinkering, tidying, improving what there is for some time. |
From some of his comments about working with the other local stakeholders there does seem to be a bit of a concern that the councils plans for the car park area could end up restricting what we can do - there was a comment about "it's important we don't get hemmed in". That would seem to be the main driver for doing anything substantial sooner rather than later | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:20 - Apr 6 with 2365 views | Churchman |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:01 - Apr 6 by SheffordBlue | From some of his comments about working with the other local stakeholders there does seem to be a bit of a concern that the councils plans for the car park area could end up restricting what we can do - there was a comment about "it's important we don't get hemmed in". That would seem to be the main driver for doing anything substantial sooner rather than later |
Well, the stand has to be replaced at some point. It’s very old now, it’s tight and there’s not much space under it. Sadly, I’m old enough to remember it being built! | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:21 - Apr 6 with 2365 views | hoppy |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 06:52 - Apr 6 by Churchman | It was quite clear from Ashton that they are looking at it further down the line, that they fully understand the problem of age, layout, capacity, usability and that there will be no quick fix. The ground needs a lot of work, the obvious one being the East Stand. If that was replaced, something done with the two North Stand corners and that took capacity to say 35000 I think that’s more than enough. Goodness knows what the cost would be. Realistically I can’t see anything major being contemplated, bar tinkering, tidying, improving what there is for some time. |
Ashton did mention ‘when we pull down/demolish that stand’ a few times… and it was when rather than if. When it does happen, Portman Road capacity would be vastly reduced for a while… how many does the Cobbold hold? …with 21k season ticket holders and away fans to accommodate whilst any demolition/rebuild is done- would we need to have our home matches at Wembley?! | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:34 - Apr 6 with 2304 views | Churchman |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:21 - Apr 6 by hoppy | Ashton did mention ‘when we pull down/demolish that stand’ a few times… and it was when rather than if. When it does happen, Portman Road capacity would be vastly reduced for a while… how many does the Cobbold hold? …with 21k season ticket holders and away fans to accommodate whilst any demolition/rebuild is done- would we need to have our home matches at Wembley?! |
We could share with Norwich………… just said that for a laugh. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:53 - Apr 6 with 2219 views | Muncher |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:21 - Apr 6 by hoppy | Ashton did mention ‘when we pull down/demolish that stand’ a few times… and it was when rather than if. When it does happen, Portman Road capacity would be vastly reduced for a while… how many does the Cobbold hold? …with 21k season ticket holders and away fans to accommodate whilst any demolition/rebuild is done- would we need to have our home matches at Wembley?! |
I suspect that cap has been implemented in no small part to allow for a full season or more of no fans in the Cobbold stand. Any more than that and there would be season ticket holders unable to attend games which would be carnage. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:34 - Apr 6 with 1994 views | hoppy |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:34 - Apr 6 by Churchman | We could share with Norwich………… just said that for a laugh. |
That could attract a few locals too… would be quite interesting for them seeing some decent football being played by the ‘home’ team rather than just going for the opposition. | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:34 - Apr 6 with 1980 views | hoppy |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:53 - Apr 6 by Muncher | I suspect that cap has been implemented in no small part to allow for a full season or more of no fans in the Cobbold stand. Any more than that and there would be season ticket holders unable to attend games which would be carnage. |
That was my thought too. | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:37 - Apr 6 with 1964 views | SomethingBlue | Wouldn't fancy us going above 35k and doubt we ever would realistically. It'd be a good, competitive capacity if we got to the PL, and we also have to remember that only a third of that number (ignoring official figures) were coming through the door at times not that long ago. At some point those darker days will return, much as the good times *may* be on the way back now, so we don't want to overstretch. | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:40 - Apr 6 with 1920 views | xrayspecs |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:21 - Apr 6 by hoppy | Ashton did mention ‘when we pull down/demolish that stand’ a few times… and it was when rather than if. When it does happen, Portman Road capacity would be vastly reduced for a while… how many does the Cobbold hold? …with 21k season ticket holders and away fans to accommodate whilst any demolition/rebuild is done- would we need to have our home matches at Wembley?! |
Replacing the Cobbold stand is a circa £100m investment and I cannot see this being on our to do list for a number of seasons. The increase from 20k to 21k is more likely a recognition of the stronger than expected new ST sales this week. The window closes next Friday and I suspect there will not be many more on sale once the window reopens. Reminds me of the 99/00 promotion season. All town fans were saying that you would need a ST to get into PR in the Prem. Capacity was around 22k at the time. I think we sold 18k Sts (which was also capped), there were 2k for away fans and 2k for match day sales, which I think was a ballot of members. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:41 - Apr 6 with 1915 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:34 - Apr 6 by hoppy | That could attract a few locals too… would be quite interesting for them seeing some decent football being played by the ‘home’ team rather than just going for the opposition. |
I’m not sure we would get on too well with the fingerprint scanners at Carrot Rd - what with lacking the extra digit and all. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:59 - Apr 6 with 1791 views | Guthrum | With Ashton talking about options for a single-tier stand, the pay-off may be that it limits capacity somewhat. Otherwise it gets immensely tall and very steep - even allowing for some expansion across the roadway behind. Also, I think we should be wary of pushing the boat out too fast. That was one of the things which did for us 20 years ago. | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 09:08 - Apr 6 with 1755 views | Muncher |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 08:59 - Apr 6 by Guthrum | With Ashton talking about options for a single-tier stand, the pay-off may be that it limits capacity somewhat. Otherwise it gets immensely tall and very steep - even allowing for some expansion across the roadway behind. Also, I think we should be wary of pushing the boat out too fast. That was one of the things which did for us 20 years ago. |
As long it is funded through equity rather than debt there’s no problem. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 10:27 - Apr 6 with 1534 views | cressi |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:01 - Apr 6 by SheffordBlue | From some of his comments about working with the other local stakeholders there does seem to be a bit of a concern that the councils plans for the car park area could end up restricting what we can do - there was a comment about "it's important we don't get hemmed in". That would seem to be the main driver for doing anything substantial sooner rather than later |
Although getting the ground up to date would be lovely I think the first thing is to try and get out this poxy league, if we get promoted let's invest in a squad who can compete and win at championship level , every step up we will need better players. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 12:02 - Apr 6 with 1322 views | Vegtablue | Would the investment needed for any of these proposals be recouped in our eventual sale? Because any outlay that increased our capacity would presumably take decades to pay for itself, even if it allowed the club to extract more HT sales etc.. On the capacity number I think our league status is a bit of a red herring. We've done such a good job this past season and a half that I doubt we have multiple thousands waiting for Championship football before they return / become new supporters. PL is a different beast but I'd prefer not to create a load of capacity for tourists who lose interest outside that league, leaving a stadium like Wednesday's where it feels too big for the club. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 12:06 - Apr 6 with 1299 views | Jedmac |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 07:21 - Apr 6 by hoppy | Ashton did mention ‘when we pull down/demolish that stand’ a few times… and it was when rather than if. When it does happen, Portman Road capacity would be vastly reduced for a while… how many does the Cobbold hold? …with 21k season ticket holders and away fans to accommodate whilst any demolition/rebuild is done- would we need to have our home matches at Wembley?! |
The Cobbold used to hold around 7000 many years ago and I doubt it’s changed much. It was bigger than Spurs old West stand but didn’t look it according to football stand expert Simon Inglis. | | | |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 12:36 - Apr 6 with 1173 views | bournemouthblue |
Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 06:11 - Apr 6 by lurcher | We averaged about 25k in the late 70s and early 80s. |
But did have crowds into the 30ks | |
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Stadium question which should've been asked tonight on 15:59 - Apr 6 with 1002 views | Sawtrich | Something to remember is that the population has increased since the last time we had a successful team. A quick search suggests a Suffolk population of around 650,000 in 2000 and around 760,000 now. We've been so beaten down over the years we've forgotten what potential there is here. When Ashton talked of regular 28,000 crowds most of us thought it was too ambitious, but we're doing it in League One. | | | |
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