Town owner, Gamechanger 20 Ltd, has acquired the land behind the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand on the corner of Russell Road/Chancery Road and Princes Street/Portman Road.

The land is currently occupied by retail units which formerly housed Office Outlet and Better Gym as well as car parks and is next to the site where a Travelodge is currently under construction.

“I am absolutely delighted that we have acquired the land behind our Sir Alf Ramsey Stand,” Town CEO Mark Ashton told the club site.

“This is a further demonstration of the club’s ownership investing in infrastructure in and around our Portman Road home.

“We are fully aware there are areas of much-needed improvement at Portman Road. Over the coming weeks we will communicate additional projects to support that.

“We are currently looking at several options that can enhance and support the club for its present and future. This is just the start.”

As reported last week, Town have submitted planning permission for work on the stadium including new dugouts and a big screen, while the pitch is set to be renovated, most likely in the summer of 2023 rather than this close season.

Photos: Matchday Images/Sitters

mike added 18:41 - Mar 17 Our club is moving in the right direction on and off the field!! Coybs 3 points on Saturday please!!
7

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:46 - Mar 17 this is the stuff that Evans was never going to do. Regardless of what happens on the pitch it is clear that we are an ambitious club again. Not just trying to tread water
8

BlueRuin69 added 19:09 - Mar 17 And on it goes...Coyb
4

Ipswichbusiness added 19:51 - Mar 17 It suggests commitment to the present site rather than moving to a new stadium.
5

earlsgreenblue added 19:55 - Mar 17 Blimey that's a huge chunk of real estate, I used to go to Staples on that plot, the old Churchman's bit next please, a nice bit of history along with it.
0

Suffolkboy added 20:23 - Mar 17 There's just so much potential yet to be unlocked ,and in so many areas both physical and cultural . Retail has been largely unexploited and services to match day visitors of a meagre nature compared with what any altruistic , income earning entrepreneurial spirit might have looked to develop ! Our new owners and management bring wonderfully fresh insight and the immediate years ahead should be full of interest and excitement ! COYB

2

backinbeige added 20:24 - Mar 17 Things I hope will be built there: Theme park IMAX Go kart track A Wetherspoons the size of an aircraft hanger Something football related?
3

itsonlyme added 20:26 - Mar 17 It is great news. I am torn between having a brand new state of the art football stadium say on the outskirts of town or keeping Portman Road which I have been going to for some 60 odd years.😍😢
1

Robert_Garrett added 20:44 - Mar 17 Multi-storey car park, multi-gym, massive restaurant facilites, new changing rooms, replacing the East stand, historical museum with cinema..............
0

BurleysGloryDays added 21:56 - Mar 17 Oh the intrigue! Exciting
0

blues1 added 22:22 - Mar 17 My guess is that there could be bars/ restaurants put there. Also, bcse of they are having to knock a hole in the corner of the ground between the sir alf and the cobbold stands, that there could be new turnstiles put in, replacing the ones there at present.
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rgp1 added 22:22 - Mar 17 Think about it chaps. I think this could become the main entrance to the stadium. At present Constantine Road is in a location where it is not a particularly busy road. Make Russell Road the main entrance and it can become a focal point for the stadium.
2

adamisablue2 added 23:34 - Mar 17 @itsonlyme Im not torn at all about that one at all. Yeah of course I would love a stadium with bells and whistles on it. but given the choice between the two, I would rather do it at Portman Road where town greats, both staff and fans, have trod for well over a century now. I want success but lets not sell our soul to do it Luckily though, Portman road is more than an adequate stadium to do it in

3

Bert added 23:34 - Mar 17 Certainly a bold move but one which is unlikely to be realised until the Premier League beckons. If it confirms that the stadium remains where it is then I am very pleased. Out of town may be ok for some clubs but to me they are anonymous, sterile and lack any destination focus. IBC should be brought in as a town centre regeneration partner. I agree with rgp1's comment.
2

Bluespeed225 added 07:27 - Mar 18 Is t the hotel already going up where Staples was? So they would pay Town a rent?
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Help added 07:52 - Mar 18 During the previous chats with Mark Ashton it was commented that the stadium faces away from the town in respect of the entrance. Behind Sir Alf is not facing town either. I think more of an income stream and additional facilities for the club to appear there. I guess if they had been here earlier they might also have purchased the bit for the Travel lodge.
0

Bazza8564 added 08:11 - Mar 18 I'm with RGP on this too, its a good option to have something a bit grander there, and spreading the footprint of the stadium south, with options east if ever the Cobbold gets bigger, gives the whole area a more “stadium plaza” feel, much more of a welcoming area. The pitch is definitely next summer, I downloaded the IPC site planning firm, so there is also a clear commitment to the existing stadium rather than a knock down, rebuild, and I'm guessing that means focusing on bringing the West stand up to standard (concourses and bars are already widely described as dreadful) and then Cobbold in 2-3 years or later. I know it's all conjecture but it is nice to be thinking like this again…..

1

Cakeman added 09:16 - Mar 18 Good news as it gives the club lots of options. Perhaps someone can enlighten me though as to whether we actually own the land our current pitch and stands are on? I thought the land was leased but I may be wrong. If it is leased could that present an obstacle for development?
0

PortmanTerrorist added 11:01 - Mar 18 The great thing is that there is a plan, and it is being actioned. The fact Ashton is excited, suggests we should be too!
1

Edmundo added 12:07 - Mar 18 Could be a new location for the club shop, releasing the current area for more catering and a restaurant on the town side. But there's so much space, a multistory, new matchday facilities for players/staff could go there as well as turnstiles for SAR. This frees up the practice pitch area for further development (possibly stands around it for the women's team?
0

Jugsy added 12:37 - Mar 18 In the picture, what's the car park bit on the left outside of red markings being used for? Is that where the Travelodge is going that's mentioned in the article? And because I'm no longer local, the article needs as if the unit it empty now, has it been like that for a while? Can only ever remember Staples being there.
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blues1 added 12:48 - Mar 18 Bazza8564. Theres no been to do anything to the west stand. The concourses and bars are fine on that side. The east stand(cobbold) however, is going to be replaced in the not too distant future.
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RIPbobby added 16:10 - Mar 18 I guess that could mean the new players tunnel underneath the big screen area. I get a feeling they have a cunning plan. Not sure what they would do to the old tunnel area? Maybe that whole complex will be demolished?
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