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Post by heartofgas on Jan 4, 2023 9:11:44 GMT
Not wanting to flog this ad infinitum but I will do anyway. Regardless of our plans for any new stadium why can't we do something with the east stand. Surely doing something like what Blackpool have on one side of the ground (the temporary looking thing) could be done and surely wouldn't be too expensive Being realistic if a new stadium was announced today we are at least 5 years away from moving in and if it fell through at any point at least we have done something to improve our facilities. I think we will need a stadium of at least 12K if we were to get in the championship. Putting a stand on the east side of the mem could achieve that. One of the things the planners made clear back in 2007 when planning was granted to redevelop The Mem was that they did not want a piecemeal development and that once development had commenced it could only be fully occupied once the stadium had been fully completed. They had seen what had happened in other cities and didn't want a similar carbuncle in Bristol. Remember The Vetch? Re-reading this made me laugh. The planners obviously thought our existing stadium was a thing of beauty.😂 To be quite honest it would be hard to make the Mem look any worse. |
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Post by heartofgas on Jan 4, 2023 9:14:42 GMT
If the mem wont be upgraded (knocking down stands etc) and we wont be anywhere else for at least 5 years, then at the very least money needs to be spent to make it habitable. Going back to someones house analogy - if you werent moving house for 5 years you wouldnt put up with the toilets being a health hazard for that time Saw a FB post looking for retired handymen at the mem, so maybe this is the plan! Yes I saw that. Maybe the handyman will build us a new 10,000 seater stand in his spare time. |
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Post by warehamgas on Jan 4, 2023 10:04:36 GMT
Yes. It’s been one of the things that Wael’s been clear about, No Mem development. Shame but there it is. UTG! Perhaps the "Scouse Mafia" will now have different ideas? Perhaps. I guess things and opinions can always change but until they do…it’s no new development at the Mem whatever I may wish. UTG! |
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Post by playtowin on Jan 4, 2023 10:22:43 GMT
Perhaps the "Scouse Mafia" will now have different ideas? Perhaps. I guess things and opinions can always change but until they do…it’s no new development at the Mem whatever I may wish. UTG! Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 10:26:10 GMT
Perhaps. I guess things and opinions can always change but until they do…it’s no new development at the Mem whatever I may wish. UTG! Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. Don't forget, when we first moved to The Mem there was no West Stand or South Stand. Changing rooms were two portakabins stacked on top of each other at the corner of the west and south end. The Thatchers was an uncovered terrace. Basically it was a two sided ground so anything is possible regarding redevelopment. |
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Post by stuart1974 on Jan 4, 2023 10:30:32 GMT
Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. Don't forget, when we first moved to The Mem there was no West Stand or South Stand. Changing rooms were two portakabins stacked on top of each other at the corner of the west and south end. The Thatchers was an uncovered terrace. Basically it was a two sided ground so anything is possible regarding redevelopment. As my dad was always fond of saying, nothing is impossible given time, money and effort. We tend to be short of one of those. |
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Post by playtowin on Jan 4, 2023 10:32:31 GMT
Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. Don't forget, when we first moved to The Mem there was no West Stand or South Stand. Changing rooms were two portakabins stacked on top of each other at the corner of the west and south end. The Thatchers was an uncovered terrace. Basically it was a two sided ground so anything is possible regarding redevelopment. Except we were not getting regular 9000 crowds previously and the capacity of the terraces that were open were much higher than they are now. |
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Post by percy on Jan 4, 2023 10:42:20 GMT
Perhaps. I guess things and opinions can always change but until they do…it’s no new development at the Mem whatever I may wish. UTG! Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. You could replace the south stand tent in the summer with another temp seated stand that holds twice as many as doesnt look so awful, by going full width (and poss round to south west end) and moving pitch forward 10 yards or so Then scope is there for other sides without losing as much. |
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Post by playtowin on Jan 4, 2023 10:53:48 GMT
Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. You could replace the south stand tent in the summer with another temp seated stand that holds twice as many as doesnt look so awful, by going full width (and poss round to south west end) and moving pitch forward 10 yards or so Then scope is there for other sides without losing as much. Throws the tv gantry off centre. There probably isnt 10 yards to move the pitch unless we go to the minimum pitch length allowed as well. Think there are technical reasons why the south stand has never been full length. |
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Post by SleepyGas on Jan 4, 2023 10:54:26 GMT
Don't forget, when we first moved to The Mem there was no West Stand or South Stand. Changing rooms were two portakabins stacked on top of each other at the corner of the west and south end. The Thatchers was an uncovered terrace. Basically it was a two sided ground so anything is possible regarding redevelopment. As my dad was always fond of saying, nothing is impossible given time, money and effort. We tend to be short of one of those. Also the speed/quality/cost paradym If you want it fast and good then it will cost lots If you want it good and cheap then it will take a lot of time If you want it cheap and fast then it will be poor quality |
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Post by percy on Jan 4, 2023 10:56:56 GMT
You could replace the south stand tent in the summer with another temp seated stand that holds twice as many as doesnt look so awful, by going full width (and poss round to south west end) and moving pitch forward 10 yards or so Then scope is there for other sides without losing as much. Throws the tv gantry off centre. There probably isnt 10 yards to move the pitch unless we go to the minimum pitch length allowed as well. Think there are technical reasons why the south stand has never been full length. Good point, there seems to be a fair distance behind the goal to the north terrace but havent measured it. Thought the technical reason was just the score board but surely that can be sacrificed? Wont happen but just thinking not every side needs a year without use to upgrade |
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Post by playtowin on Jan 4, 2023 10:59:46 GMT
Throws the tv gantry off centre. There probably isnt 10 yards to move the pitch unless we go to the minimum pitch length allowed as well. Think there are technical reasons why the south stand has never been full length. Good point, there seems to be a fair distance behind the goal to the north terrace but havent measured it. Thought the technical reason was just the score board but surely that can be sacrificed? Wont happen but just thinking not every side needs a year without use to upgrade It may have something to do with power supply for the floodlights (?) It was empty long before the scoreboard days. Remember the big inflatable that used to be there ?! |
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Post by Tilly's Thighs on Jan 4, 2023 11:27:38 GMT
Somebody who is very well connected in football (on Forbes list of most influential sports business people), recently spoke to a wealthy gentleman from South Africa about investing in Rovers. The gentleman was told about the proposed new stadium. He decided that it wasn't right for him, but shows that the club have somebody still putting the feelers out on their behalf.
I'm not an ITK, on this occassion it just happened to be somebody that my son knows.
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Post by albaron on Jan 4, 2023 11:36:18 GMT
Somebody who is very well connected in football (on Forbes list of most influential sports business people), recently spoke to a wealthy gentleman from South Africa about investing in Rovers. The gentleman was told about the proposed new stadium. He decided that it wasn't right for him, but shows that the club have somebody still putting the feelers out on their behalf. I'm not an ITK, on this occassion it just happened to be somebody that my son knows. And this is one reason Wael will not put any more money into the Mem. And I don't blame him. |
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Post by Topper Gas on Jan 4, 2023 11:48:10 GMT
Throws the tv gantry off centre. There probably isnt 10 yards to move the pitch unless we go to the minimum pitch length allowed as well. Think there are technical reasons why the south stand has never been full length. Good point, there seems to be a fair distance behind the goal to the north terrace but havent measured it. Thought the technical reason was just the score board but surely that can be sacrificed? Wont happen but just thinking not every side needs a year without use to upgrade TG said recently there's some issue with utility pipes or something underground in that corner of the ground. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 12:14:12 GMT
Good point, there seems to be a fair distance behind the goal to the north terrace but havent measured it. Thought the technical reason was just the score board but surely that can be sacrificed? Wont happen but just thinking not every side needs a year without use to upgrade TG said recently there's some issue with utility pipes or something underground in that corner of the ground. The utilities must be new then as the South Stand has been one block wider when the rugby club were also at the stadium. They paid for it. |
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Post by whoblue on Jan 4, 2023 12:14:48 GMT
Perhaps. I guess things and opinions can always change but until they do…it’s no new development at the Mem whatever I may wish. UTG! Reality is...what part of the ground can you close for a year whilst a replacement stand is built. That still allows safe access to all parts of the ground and have space for any "removed" facilities . (Shop,bar,restaurant etc). North terrace ? Means capacity is dropped by 3000 for a year and bars are lost. South stand ? All away fans are on the terrace. Ground wont have required seating numbers unless a terrace area is temp converted. Lose 1-2000 off capacity. West side ? Lose all boxes and premium seats and changing rooms. Lose 2000+ off capacity. East side ? Unless temp seating put elsewhere wont have required seating levels. All away fans in south stand so virtually no home seating. Loss of shop ,hospitality etc. Capacity reduced by upto 4000. So the least it might be is a year with a 7000 capacity. The worst a 5000 capacity. Which essentially means its not possible. If a stand was largely pre fabricated, and the installation started as the season finished (as they do with the pitch), surely they could get it in place in the off season. The fitting out of facilities beneath the structure can be completed as the season rolls on. If they were to incorporate the corners at the same time, we’d probably (almost certainly) increase capacity reducing impact of future development. Isn’t that what the other mob did over the river! |
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Post by Topper Gas on Jan 4, 2023 13:13:45 GMT
TG said recently there's some issue with utility pipes or something underground in that corner of the ground. The utilities must be new then as the South Stand has been one block wider when the rugby club were also at the stadium. They paid for it. Was it an issue with the old Alton Rd turnstiles? I can't recall when he mentioned, possibly in his programme notes? |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2023 13:17:10 GMT
The utilities must be new then as the South Stand has been one block wider when the rugby club were also at the stadium. They paid for it. Was it an issue with the old Alton Rd turnstiles? I can't recall when he mentioned, possibly in his programme notes? The Alton Road Turnstiles haven't been used since we arrived at The Mem. We were given planning permission for additional turnstiles at the Filton Avenue entrance on the condition that the Alton Road turnstiles were only ever used as an emergency exit. I think the issue now is that the new score board has been erected in the same place as where the stand extension was. When I spoke to TG he wasn't aware that the South Stand had been wider in the past. |
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Post by Kingswood Polak on Jan 4, 2023 13:17:20 GMT
Agree with Stuart. He’s constantly talking about getting us to the prem before City. It’s madness to try and do that without solid stadium plans. I’m encouraged by Joeys talk and take it as a sign that serious steps are in place to improve our facilities in some shape or form in the not too distant future. Going by the 3 year rule that a Ground has to be of a certain standard, then 2 promtions on the bounce to get us into the Prem means we'd better have something in place pretty quick. Prem 😂 😂 😂. Now that has made my day. Thanks |
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