Are they going to develop the end nearest the Cricket field stand so that it matches the club shop and offices above?

I believe they are building another club shop. This one will sell tartan flasks, travel rugs, Werthers Original and house the unique Stannah Stairway to Heaven service, where you can be transported to your seat for a sky high fee....

Aside from Herts attempt at humour that whole area looks particularly shabby, which is a shame as it is generally the first thing you see on approach from the town centre.

I thought there were plans to redevelop that side of the Bob Lord. I wonder if it could be waiting on the potential redevelopment of the CFS.

Spijed wrote:Are they going to develop the end nearest the Cricket field stand so that it matches the club shop and offices above?

Posted a while ago - no plans to do any further building re: Bob Lord stand. There were some drawings a while ago but nothing going ahead.

Corky wrote:Aside from Herts attempt at humour that whole area looks particularly shabby.

Let's be honest, the entire bloody grounds shabby.

The two newest stands could do with a jet wash and a lick of paint here and there.

Be nice to have the CF end of the BL look as good as the JMc end.

I think the ground is alright as it is. We have the right capacity and the right type of stands to create atmosphere.

There may be an argument to create more cooperate boxes but it would costs millions to knock down and rebuild a stand. I imagine it would take years of top flight football to make it worth while

As long as its not bombed (ground) and /or re built into a plastic,soulless ground it can stay as it is for me, a proper football ground.

Any idea what the plans are for the new disabled supporters facilities? Man U moving 3000 season ticket holders due to the new regulations.

No natural area at the turf, will need a major refit i suspect

ClaretTony wrote:Posted a while ago - no plans to do any further building re: Bob Lord stand. There were some drawings a while ago but nothing going ahead.

Shame because the new covered area on the shop side is amazing and would love the same on the CFS. A café was to be built above too?

Wokingclaret wrote:Shame because the new covered area on the shop side is amazing and would love the same on the CFS. A café was to be built above too?

Never heard any mention of a cafe. The original plans for the floor above the shop & ticket office were for a museum but it's now office space for the community. I'm sure I read along the original drawings of suggestions for more corporate rooms.

Another couple of seasons with prem income and you'd like to think we will be seriously considering some sort of development. Whether we are going to wait for any ruling on safe standing I guess time will tell.

With the money spent making the facilities more tolerable in CFS then maybe we'll see any plans of a new stand several years away yet.

Where are we going to park our mobility scooters, if the club redevelops that corner?

It should be built up to match the other end.
I Suggest a fanzone for all home fans the present one is too small and outside.
The club would make money from that to pay for the building work.

Maybe they will put it on hold and a more substantial extension to the bob lord maybe looked at depending how long we stop up ?

Iluva's photo shows Sunderland's back four's wheels parked up before the League game at the Turf.

I long thought the club should be providing a good option for drinking to take trade away from pubs. I think the fanzone has been a great addition with good beer on offer. It would be even better with a more permanent structure to give the experience a further boost.

Not sure the end of the bob lord is the best location with the away entrance next to it.

Does anyone know what will happen with the elite training building now the staff located there have space at the new training centre.

I would be surprised if there aren't discussions or formulative plans being considered at boardroom level for the long term redevelopment of the ground. Especially now we look to have secured a second PL season.

The new training ground was 6 years in the making, and although that was a complex process with numerous hurdles to overcome, these things do take time.

Although I wouldn't expect building work soon, it's something the club really needs to press on with.

Corky wrote:Aside from Herts attempt at humour that whole area looks particularly shabby, which is a shame as it is generally the first thing you see on approach from the town centre.

I thought there were plans to redevelop that side of the Bob Lord. I wonder if it could be waiting on the potential redevelopment of the CFS.

Agree with this. It's the main stand, the main view of the club that visiting fans and passers by see, as well as being shown on the television.

Irrespective of development which must be under discussion I wonder if the corners csn be closed up in the way that one end of Croke Park is with clear plastic panels and steel structure This really would help generate a better atmosphere.

Herts Clarets wrote:I believe they are building another club shop. This one will sell tartan flasks, travel rugs, Werthers Original and house the unique Stannah Stairway to Heaven service, where you can be transported to your seat for a sky high fee....

KNOB

Herts Clarets wrote:I believe they are building another club shop. This one will sell tartan flasks, travel rugs, Werthers Original and house the unique Stannah Stairway to Heaven service, where you can be transported to your seat for a sky high fee....

Even burnley fans get old.....

It's disappointing if we really aren't doing the other side of the stand. I hate things not matching up and it's going to do my mild OCD no good at all.

I echo the sentiments of others though regarding a clean up, and it's not a criticism because the stands and ground are getting on a bit now, and we've not had enough money to make it a priority. The ground is looking a bit shabby at best. Even the 'new' (20 years old!) stands look a little dirty on the outside and need a blooming good jet washing and/or painting. It's obvious to everyone if you look, and moreso to fans who aren't used to it so don't see it like our fans. I was in a company today in Birmingham, and noted they were having the whole building power washed. They do it every 12-24 months they told me and it was about the image as they are near the M6. They want to look their best. We should have that same desire.

I'd also argue that the 'new' stands, again, need some remedial work on the brickwork too. We got a fantastic deal when we built those stands, and that's to be applauded as we were skint, but 20 years on and some of the brickwork is crumbling at the corners. Just look at the main entrance to the Jimmy Mac stand, or the side walls inside the stadium next to the seats. There are almost full bricks missing. Again it's not a criticism of previous business plans, but SURELY, this has to be on the table going forwards whether we stay up or not?

*For any of our neighbours looking in here, I read that even Blackburn have noticed problems with the outside of their ground, but have put plans in place to sort out. Their fans have complained and the club are, apparently, taking action.

It's important. We all know that if we don't maintain our properties where we live then we get problems.

Does seem a bit odd that the other end of the stand isn't being built in the summer, especially as there is a chance that we might not only stop up, but at a few places higher than expected - at £2 million each.

We could effectively have the stand re-built for nothing.

Couldn't give a **** you sad bumders

Are they going to remove the chippy just down the street, too?

Lots of stadium improvements to come. Concourses in the 2 newer stands will be very different next season for a start.

Smallpaul wrote:Lots of stadium improvements to come. Concourses in the 2 newer stands will be very different next season for a start.

I really hope we put the flooring down that's in the newer end of the Bob Lord. Some of the bigger clubs have it down from their investment from the 90's, and it looks so much better.

A real shame we didn't build the stands the other way up so that there was more room on the top concourse. 5,136 capacity and a smaller concourse than downstairs for the 3,376 bottom tier. Oh well, I'm glad to hear they're spending some money on them, and it is something that matters to fans.

The only true improvement will come only when they drop a bomb on the two newer stands.

It was needs must, Ontario. We got a great deal at the time, and probably should have paid £8-10 million for the stands where we paid £5m on the nose by the time the court case was sorted over the extra £300K. We got the better end of the deal without a doubt.

In hindsight we should have built 7-8,000 seater, single tier stand to replace the Longside. The two tiers just don't work on that side for the fans, facilities and atmosphere, although we are taking advantage of the Corporate area when we're in the Premier League. Priority 1 has to be the Bob Lord stand and Cricket Field Stand wrap around stand. I've got visions of it and it looks fab in my head.

Priority 2 is of course the bomb idea for the newer stands.

The issue with the two new stands isn't the size but more the limited concourse and the roof.

How feasible it would be, I don't know, but both new stands could likely be extended behind fairly easily to provide more concourse / other facilities.

A new roof could be applied to the existing structure, though that might be a step too far.

Is it too late to move Ewood Park to Burnley? I understand they have excess capacity.

Wash your mouth out!

This idea has been done in American minor league baseball. There were two competing clubs, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, who existed in close proximity to each other. When Scranton folded, they moved their stadium to Wilkes-Barre. Everybody was happy. Scranton was the Red Sox, Wilkes-Barre the Barons. Today, there exists a team in the International League called the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. Quite possibly the longest team name in professional sports.

Smallpaul wrote:Lots of stadium improvements to come. Concourses in the 2 newer stands will be very different next season for a start.

Do tell !

There are discussions to do something with that side of the ground, from the traffic lights to the bob lord stand. Sprucing it up. The club want the improve the image of the stadium coming from the town centre.

ontario claret wrote:This idea has been done in American minor league baseball. There were two competing clubs, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, who existed in close proximity to each other. When Scranton folded, they moved their stadium to Wilkes-Barre. Everybody was happy. Scranton was the Red Sox, Wilkes-Barre the Barons. Today, there exists a team in the International League called the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. Quite possibly the longest team name in professional sports.

Bore off.

The front third of the Jimmy Mac roof is rusting and has holes in it. It is really annoying as I'm sat right under a drip. Been to lots of other grounds with stands built way before the Jimmy Mac was and they don't seem to have any holes in their rooves. It's defiantly something that needs to be looked at as soon as possible.

Also I think redeveloping where the police box is should be a prioity as that is looking very tired. In that corner would it not be possible to have elevated wheelchair spaces? Maybe on a few levels similar to at old trafford with the police box above, or possibly relocating the police box to give more room.

I think plans for the police box are ready to roll. That's why the temporary canopy is outside the ticket office as they can't build the permanent one as it would impede construction in the corner.

Police Box? Do Police men/women exist anymore!!!

Did not know that Walt. What are the plans? Are they incorporating any covered wheelchair spaces into it at all?

Walt wrote:I think plans for the police box are ready to roll. That's why the temporary canopy is outside the ticket office as they can't build the permanent one as it would impede construction in the corner.

Club confirmed that when they put up that temporary canopy - not seen any dates yet but the report did refer to a new control box.

I don't have any info I'm afraid. I've only taken it from the news story that Tony also refers to when the club mentioned the current canopy.

I'll be in the area next week. I shall bring my sledgehammer and do a bit of tinkering for you chaps.

"smaller concourse than downstairs for the 3,376 bottom tier"


The lower tier isn't big enough as it is, you have people trying to get food but behind them people watching the TV's and no room to get past people.

Also, just having one smoking area at one end doesn't help as people are running into each other.

Accy Stanley are sprucing their stadium up. Partly funded by our cup game and loss no doubt.

I follow their owner Andy Holt on twitter and he certainly gets involved and seems a do'er rather than say'er.

Shame we couldn't get him on our board. Not a jibe at our current board but you can never have enough people that gets things done on your side.

Aye...we have a lot to learn from Accy

corporal jones wrote:KNOB

The last vestige of the hard of thinking. Resort to insults. If you ask someone over the age of about 4, they may also show you how to turn off CAPS LOCK

Told at the weekend there are structural changes happening because of the lack of access for disable people.