I couldn’t believe what I was reading last night on the Coventry message board. One poster said it was another Hillsborough waiting to happen. Poor stewarding, steep terracing and overcrowding. And he was talking about the CFS! Must not have been to many grounds, don’t know how he’d go on at Newcastle.

The CFS is overcrowded. It’s one of the reasons I moved out of there.


Faster half time service of refreshments would help it slightly in the NSL but the CFS is very poor.

Yes try climbing the steps at Newcastle and Sunderland as a 78 year old!
Knackering I’ll tell you.

At least we own it

If they are referring to overcrowding in the seating area then they have their own fans to blame for not sitting in their own seats.

If they are referring to overcrowding downstairs in the refreshments/toilets area then if it is the same as the home side they are 100% correct.

It’s grim in there, especially in the cold when everyone goes down at HT, you’d hope anybody building a new stadium now will ensure they can hold the full capacity underneath because the older grounds aren’t safe really

A very opinionated lot. Happens when you receive too much publicity seeking some sort of sympathy vote.

Will we ever be able to build a new stand? What’s the cost of one of them these days?

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:54 pm

Will we ever be able to build a new stand? What’s the cost of one of them these days?

Would likely need a sponsor to build it, haven’t a clue about the costs but I bet you don’t get much change from 30m

When the club is in a stronger financial position the next big development should be a new cricket field stand.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:57 pm

Would likely need a sponsor to build it, haven’t a clue about the costs but I bet you don’t get much change from 30m

The 'Michael Bailey Associates' stand?

Duffer_ wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:04 pm

The 'Michael Bailey Associates' stand?

The CWR Erection stand

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:07 pm

The CWR Erection stand

It'd go up in no time.

When the CFS was opened, it was heated. That didn't last long.

CleggHall wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:33 pm

Yes try climbing the steps at Newcastle and Sunderland as a 78 year old!
Knackering I’ll tell you.

Apparently they have lifts at the away end at Newcastle. Wish I knew before I went for the league cup game, felt like I should have brought a Sherpa with me!

To be fair one thing you can never level at Coventry City is that their stadium is overcrowded.

I was actually thinking about the CF stand and that it can't be that far off being updated. Probably next 5 years.

Im not in construction but even thinking about the size of the project and how they would do it made my mind boggle.

Could they do it in an off season? If they could how would that impact the Cricket Club.

If it had to impact when the cricket wasn't playing then it would impact crowds etc.

I concluded that it probably needs a lot of cooperation from the cricket club. Time we offered them money to find a new home. (Which I know it wouldnt be easy as it would it would be giving up lots of revenue if they were else where)

Quicknick wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:14 pm

When the CFS was opened, it was heated. That didn't last long.

Was it used twice ?

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:57 pm

Would likely need a sponsor to build it, haven’t a clue about the costs but I bet you don’t get much change from 30m

Can build a new stand for much cheaper than that.

I always think of the away end at Fulham which is very basic with nothing underneath, and no back. Pretty much glorified scaffolding with a roof thrown over the top.

Ours would have to be a bit more complex as it would need changing rooms, unless we built something in the corner between the CFS and JH.

We can’t keep titivating the CFS, it’s just not cost effective. I shudder to think how much we’ve spent on the CFS since we first got promoted. Could probably have built a new stand by now.

clarethomer wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:22 pm

I was actually thinking about the CF stand and that it can't be that far off being updated. Probably next 5 years.

Im not in construction but even thinking about the size of the project and how they would do it made my mind boggle.

Could they do it in an off season? If they could how would that impact the Cricket Club.

If it had to impact when the cricket wasn't playing then it would impact crowds etc.

I concluded that it probably needs a lot of cooperation from the cricket club. Time we offered them money to find a new home. (Which I know it wouldnt be easy as it would it would be giving up lots of revenue if they were else where)

Wasn’t there talk in the past about relocating the cricket club to Fulledge rec? Might have been the bread bin stand time!

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:44 pm

It’s grim in there, especially in the cold when everyone goes down at HT, you’d hope anybody building a new stadium now will ensure they can hold the full capacity underneath because the older grounds aren’t safe really

The CF stand is a godsend compared to the lower tiers in the so called newer stands.
In bad weather (which is often) the lower tiers are awful. You get drenched.

Shame we don't have a local sugardaddy council to p*ss away counciltax payers money on a brand new stadium we can't fill or afford to run...

Thinking about developing the ground could we be in a position next season if promoted that home capacity isn’t enough.It looks as though we have over 14 thousand season ticket holders this season and demand to watch this team in the premier league will increase.

giveusaB wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:37 pm

Thinking about developing the ground could we be in a position next season if promoted that home capacity isn’t enough.It looks as though we have over 14 thousand season ticket holders this season and demand to watch this team in the premier league will increase.

And then when we come back down to the Championship the ground will be underpopulated killing the atmosphere.

Take a look at Ewood Park or Stoke City or Sunderland to a certain degree, although their attendences have increased lately.

Upstairs in the away end at QPR is pretty hairy.
Very little room between the rows of seats, almost have to sit sideways and very rickety. Don't like it at all.

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:27 pm

Wasn’t there talk in the past about relocating the cricket club to Fulledge rec? Might have been the bread bin stand time!

I think there was some discussion on here about it being relocated but I also remember the challenges that would bring. Mainly because the football generates a lot of money for the cricket club and there is no way to replace that. Even if they paid over the odds to move the club, the money would run out at some point.

The only other thing I could remember about other options was moving the ground but that was firmly dismissed from what I remember as not being an option because of the importance to the town centre.

It may have been the town to turf project that is about to start that I think had been part of the discussions between the new owners and the council that had been mentioned on here too as happening to try and ensure it was kept central and not on the outskirts which was also being rumoured.

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:27 pm

Wasn’t there talk in the past about relocating the cricket club to Fulledge rec? Might have been the bread bin stand time!

The amount of money needed to persuade the cricket club to leave would be huge. Trust me, they make staggering amounts of money out of Clarets home games.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:33 pm

The CF stand is a godsend compared to the lower tiers in the so called newer stands.
In bad weather (which is often) the lower tiers are awful. You get drenched.

May as well be no roof on those stands.

Shall we just build a new stadium?

Wasn’t there talks of a “back-to-back” stand so that concourse could be extended, but Cricket Club also had their stand included in the build?

Andreshotboots wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:18 pm

The amount of money needed to persuade the cricket club to leave would be huge. Trust me, they make staggering amounts of money out of Clarets home games.

If construction was required during the close season maybe a deal could be structured that Lowerhouse allow Burnley to play on their ground during the cricket season
I'm sure financial sweeteners would help as it would be shame if the Clarets had to move away from Turf Moor.

Where would we relocate the away fans and the changing rooms if we did redevelop the stand?

At what point is it so difficult that we have to redevelop the whole stadium by demolishing it and building it in 1 go, what do we do then, ground share at Ewood ?

The away end at OT is worse than at the Turf

Not enough space on concourse and not enough space to sit gown unless you are a dwarf

Escape route from highest tier would be impassable

I mean it's not a surprise they struggle with 'overcrowding'

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 1:57 pm

Upstairs in the away end at QPR is pretty hairy.
Very little room between the rows of seats, almost have to sit sideways and very rickety. Don't like it at all.

It was very icy at the back with the rail seats. And very cold as well.

Long-term I’d love to see the pitch moved towards the long slide, a really tight “fans on top of the pitch” design with the CFS/BL rebuilt in to a single stand.

Feel the changing rooms need to be in the BL, coming out on to the centre of the pitch. All the walking across is rubbish.

Given all the parking space and that the stand backs on to the cricket nets, I’m sure some arrangement could be reached with the CC to redesign and offer them something as part of the deal.

They will then be thankful that they wont be coming next season.

Talking of backless stands, anyone remember the Charlie Brown stand at Bradford. I think BAe used it as a wind tunnel on non-match days

CleggHall wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:33 pm

... try climbing the steps at Newcastle...

I've decided that on future visits I'm going a couple of days early; I'll ascend to the midway concourse, set up an advanced base camp and acclimatise there for 24 hours before my summit attempt.

I use the lift at both Sunderland and Newcastle. Wasn't tired at all when I got up there

I think the cricket club rejected a move to Fulledge. There were suggestions of building a stand/pavilion with one facing the football and the other the cricket. I would think that would appeal to the Cricket Club. I can’t see why they wouldn’t want it unless they’re holding out for a massive payment from the football club

I think there's been inklings internally of the club buying out the cricket club and as far as I am aware they do plan on sorting the CFS in the immediate future

HistoricalClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 3:41 pm

I think there's been inklings internally of the club buying out the cricket club and as far as I am aware they do plan on sorting the CFS in the immediate future

Though I am not ITK this is just the rumours and stuff I have heard.

As long as it’s kept one tiered then all will be good.

Hate two tiers - destroys the continuity of atmosphere throughout the stand

Claretnick wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:29 pm

If construction was required during the close season maybe a deal could be structured that Lowerhouse allow Burnley to play on their ground during the cricket season
I'm sure financial sweeteners would help as it would be shame if the Clarets had to move away from Turf Moor.

Lowerhouse 1st XI = 11 games, Lowerhouse 2nd XI = 11 games, Lowerhouse 3rd XI = 9 homes games, Lowerhouse 4th XI = 9 home games. Plus cup ties.

Given a season of 21/22 weekeds, and 40 games to fit in, I'm not sure there would be a lot of scope for ground sharing.

Does anyone know if it was ever possible to join the two stands? Ie are the tiers the same pitch?

Would be really short-sighted design to have never considered the possibility we might want to join them.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 4:12 pm

Does anyone know if it was ever possible to join the two stands? Ie are the tiers the same pitch?

Would be really short-sighted design to have never considered the possibility we might want to join them.

Always thought that. Like you I’d love to see a one stand type done with the Bob Lord and CFS. Corner filled in. Adds to the atmosphere and feel of the stadium I think. Really like Bramall Lane for that reason.

Good chat on here about CFS development from 2019. A mutually beneficial solution could be found if there was the will on both sides.

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... a#p1033065

TheOriginalLongsider wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 3:38 pm

I think the cricket club rejected a move to Fulledge. There were suggestions of building a stand/pavilion with one facing the football and the other the cricket. I would think that would appeal to the Cricket Club. I can’t see why they wouldn’t want it unless they’re holding out for a massive payment from the football club

No reason why they can't, it's been done at Headingley. Problem is with the crowds we're getting now it would be a problem to have a stand out of action for a significant period of time.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 4:14 pm

Always thought that. Like you I’d love to see a one stand type done with the Bob Lord and CFS. Corner filled in. Adds to the atmosphere and feel of the stadium I think. Really like Bramall Lane for that reason.

It looks like they are the same height and pitch but oddly positioned with the Jimmy Mac off centre, making it hard to turn in to a corner stand. If that’s the case, exceptionally poor design and short-sighted.

I have to say, I don’t like our corner stands, aside from the obvious very important purpose they serve. And I think ALK have made the best of them by adding the curved screens and LED lighting. Sort of making a silk purse out of a sows ear stuff. Otherwise they just look like cheap bolt ons that no other team seem to need to need these to meet the accessibility requirements. I’d have far rather this money went towards more thoughtful redevelopment, but lacked ambition and proper investment imo.

I’m hoping that ALK have now been to Championship grounds and realised that TM is barely competitive with stadia in this league, never mind Premiership standard, and it gets the investment it deserves.

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:24 pm

Wasn’t there talks of a “back-to-back” stand so that concourse could be extended, but Cricket Club also had their stand included in the build?

That would be very beneficial to all.