(Can we have) Stadium expansion?

Greenarmy1234 · May 6, 2024

I know this gets discussed a million times. However i cant believe the board wont be atleast considering expanding the stadium. Every game sold out this season, it would be so nice to atleast infill the rough eyesore corner near the devonport/ mayflower. That would probably add another 1000 or so seats, and that way we have more capacity to monitor how much demand there is without creating a giant empty white elephant (like MK Dons etc)

Laido · May 6, 2024

Agree with this in principle, reckon we should be focussing on team development and management appointments.
Much as I love the idea of more bums on seats.. priority for now must be the squad.
The purchasing of the GT build, will generate more income through Hospitality. It has to be small steps forward imo

WidewellGreen · May 6, 2024

Greenarmy1234 said:
I know this gets discussed a million times. However i cant believe the board wont be atleast considering expanding the stadium. Every game sold out this season, it would be so nice to atleast infill the rough eyesore corner near the devonport/ mayflower. That would probably add another 1000 or so seats, and that way we have more capacity to monitor how much demand there is without creating a giant empty white elephant (like MK Dons etc)

They are considering are they not?

I though they started a survey on the viability about 4 or 5 months ago?

I also expect they will see this year's season ticket sales to help with that information as well.

1 season sold out is amazing, but won't be the deciding factor on a multi million pound investment. They need to be categorically sure they would get the return on that investment in a sustainable time period.

I personally think they should, but also apreciate we don't have ££££££££ to drop if the attendance doesn't look sustainable for many years

Deacster · May 6, 2024

A agree, the corner infill is surely the easiest and most cost effective option and the additional 1,000-2,000 seats (depending on design) would be a real asset moving forwards.

Green Flash · May 6, 2024

Trouble is additional seats only pay for themselves over a very long term - standard seats may may yield £350 a season on average (taking into account VAT and concessions). Given construction costs it may take 10 years to make your money back even if guaranteed to be sold. The standard way to pay for projects with long term returns like this is to borrow the money but Simon has always said he does not want to go down that road.

Temporary style seating would no doubt be cheaper but I think there are logistical difficulties with this in the corners

cheshiregreen · May 6, 2024

The club commissioned a study into this didn’t they?

Can't remember when it was due to report though.......anyone recall?

Unless Luton get relegated or Oxford or Posh win promotion we will have smallest capacity in Championship next season.

JackPP · May 6, 2024

More seats are needed if we are going to progress. But it is because of the hospitality the new stand can contain behind them. That is where the money is.

Bobby’s corner could probably take 1500 seats but the hospitality continued from the grandstand would be worth millions.

up the line · May 6, 2024

Deacster said:
A agree, the corner infill is surely the easiest and most cost effective option and the additional 1,000-2,000 seats (depending on design) would be a real asset moving forwards.

In reality the outlay required for the more complex construction needed to fill in the corners would probably be far less cost effective than adding rows to either end of the stadium.
This is why many clubs (Burnley/Watford etc) chose to build simpler, clean line corporate facilities in the corners.

Ross · May 6, 2024

Any extra seats would probably be done in a small number either side of the Mayflower as to build in those areas would probably cost less than other areas due to size.

Plus any extra seats would probably be for hospitality areas only. Payback would be quicker if each seat brought in 2500- 3000 each season as opposed to 350-400

UptheTamar · May 6, 2024

I think Stadium Expansion will all depend on if/when a new investor comes on board. I’d imagine the board have probably got a bit of an idea of what they’d like to do, they just need some help financing it. This is probably a large part of the pitch to anyone interested, along with the Harpers Training ground and some extra transfer budget.

Guiri Green · May 6, 2024

It was only last week people were complaining that money being spent infrastructure such as Brickfields should have been spent on players.

48 hours after retaining our league status that argument can't have changed especially as we now know what's coming in August.

Green Flash · May 6, 2024

Guiri Green said:
It was only last week people were complaining that money being spent infrastructure such as Brickfields should have been spent on players.

48 hours after retaining our league status that argument can't have changed especially as we now know what's coming in August.

Are you sure it’s the same people?

Greenarmy1234 · May 6, 2024

Green Flash said:
Are you sure it’s the same people?

Agreed, project like Brickfields, Harpers and the stadium are long term investments with far more long term chance of boosting our league positiin/ income etc. However i do alo agree that investment in the playing squad is definately needed. Tough dilema for the board i imagine as they wont want another season scrapping at the foot of the table, although expectations there have to be tempered.

Green Flash · May 6, 2024

I think the answer for most fans is that they would like stadium expansion but not at expense of the playing squad - as long term capital investment it falls into a different category and depends I guess if the board can find a way to finance it that does not put the club at unnecessary risk

ming the merciless · May 6, 2024

I’d say we are spinning a lot of plates already in terms of infrastructure improvements. I’m not convinced that now would be the right time to take on more. I would think the club will be looking very closely at season ticket and match day ticket sales for next season. Last time we visited the second flight they dropped substantially for our second season. I'm sure there were good reasons for that and no doubt someone will be along to tell us all about them soon. But I would think the club are going to want to look very carefully at demand before doing anything that involve £Ms. In the mean time they will no doubt make the very most of what they have which they have done very well over the last few seasons. I’d expect more capacity to be added in the hospitality sector first as it brings in more money.