Could the CBS Arena be extended? (8 Viewers)

[shmmeee]

Convinced people who think the ground should be extended are living in a parallel universe. Completely deluded.

TBF that’s what people said when some of us said we’d fill the arena with a promotion challenge in the champ.

 

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[BackRoomRummermill]

Anything is possible with the right planning and money

 

[blunted]

Convinced people who think the ground should be extended are living in a parallel universe. Completely deluded.

Do I think the ground will be extended? No.
Do I think DK will squeeze the maximum amount of revenue from the ground by whatever means necessary? Yes.
Too many people have been saying we are a small club with no potential for a very long time. Because we had no success for a very long time.
Sure it could all go pear shaped but, at the moment we have not achieved our full potential.
Football in general is on the up during a cost of living crisis that is easing.
We are a big city with no rival clubs to drain away support locally.
If we can get promoted, and stay in the PL, with the TV money we could have a very bright future. Big if, but we have the ownership and staff in place to give us a very good chance of getting bigger and better.
The 62k ground will come later (parp).

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

If we get promoted and are selling out every week, and there is the possibility to extend the stadium by 5,000 let's say, why wouldn't you?

I am convinced some of our fans are cucked down to League 2 level.

 

[clint van damme]

If we get promoted and are selling out every week, and there is the possibility to extend the stadium by 5,000 let's say, why wouldn't you?

I am convinced some of our fans are cucked down to League 2 level.

Because we might only be up for one season.
We'd need to be established for a few seasons and selling out week in and week out.

Otherwise be like putting an extension on your house because you've got visitors staying for the weekend.

 

[Ricketts]

We can move to the chimney stadium in a few years.

 

[PM16]

I also think the ground is plenty big enough for us currently. If we were to get promoted, next year would be an entertaining struggle, no doubt. If struggling, would we still (almost) fill the stadium week in, week out? Maybe

That said, it's fun to think how the capacity might be extended should the need arise. I've often thought the West stand looks a bit odd with all that white boarding above the corporate lounges stretching up to the roof. What's behind it? Presumably not offices or surely there'd be windows. The corporate ceilings aren't that high, so is it dead space? Would it be poss to squeeze in another balcony and/or TV gantry up there?

Photoshop's a laugh isn't it...

 

[Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue]

If we get promoted and are selling out every week, and there is the possibility to extend the stadium by 5,000 let's say, why wouldn't you?

I am convinced some of our fans are cucked down to League 2 level.

I think it’s the cause of having decades of ‘your ground’s too big for you’ sang to us by teams in League 1 and below.

One thing is for sure, the train station debacle needs to be sorted if we are going to be discussing extending the stadium for matchday and maximising the arena offices/bars/exhibition revenues.

To think circa £16 million was spent on a train station that can’t be used properly on matchdays because the platform is too short (special mention to the council for their efforts with the vivarail train trial where carriages set on fire in 2016) is beyond laughable and needs addressing and some future planning from the relevant authorities… rather than trying to pretend that the station was built for the Arena retail park and not for anything to do with the stadium.

There’s only so much the owner can do at once and I commend him for his efforts to improve transport to the arena with the shuttle bus etc. but the transportation to and from the ground is still an issue especially for those travelling to and from the south of the city. There’s still so many of our fans dependent on uber to get home from the stadium.

Agreed with the comments on the poor planning of the West Stand, it looks on the outside and sounds on the inside like it was planned by Barry the flat pack handyman.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I think it’s the cause of having decades of ‘your ground’s too big for you’ sang to us by teams in League 1 and below.

One thing is for sure, the train station debacle needs to be sorted if we are going to be discussing extending the stadium for matchday and maximising the arena offices/bars/exhibition revenues.

To think circa £16 million was spent on a train station that can’t be used properly on matchdays because the platform is too short (special mention to the council for their efforts with the vivarail train trial where carriages set on fire in 2016) is beyond laughable and needs addressing and some future planning from the relevant authorities… rather than trying to pretend that the station was built for the Arena retail park and not for anything to do with the stadium.

There’s only so much the owner can do at once and I commend him for his efforts to improve transport to the arena with the shuttle bus etc. but the transportation to and from the ground is still an issue especially for those travelling to and from the south of the city. There’s still so many of our fans dependent on uber to get home from the stadium.

Agreed with the comments on the poor planning of the West Stand, it looks on the outside and sounds on the inside like it was planned by Barry the flat pack handyman.

The train station situation is so bad it would almost be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Whoever has been in charge of some of those decisions should be dragged out to the centre circle at half time and paraded in front of a full stadium.

It needs to get sorted out.

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

Why are the platforms different lengths and by a lot

 

[shmmeee]

The train station situation is so bad it would almost be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Whoever has been in charge of some of those decisions should be dragged out to the centre circle at half time and paraded in front of a full stadium.

It needs to get sorted out.

That would be Chris Grayling

Rail electrification plans scrapped by government

Wales, the Midlands and the North will no longer see their lines upgraded after a government review.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[TomRad85]

I also think the ground is plenty big enough for us currently. If we were to get promoted, next year would be an entertaining struggle, no doubt. If struggling, would we still (almost) fill the stadium week in, week out? Maybe

That said, it's fun to think how the capacity might be extended should the need arise. I've often thought the West stand looks a bit odd with all that white boarding above the corporate lounges stretching up to the roof. What's behind it? Presumably not offices or surely there'd be windows. The corporate ceilings aren't that high, so is it dead space? Would it be poss to squeeze in another balcony and/or TV gantry up there?

Photoshop's a laugh isn't it...

View attachment 47550

I've always thought that presumably hollow space was a complete waste. Doug needs to get this done or its #KingOut for me.

 

[SkyBlueMatt]

I'm sure anyone still talking about this is just on a wind up. If in 8-10 years and we're selling out every week with a waiting list of 10000, then it's worth talking about. Until then, no serious owner is going to risk spending that kind of money.

If we get promoted and are selling out every week, and there is the possibility to extend the stadium by 5,000 let's say, why wouldn't you?

I am convinced some of our fans are cucked down to League 2 level.

Because where are those extra 5000 fans coming from? Plastics. They had no interest in following us in the Championship and lower. Apart from the financial aspect for the club (which would take years to pay back anyway), there is no benefit. I don't get the creaming over squeezing more people in who don't add to the atmosphere, along with entitled options that come with PL fans.

 

[TomRad85]

I'm sure anyone still talking about this is just on a wind up. If in 8-10 years and we're selling out every week with a waiting list of 10000, then it's worth talking about. Until then, no serious owner is going to risk spending that kind of money.



Because where are those extra 5000 fans coming from? Plastics. They had no interest in following us in the Championship and lower. Apart from the financial aspect for the club (which would take years to pay back anyway), there is no benefit. I don't get the creaming over squeezing more people in who don't add to the atmosphere, along with entitled options that come with PL fans.

So you don't want more fans in because you don't feel they were loyal enough during the rough years? Genuinely ridiculous and by that logic we should just keep our purity and reduce the capacity to 10k and stick people through lie detectors to see how many games they went to in League 2 to get in.

 

[PM16]

I've always thought that presumably hollow space was a complete waste. Doug needs to get this done or its #KingOut for me.

West stand would look a lot better if it could be done. Lord knows how people would get up there though... helicopter?

 

[TomRad85]

West stand would look a lot better if it could be done. Lord knows how people would get up there though... helicopter?

Love it. Build the seats then figure out how to get up there later i say.

 

[PM16]

West stand would look a lot better if it could be done. Lord knows how people would get up there though... helicopter?

Lot of vertical steels up there. Damn!

 

[Northants Sky Blue]

West stand would look a lot better if it could be done. Lord knows how people would get up there though... helicopter?

Looks good, another 2000 seats potentially?

 

[clint van damme]

So you don't want more fans in because you don't feel they were loyal enough during the rough years? Genuinely ridiculous and by that logic we should just keep our purity and reduce the capacity to 10k and stick people through lie detectors to see how many games they went to in League 2 to get in.

There aren't any more fans!

 

[pusbccfc]

West stand would look a lot better if it could be done. Lord knows how people would get up there though... helicopter?

That looks incredible. It would be a special view from there.

 

[TomRad85]

There aren't any more fans!

Lets be honest everyone was saying in here we'd get nowhere near the gates we are getting now not long ago, the idea we couldn't get another 5k in if we got promoted is nonsense. That said its not going to happen and we're just a bunch of blokes chatting shit about a stadium online.

 

[SkyBlueMatt]

So you don't want more fans in because you don't feel they were loyal enough during the rough years? Genuinely ridiculous and by that logic we should just keep our purity and reduce the capacity to 10k and stick people through lie detectors to see how many games they went to in League 2 to get in.

No, it's not that. It's more about what they bring to the table apart from money. More day tripping, plastic fans means a more sterile match day experience. I go to games because I enjoy the atmosphere as much as the football itself. I'd rather we kept hold of that as much as we can.

 

[DT-R]

If we are still in this strong of position going into Jan i will be expecting news from within the club about future plans. I would not be shocked to wake up at some point early next year with plans released for development the clubs ground, 1st team and academy facilities. I doubt Doug is sitting wondering what to do i think its just a matter of time before we find out. Because if premiership football is gained the club can not stand still on or off the pitch. On it to attract the players they have to see a club with real intentions to be the next team to go up and be an established prem club in time. If you do that off field is easier proposition and sort of looks after itself.

Absolute rubbish! There are currently 8 teams in the PL with a lower capacity than us. 4 of those 8 are SIGNIFICANTLY lower than ours.
CBS Arena 32,609
Brighton 31,876
Wolves 31,750
Forest 30,404
Fulham 29,589
Palace 25,486
Burnley 21,994
Brentford 17,250
Bournemouth 11,307

2 of those 8 are currently in the top 10 (Palace and Brighton)
Brentford and Bournemouth, the 2 smallest by some margin, are, i would say, very well established PL teams. Bournemouth have plans to build a new stadium, that will still only take it to 20,200! STILL 12k short on what we currently have!

To suggest we couldnt attract signings because of our ground is up there with the biggest load of pish ive read on this forum.... and there's a lot of competition.

Were 1 promotion, and 1 bad season away from relegation, and the fair weather supporters will soon slip back in to the woodwork. 6-10k fans in a 30k seater is bad enough. Can you imagine it in a 40k seater?

When, and only when, we're in a position like Bournmouth or Brentford, and we're established in the PL, and we have been for 3 or 4 seasons, and we've sold out every week for 3 or 4 season, then and only then should this conversation be happening! To think it as soon as next month is delusional and suggests youre one of the newer supporters that never sat amongst 6k fans losing to FGR?

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[clint van damme]

Lets be honest everyone was saying in here we'd get nowhere near the gates we are getting now not long ago, the idea we couldn't get another 5k in if we got promoted is nonsense. That said its not going to happen and we're just a bunch of blokes chatting shit about a stadium online.

But you don't spunk a fortune extending a stadium to up your capacity based on one season.

Especially when it would almost certainly mean operating a reduced a capacity for a season, it doesn't make sense.

We probably haven't sold out 20 games in all our time at the cbs, we'd need sell outs over a prolonged period to make it viable.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

But you don't spunk a fortune extending a stadium to up your capacity based on one season.

Especially when it would almost certainly mean operating a reduced a capacity for a season, it doesn't make sense.

We probably haven't sold out 20 games in all our time at the cbs, we'd need sell outs over a prolonged period to make it viable.

This is it really.

What posters are also forgetting is that pretty much all PL clubs which are into process of, or have recently expanded their grounds / moved into new ones, will have season ticket waiting lists stretching into the 10s of thousands.

The demand in the form of prospective customers is quite literally already there so there's grounds to increase capacity / move to a new stadium.

Which is what makes Birmingham's delusional fantasy project all the more hilarious as they categorically don't have anywhere near the demand but because some chippy American says they do their fans jump about like excitable chimps in a zoo during feeding time lapping up every word.

 

[DT-R]

But you don't spunk a fortune extending a stadium to up your capacity based on one season.

Especially when it would almost certainly mean operating a reduced a capacity for a season, it doesn't make sense.

We probably haven't sold out 20 games in all our time at the cbs, we'd need sell outs over a prolonged period to make it viable.

You've only got to look at Luton as a lesson learnt for spunking half ypur PL promotion money on your stadium.

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[Mucca Mad Boys]

This is it really.

What posters are also forgetting is that pretty much all PL clubs which are into process of, or have recently expanded their grounds / moved into new ones, will have season ticket waiting lists stretching into the 10s of thousands.

The demand in the form of prospective customers is quite literally already there so there's grounds to increase capacity / move to a new stadium.

Which is what makes Birmingham's delusional fantasy project all the more hilarious as they categorically don't have anywhere near the demand but because some chippy American says they do their fans jump about like excitable chimps in a zoo during feeding time lapping up every word.

Stadiums are expensive whether you’re building one or renovating it…

The cost benefit analysis just isn’t worth it when Premiership League status alone is worth 10s of millions.

Birmingham’s plans are delusions imo and again, when it blows up in their face, I won’t be particularly sympathetic.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Stadiums are expensive whether you’re building one or renovating it…

The cost benefit analysis just isn’t worth it when Premiership League status alone is worth 10s of millions.

Birmingham’s plans are delusions imo and again, when it blows up in their face, I won’t be particularly sympathetic.

Hmm I don't agree with this. If you're an established club in the PL it very much is worth it. Just using Everton's new stadium as an example the additional revenue it creates is huge - estimates of between £50-£60 million in annual revenue + what's added to the local economy.

From a PSR POV generating that kind of commercial / ticketing / F&B revenue on top of existing turnover is significant to the club and its ambitions - and in the long run should in theory enable them to be much more competitive in transfer markets across each season.

There's a reason more PL clubs than ever are looking to either move into new stadiums / expand their existing facilities.

If you have a competitive owner which has the appetite and ambition to challenge for European trophies then building a new stadium or revamping an existing one is an expensive, but effective way of turbocharging revenue and therefore giving them a platform to become much more competitive long term.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

This is it really.

What posters are also forgetting is that pretty much all PL clubs which are into process of, or have recently expanded their grounds / moved into new ones, will have season ticket waiting lists stretching into the 10s of thousands.

The demand in the form of prospective customers is quite literally already there so there's grounds to increase capacity / move to a new stadium.

Which is what makes Birmingham's delusional fantasy project all the more hilarious as they categorically don't have anywhere near the demand but because some chippy American says they do their fans jump about like excitable chimps in a zoo during feeding time lapping up every word.

I can see Birmingham ending up like Portsmouth did. They had these grand plans and designs for a new Waterfront stadium. It all went pear shaped and the dropped to the bottom tier. I'd love nothing more than to see those delusional bastards end up the same way

 

[bigfatronssba]

Were 1 promotion, and 1 bad season away from relegation, and the fair weather supporters will soon slip back in to the woodwork. 6-10k fans in a 30k seater is bad enough. Can you imagine it in a 40k seater?

When did we ever get 6-10k fans in the Championship?

 

[DT-R]

When did we ever get 6-10k fans in the Championship?

We havent, but thats the point, when we're at our lowest and at our worst, we've got 6-10k that'll be there, come rain or shine.
Its cool and trendy to support a winning team and were riding the crest of the wave right now, but if we end up getting spanked in the PL 6-0 every week like Southampton, and worse still, completely tank it like Luton (momentum is a funny thing that works both ways) then how many of the fair weather fans will still be there on a cold Tuesday night against Mansfield in a new, shiny, 45k seater stadium? Spoiler alert, closer to 10k than 40k.

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[bigfatronssba]

We havent, but thats the point, when we're at our lowest and at our worst, we've got 6-10k that'll be there, come rain or shine.
Its cool and trendy to support a winning team and were riding the crest of the wave right now, but if we end up getting spanked in the PL 6-0 every week like Southampton, and worse still, completely tank it like Luton (momentum is a funny thing that works both ways) then how many of the fair weather fans will still be there on a cold Tuesday night against Mansfield in a new, shiny, 45k seater stadium? Spoiler alert, closer to 10k than 40k.

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Unless football in general declines, we aren’t going back to crowds of that size again.
It took a very unique and specific set of circumstances that caused those really low crowds

 

[DT-R]

Unless football in general declines, we aren’t going back to crowds of that size again.
It took a very unique and specific set of circumstances that caused those really low crowds

And as it stands, we still have empty seats now. Granted, not many and they are dotted about. If we cant sell out 32k playing football as exciting as we currently are, then what chance do we have of selling out 40k+ tanking it in the PL?

For the record, I dont necessarily think we'll tank it in the PL, but i also don't think we're ready or in need of any up-sizing yet.

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[bigfatronssba]

And as it stands, we still have empty seats now. Granted, not many and they are dotted about. If we cant sell out 32k playing football as exciting as we currently are, then what chance do we have of selling out 40k+ tanking it in the PL?

For the record, I dont necessarily think we'll tank it in the PL, but i also don't think we're ready or in need of any up-sizing yet.

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We've had several sell outs this season.

Its the number of sell outs thats important, not the average

Agree its not something to think about for now anyway