And with a much bigger capacity, perhaps Richardson's Ricoh folly would never have made it to the drawing board.I think whoever was chairman at the time, may have been Poynton although the stand was built under Richardson, tried to buy the factory on the other side of Swan Lane but they wouldn't sell up. If they had we were going to build a much bigger East Stand with a bigger capacity and divert Swan Lane around it
And with a much bigger capacity, perhaps Richardson's Ricoh folly would never have made it to the drawing board.
Ah if only....
Both the old Main Stand and the Sky Blue Stand opposite could have been cantilever with double levels as the club owned enough land behind both to accommodate this.
It would have meant that we had twin level stands on three sides for a fraction of the cost of the Ricoh and given us probably an increase in capacity of 10,000 to 30k+?
Norwich had a similar sized ground at Carrow Road and developed it beyond recognition to the "old" place using corner "infilling" and some copious amount of forward planning.
Totally agree. Also the sheer waste of £6m I think it was for the East Stand and it only lasted 6 years or so.It only really needed one large stand, the Sky Blue Stand could have been it as there was space for it.
I always felt that Highfield Road could have been turned 90 degrees and been rebuilt with Thackhall St closing.
I reckon the cost of compulsory purchase and demolition of the houses on the east side of Highfield Rd would be much cheaper than £20m to decontaminate waste land.
So 3200 seats in the upper tier of the west stand, anyone know how many the west end
Seated I would have thought less than upstairs, maybe 6000 in total?So 3200 seats in the upper tier of the west stand, anyone know how many the west end
Held? I would have guessed about 8000.
No talking about the west end, before it was seatedSeated I would have thought less than upstairs, maybe 6000 in total?
No talking about the west end, before it was seated
Before all seated the total capacity was about 36000 so 8000 probably about right for the West Stand.No talking about the west end, before it was seated
Aye, as I have pointed out, the Arena project was as much a council thing as a club thing. The council had zero interest in the club remaining at Highfield Rd.
This is true. It was seen as too cramped and not enough space to expand. Ricoh was suggested at the same time as grounds were offered to the rugby club and the basketball team. Hope was at one point to bid for the national stadium, hence the original designs that without that context look massively over optimistic for the club.
Realistically HR was never going to be expanded. That's kinda proven by the comments here about redirecting roads and compulsory purchase orders. The council got two regen jobs for one (gas works and Hillfields) and the club in theory got a ground that could support Richardsons ambitions.
Thought it would have been more, always thought it very deceiving, it used toI reckon around 5k max. The Spion Kop was 10.8k when it reopened in the 80s. WT about half the size.
Thought it would have been more, always thought it very deceiving, it used to
Protrude trom under the top tier by quite a long way (about 40 steps if IIRC)
It was also very shallow.
Yeah, I do understand why the council wanted it the way it was and don't blame them. Just think some of the contemporary comments about 'saving the club' or 'bailing it out' are shown to be nonsense by those facts.
It's annoying to think that there's a parallel universe where we rebuilt highfield road and are a properly run premiership team.
Yep.Nah I don't think anyone saved the club, it was seen at the time as a win win and it didn't work out that way. I've very much third way on the Ricoh. Had circumstances been different (i.e. Had we stayed up) it'd have worked out fine. Too many variables around that time to point to one thing and say it sank us IMO. As it is we've ended up far too small for it and well we know the rest.
How did you know what I was planning this weekend?
It was complete for the first day of the 1994/95 season. Partially opened for the last game against Blackburn of the season before to accommodate their large support.
It was another missed opportunity I think, the roof should have been a cantilever. Odd shape due to Swan Lane as well.
Yep.
That pesky relegation!
Was that the season we beat them?
Yeah, the 2-1 game when Julian Darby scored twice. It ended Blackburn's title hopes that year.
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