Sounds like a slum clearance of the 50s/60s........wait a minute
East stand
- Thread starter Northstandsinger
- Start date
Well
I've just re read your post.....yes it was a serious question and you have answered it magnificently.....the answer is never...Not since the 70s.......even now like tomorrow in a local derby in a must win game we still won't sell out...I was at BR in c76 when we beat Bolton 1-0 and there were 26 k in the ground.hat was probably the last time.
onlyonepool
Well-known member
Yes I too was at that Bolton game, the Kop was sold out and as kids we had to run round to get in the West Paddock. I'm not arguing that it was the last time we had over 20k at Bloomfield all I was saying was that it was a physical impossibility with a crumbling stadium and a capacity of 9k for most of the time. You could say we've had more than 20k if you count the 30k against Yeovil, 37k against Cardiff and 30k West Ham. At least Wembley was big enough.
All isn't well at the club at the moment is it? A lot aren't happy with Critch and we're having a very mixed season. There'll be a decent crowd tomorrow but I'm pretty sure if we'd been going head to head with Bolton for automatic it would have been a sellout and with a decent stand we wouldn't need to keep Bolron down to 2,100.
You've made some good points too but I really wouldn't like to see a reduction in the capacity we have at present. One really good season even in league one similar to what Bolton are having now would give a true reflection of where we're at.
Three_Piers
Well-known member
Once this stand is built that is it. I really hope we get this right. We shouldn't be reducing capacity, we should be looking at making the stand big enough to allow for future growth. If Sadler can't afford to build a stand that big then he shouldn't build it at all.
People always throw in the 'we didn't sell out every game in the prem, line. It's nonense. You had to buy single tickets in 3 game blocks. It was ridiculous. Ironically, the reason we didn't sell out every home game was because the ground wasn't big enough.
People always throw in the 'we didn't sell out every game in the prem, line. It's nonense. You had to buy single tickets in 3 game blocks. It was ridiculous. Ironically, the reason we didn't sell out every home game was because the ground wasn't big enough.
20togo
Well-known member
you have to be getting the product right on the pitch if you want to increase your support. Yes, we have a hardcore of support somewhere between 5-10 thousand. That's a wide margin simply because of what fans are currently witnessing and even hardcore supporters are questioning their own commitment simply because this season the football has been nothing short of dire. But in the grand scheme of things we as a club have to ambition to rise above from where we are now. That will not only increase our own support but also the away support which can be a big factor when it comes to revenue. An East Stand anything short of at least a 5k capacity will simply not be fit for for purpose if we are to have any ambition of being better.
Critchknows
Well-known member
The only thing that increases attendance is good entertaining football which for the most part leads to successful winning football and it snowballs. I don't think actually that we need a huge capacity but I think the stadium should be completed to at least mirror the opposite side and complete the corner which would give us about 20k I suppose and I think that would do us. The biggest issue atm though is not that money isn't being spent on the stadium it's that it's not being spent on players on the pitch
Good points made very well.Yes I too was at that Bolton game, the Kop was sold out and as kids we had to run round to get in the West Paddock. I'm not arguing that it was the last time we had over 20k at Bloomfield all I was saying was that it was a physical impossibility with a crumbling stadium and a capacity of 9k for most of the time. You could say we've had more than 20k if you count the 30k against Yeovil, 37k against Cardiff and 30k West Ham. At least Wembley was big enough.
All isn't well at the club at the moment is it? A lot aren't happy with Critch and we're having a very mixed season. There'll be a decent crowd tomorrow but I'm pretty sure if we'd been going head to head with Bolton for automatic it would have been a sellout and with a decent stand we wouldn't need to keep Bolron down to 2,100.
You've made some good points too but I really wouldn't like to see a reduction in the capacity we have at present. One really good season even in league one similar to what Bolton are having now would give a true reflection of where we're at.
The only point really that I would disagree with would be the fact that I don't think we would ever average above 15k.
Despite the big numbers at Wembley there were many there, my mother in law and two daughters to name bug three that will never go to B R on a regular basis. A huge number who went that day v Cardiff have probably never been to BR since.
Just a question.....do you remember Blackpool's goal......I was sat on the pie hut roof in the South PaddockYes I too was at that Bolton game, the Kop was sold out and as kids we had to run round to get in the West Paddock. I'm not arguing that it was the last time we had over 20k at Bloomfield all I was saying was that it was a physical impossibility with a crumbling stadium and a capacity of 9k for most of the time. You could say we've had more than 20k if you count the 30k against Yeovil, 37k against Cardiff and 30k West Ham. At least Wembley was big enough.
All isn't well at the club at the moment is it? A lot aren't happy with Critch and we're having a very mixed season. There'll be a decent crowd tomorrow but I'm pretty sure if we'd been going head to head with Bolton for automatic it would have been a sellout and with a decent stand we wouldn't need to keep Bolron down to 2,100.
You've made some good points too but I really wouldn't like to see a reduction in the capacity we have at present. One really good season even in league one similar to what Bolton are having now would give a true reflection of where we're at.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
You don’t build a football stadium to accommodate your ‘Average Attendance’ though… Well not unless you are a top level Premier League Club at least. If we want to ‘average’ 15,000, then we probably need a Stadium that can hold 18,000, which means a capacity of maybe 19,000 + to account for segregation.Good points made very well.
The only point really that I would disagree with would be the fact that I don't think we would ever average above 15k.
Despite the big numbers at Wembley there were many there, my mother in law and two daughters to name bug three that will never go to B R on a regular basis. A huge number who went that day v Cardiff have probably never been to BR since.
I wouldn’t disagree with you that 15,000 would be about where we would be as a decent average attendance (in the Championship). However it’s certainly possible that we would average higher if we were to get back in the EPL, where I think 18000 is probably a realistic average (which could be improved upon with longer term success and a concerted effort).
Blackpool itself has matured as a Town since the 1970’s and with the potential influx of a Student Population on top of increasing numbers of second, third and fourth generation ‘migrants’ the potential exists to do what plenty of other Clubs have done before us.
Agree with that. When we got a crowds of 20k or more we were a regular feature in the top flight, had a number of international players and had a regular influx of holiday makers. When we had 37k at the play off final 18 members of my family went. Only 3 of us were or are regular BFC supporters. I know a number of supporters of other clubs who came for a good day out. Our core fanbase will rarely be more 12 to 14k, even with consistent success on the pitch. Blackpool is generally a low income town, with many other distractions. I would not like to see the capacity reduced, but a usable capacity of 16k to 18k would be sufficient. The current land footprint and facilities wouldn't allow any more. The club would need to move to a bigger site for a much bigger stadium and I can't see that being justified or financially feasibleGood points made very well.
The only point really that I would disagree with would be the fact that I don't think we would ever average above 15k.
Despite the big numbers at Wembley there were many there, my mother in law and two daughters to name bug three that will never go to B R on a regular basis. A huge number who went that day v Cardiff have probably never been to BR since.
Albert Ross
Well-known member
It may be my memory playing tricks, but I seem to remember SS saying a couple of years back the capacity of the new East would be similar to the existing capacity. With the capability for it to be extended upwards in the future. I assume that means building foundations which can support another tier.
clappers
Well-known member
Agree absolutely with this
AlternativeSeaside
Well-known member
I really struggle to understand how unambitious so many of our fans are, it seem the little Blackpool mentality is endemic throughout the the fan base and town, is it any wonder we are held back as club with this level of apathy
onlyonepool
Well-known member
I'm normally pretty good remembering goals, I see it was Billy Ronson so no doubt a screamer from outside the box. I was there when he made his debut against Forest and Cloughie said he would be a star of the future.Just a question.....do you remember Blackpool's goal......I was sat on the pie hut roof in the South Paddock
Pie hut roof, brilliant, no such thing as health and safety back then.
Macseasider
Well-known member
Article in Lancs Live today. Sorry if already posted
Update on Blackpool football stadium as houses to be demolished
www.lancs.live
Update on Blackpool football stadium as houses to be demolished
Update on Blackpool football stadium as houses to be demolished
The latest deal has seen 2 Henry Street acquired so the houses can be demolished and the replacement East Stand built
www.lancs.live
JJpool
Well-known member
A mirror of the west and a corner doesn't give 20k, nowehere near.
The best we can probably hope for is a aprox 4600 east and a corner taking us to about 17.5k. For me I could live with that and would be enough for the foreseeable.
Anything beyond that will break the current stadium design and cost way more.
I suppose you could have proper roof supports, not internal columns like we have, then seats could technically go all the way back to nearer the roof height, or make it a higher roof.
But I just can't see it happening, especially given what SS said in the dialogue meeting that time and also the cost.
I'd love to see the north get another tier one day, as that's the place to be that sells, hardly anyone wants to be in the South by comparison. But it's just dreaming really.
17.5k capacity would allow aprox 15k home fans and 2k away (or other combinatios). You might say more segregation for some games but if we're maxing out then we're probably in the prem and going the line of stewards route and maximising capacity.
Tbh you could have a line of stewards and netting on the North side and a small segregation area on the other, 100 seats each side like many stadiums manage with.
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JJpool
Well-known member
The issue is the rest of the stadium though being unambitious, meaning people want some super stand added on to make up for it.I really struggle to understand how unambitious so many of our fans are, it seem the little Blackpool mentality is endemic throughout the the fan base and town, is it any wonder we are held back as club with this level of apathy
The reality is the north and south should have been bigger. The south isn't even as big as the north, which was very shortsighted, they cared more about the hotel.
Seainsea
Well-known member
The original plans were for the seats to go all the way up to the roof line and seem to remember the capacity was ca. 5000 including the NE corner. If rail seating was used it may be even more and I agree and extra tier on the Kop would be the best way to expand capacity.
The South Stand could be used for large away followings with the hotel rooms used for package deals. The added benefit would be easier segregation and could even have a fan-zone for away fans with Bloomfield Rd cordoned off. We are a unique club and need to maximize income from away fans without compromising home addition.
Jdseacidre81
Well-known member
Why would you put the away fans in the south, adding chaos on bloomfield rd. I reckon they go in the north west or north so they are straight into town or coach park. Blackpool South station should also be extended going under ground to a small station where the toilets are in the car park. This could be a hub to get away fans in and out without the aggro.
WIZARD OF TANGERINE
Well-known member
Perfect size .its still 1500 more then what we have now and if we don't get a bigger away following ,we will have to get another flag.
LA1 Seasider
Well-known member
An underground station would cost hundereds of millions of pounds. Extending it to BR would cost tens of millions - and that’s for a single line track I imagine serves <10,000 passengers a year ! Cuckoo land stuff.
The original plan wasn’t up to the same roof line - it was with seats to the same height of those in the West and then an angled roof to meet the roofline. It meant the original East stand footprint could be used. But if that factored in at all to todays thinking there’d be no point in buying all these houses on Henry Street.
Also unfortunately safe standing doesn’t mean any extra capacity than the seating equivalent. It’s 1 for 1.
clappers
Well-known member
It is a bit weird…especially when the only time we shed the small time attitude as a club in modern memory and went for it with Belokon and Holloway we got to the premier league. It just doesn’t seem to register or maybe folk just like a quiet life following a quiet club around the basement leagues for life.I really struggle to understand how unambitious so many of our fans are, it seem the little Blackpool mentality is endemic throughout the the fan base and town, is it any wonder we are held back as club with this level of apathy
kuriousoranj
Well-known member
It'll look really boring!
TheTangerinewizard
Well-known member
I just hope Simon doesnt get stuck in the same doom loop as the O's. Remember the prelets and the building of the South. I perfectly understand the commercial decision to build it as and when and personally I would make it the biggest with views over the town and the sea. A unique chance for the club to stand bigger and proud over the rest with an appropriate TV gantry to film games. But it all cost money and a lot of investment. As a footnote the arcade club should be bought up to house corporate for away fans and would also be good parking for the players and their guests. Im sure its in the bigger picture. In Simon I trust but rather him than me.
Wizaard
Well-known member
It's the wrong side for a TV gantry with low sun for much of the season making it tricky for the cameraman.
Opinionhated
Well-known member
Fully agree with this create something for the away fans with a bar facility to enjoy and spend there money obviously nothing to grand but there must be more potential to increase our turnover on a match day.
ParkerAteMyKebab
Well-known member
I'd love for them to give one corner to away fans and give home fans access to the halfway line of the East - where I grew up as a Seasider.
SomersetSeasider
Well-known member
I think if, as an owner, you’re committed to building a new east stand, and with an ambition to be at least a regular championship club, I think you should look to increase the capacity of the ground to 20k+. That way, you can have more room to manoeuvre with your ticket prices, in order to attract more home fans, and you can also have bigger away followings bringing in more money. (This would obviously require a much larger east stand.)
I think Preston are a good example. They have a 23k ground, attracting about 14k home fans, which, if we were in their position, and with the right pricing policy, we could easily match. With regular 4k plus away followings (if we were in the championship), you significantly increase your income without reducing the atmosphere. (Potentially).