Stadium Redevelopments

[Bradesmaen]

You have to wonder if 2 seasons away from Emirates is worth it after you factor in stadium upgrade costs, loss of matchday revenue, cost of relocation to Wembley. And then there's other issues not cost related like how will the team react to playing out of Wembley permanently.

By the time the club is in the blue from that equation it could be well down the track and time for another upgrade!

2 seasons away from home for a minor upgrade is a big ask.

They could groundshare with spurs? At least the home team would win for once.

 

[TY24]

2 seasons away from home for a minor upgrade is a big ask.

From what I can tell it won't be a minor upgrade, it'll almost be a complete rebuild of the seating bowl.

Stands moved closer to the pitch and the seating bowl itself will be steeper and increased to 70k capacity.

The main criticism of the Emirates compared to Highbury has always been the atmosphere - moving the stands closer to the pitch will go a long way to addressing that. The sideline seats aren't too bad but the seats behind each goal are super far away. Not West Ham levels of far away, but I definitely noticed how much closer Row 1 was when I sat there at Tottenham compared to Arsenal.

I'm sure the club has bean counters working out the numbers behind it all. I'm not sure of the specifics behind Spurs move to Wembley but they seemed to make it work.

If it becomes anything like SoFi Stadium, it will be well worth a few years of pain IMO.

 

[RossFC]

 

[chef]

 

[RossFC]

 

[moomba]

Unless you're Arsenal and maybe Chelsea I think this is a better way to go than playing week in week out in the main stadium.

For one offs (derby games etc) its fine but its better to play in a smaller packed stadium than an empty big stadium imo.

Brighton over egging the pudding a bit calling it the first in Europe. We have had one for our womens and academy sides for years, maybe not solely for the womens team but it doesnt sound like Brightons will be either.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Unless you're Arsenal and maybe Chelsea I think this is a better way to go than playing week in week out in the main stadium.

For one offs (derby games etc) its fine but its better to play in a smaller packed stadium than an empty big stadium imo.

Brighton over egging the pudding a bit calling it the first in Europe. We have had one for our womens and academy sides for years, maybe not solely for the womens team but it doesnt sound like Brightons will be either.

The one for your womens side was not purpose built for them. It was purpose built for the academy.

 

[moomba]

The one for your womens side was not purpose built for them. It was purpose built for the academy.

It was built for the womens and academy teams, much the same as Brightons will be.

 

[Bradesmaen]

It was built for the womens and academy teams, much the same as Brightons will be.

No, Brightons will be womens only. City women were affiliated but not part of the club in 2011 when the Stadium was initially announced.

 

[moomba]

No, Brightons will be womens only. City women were affiliated but not part of the club in 2011 when the Stadium was initially announced.

Wasnt how I recalled it but I'll stand corrected.

 

[Bostonian]

Unless you're Arsenal and maybe Chelsea I think this is a better way to go than playing week in week out in the main stadium.

For one offs (derby games etc) its fine but its better to play in a smaller packed stadium than an empty big stadium imo.

Brighton over egging the pudding a bit calling it the first in Europe. We have had one for our womens and academy sides for years, maybe not solely for the womens team but it doesnt sound like Brightons will be either.

Break even for a game at the Amex is 16,000.

So it's more about the financial side.

And the toilets.

Seems the mens change rooms have urinals so not enough toilets for the women.

It's basically a 10k stadium with no urinals.

 

[Jatz]

I think it looks fantastic - not really sure the connecting bridge needs to be there but hardly the biggest problem.

 

[Bostonian]

I think it looks fantastic - not really sure the connecting bridge needs to be there but hardly the biggest problem.

Maybe they have a thought that double headers can be held.

Rather than have a whole stadium exit at ground level fans can also cross into the main stadium via the bridge.

 

[Jatz]

Maybe they have a thought that double headers can be held.

Rather than have a whole stadium exit at ground level fans can also cross into the main stadium via the bridge.

I'm sure there's a good reason for it, it just looked a bit strange to me.

Either way, big fan. I like the holistic nature of a 'one club' mantra.

 

[RedOrWhite]

On the face of it, it looks really cool and I like the idea of smaller stadiums like that for women's sports and second tier comps like the VFL, but I'd have thought the second stadium could be used for a bunch of 2nd team games, academy games and other community events as well that don't require a big stadium. Maybe it will but that's not how it's been advertised.

 

[Bradesmaen]

On the face of it, it looks really cool and I like the idea of smaller stadiums like that for women's sports and second tier comps like the VFL, but I'd have thought the second stadium could be used for a bunch of 2nd team games, academy games and other community events as well that don't require a big stadium. Maybe it will but that's not how it's been advertised.

Yeah it's almost like a backhanded compliment, but as Bostonian said they aren't drawing enough crowds to make the Amex viable. I'm sure if and once they do, they'd play inside it. Unfortunately build it and they will come doesn't apply to Sports as we have seen with GC's stadium.

 

[Bostonian]

On the face of it, it looks really cool and I like the idea of smaller stadiums like that for women's sports and second tier comps like the VFL, but I'd have thought the second stadium could be used for a bunch of 2nd team games, academy games and other community events as well that don't require a big stadium. Maybe it will but that's not how it's been advertised.

The pitch it sounds like could be set up for women, to ensure less injuries. They have been looking at the science behind it for a while.

Barber was talking about it in early 2025.

Brighton CEO Paul Barber on women's stadium and pitch safety

Female footballers might need "a different type of pitch" to reduce the risk of injuries, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber says.

www.bbc.com

Football injuries: Do pitch surfaces contribute to female footballer injuries?

A number of high-profile injuries have occurred in women's football in recent years. BBC Sport looks at whether the type of pitches they play on could be a contributing factor.

www.bbc.com

I joked about it with SM in another thread but someone did email Paul Barber and his response was:

“Thank you for your email.

As we have very clearly stated, the stadium will be designed for women’s football. As such, the absolute priority for pitch use will be our women’s 1st team fixtures, some women’s under 19s fixtures, and possibly on occasions our younger girls’ academy games.”

 

[RedOrWhite]

Yeah it's almost like a backhanded compliment, but as Bostonian said they aren't drawing enough crowds to make the Amex viable. I'm sure if and once they do, they'd play inside it. Unfortunately build it and they will come doesn't apply to Sports as we have seen with GC's stadium.

That's true. I think the Liverpool women's team play the derby and Mancs at Anfield and that's it. Even then they don't fill it.

It's the same with sports here outside the AFL. Even then I support a smaller third stadium in Melbourne or the smaller clubs selling more low drawing games to regional Vic.
NRL build bigger stadiums than they need most of the time. ALeague the same. Roar getting 5k in a 50k stadium with a surface that's a cow paddock amuses and frustrates me equally.

 

[Zidane98]

That's true. I think the Liverpool women's team play the derby and Mancs at Anfield and that's it. Even then they don't fill it.

It's the same with sports here outside the AFL. Even then I support a smaller third stadium in Melbourne or the smaller clubs selling more low drawing games to regional Vic.
NRL build bigger stadiums than they need most of the time. ALeague the same. Roar getting 5k in a 50k stadium with a surface that's a cow paddock amuses and frustrates me equally.

LFC women play out at St Helens. Decent stadium, had a look while over recently. 18k seated, perfect size for womens team.

 

[moomba]

Going to a test event for the new North Stand tomorrow night, if all goes well it'll be open for the Villa game.

Lots of work still going on outside but the hotel looks not far off being finished and I'd say the fanzone will be ready for the start of next season.

 

[moomba]

Well impressed with the new stand, great views and I reckon the atmosphere will be rrally good with a 1st and a big 2nd level rather than 3 like the rest of the ground.

Concourses are very different from other areas in the ground, got a bit of a wembley feel about.

I'll be moving to the new stand next season, and I've finally managed to get a ticket for my lad. So managed to get a sneaky look at the new seat as well.

If all goes well tonight the stand will be fully open on Sunday.

 

[Ratboys]

The main criticism of the Emirates compared to Highbury has always been the atmosphere - moving the stands closer to the pitch will go a long way to addressing that. The sideline seats aren't too bad but the seats behind each goal are super far away. Not West Ham levels of far away, but I definitely noticed how much closer Row 1 was when I sat there at Tottenham compared to Arsenal.

Gaps behind the goals has stood out since the day it opened. I remember people trying to explain it away with "It's for ambulances/safety" but that's a crock when you look at stadiums that have been built since.