Plainmoor development

[Admiral]

It may be a premature conversation, but it’s something that the owners have said they’ll look into in the medium-term. Our crowds are the highest they’ve been since 1971, without any sizeable away following this season. If we were to return to the NL, clubs like Oldham, Rochdale, Yeovil etc would be using the away terrace, leaving us with a home capacity of around 4700, where in the Football League it’d be used most weeks by away fans.

Speaking theoretically, how could Plainmoor’s capacity be increased? The obvious area would be to increase the size of the Wollens terrace, with enough room behind to probably add 50% more steps and possibly incorporate catering facilities and toilets into the wider end (closest to the bench). However, wouldn’t this just be adding capacity for away fans?

One solution to permanently give this stand to home supporters could be to also fill the corner in, linking both the Bench and Wollens stand together, allowing more away seated capacity.

Is there potential for seating in Blocks A and B to continue to near pitch level? There looks to be around 50% extra seating that could be added here, which could take the two blocks’ capacity to around 700+, which would be a fair away allocation given the size of our stadium.

Here’s hoping we keep attendances and the feel-good factor around the town up.

[Brewers boy]

Build a seated stand above the Wollens terrace. Doesn't need to be particularly big probably about 300 seats but expandable. This would free up seats in Bristows for home fans and for most games free up the Wollens for home fans
May be a problem with planning permission though due to the houses behind losing some evening sunlight.

[TUFC67]

It's a worthy discussion point, but comes with risk if crowds suffer as a result of poor performance on the pitch. The example of the George Reynolds Arena, in Darlington, is testament to how things can go horribly wrong, although we wouldn't aspire to have a 25,000 seat stadium. Many times this season, I've defended the club from posters on social media that expected instant success because we have big nos. With increased capacity comes increased maintenance and compliance burden. The picture of the security stewards for their sponsored game showed about 50 of them. If they work for 4 hours that would be minimum £2000 per game in wages, so possibly double that as a fee to £4000. Michael Westcott said each supporter was worth £10-£11, so an increased stewarding burden isn't negligible. Plastic pitches don't need mowing, line marking, or fertiliser

I'd sit tight, personally. I doubt we'd approach 5,800 each home game and therefore not stress test what infrastructure we have. It would be good to add to, or improve to the match day experience and a fan zone would be a great addition.

[Taelee73]

Im sure I remember when the Family Stand was completed Mike Bateson saying it had been designed so that it could have another section added to it. That stand seems like the best option as the two main areas are hemmed in.

Just me, but I’d love to see a thousand seats in a second tier section added on top of the Pop side, just because I think it would look great!

[Admiral]

Im sure I remember when the Family Stand was completed Mike Bateson saying it had been designed so that it could have another section added to it. That stand seems like the best option as the two main areas are hemmed in.

Just me, but I’d love to see a thousand seats in a second tier section added on top of the Pop side, just because I think it would look great!

With the angle of the Popside to the road I don’t think it could get any bigger than it is now. It also incorporates the bowls club and there’s an area behind it that’s used to storage etc.
I think the Family Stand is a longer-term proposition but I have also been told the same. The Bench is new so that’s a no-go unless they extended the seats to pitch level, so the Wollens is probably the best option. You could probably add 400-500 capacity by keeping it as a terrace without doing anything else. It’s a pretty basic stand so it shouldn’t be too expensive… The corners to both ends of the bench could be incorporated in any redevelopment.

[Admiral]

I think it goes under the radar how much Bateson improved the stadium

[Parkys People]

I've wondered if the walkway section at the bottom of Bristows Bench could be developed, nearest to pitch side. To allow 3-4 steps worth of terracing for a paddock. With people still able to walk up and down behind that proposed area, to get to the seats near the away section and back to the family stand corner. Having stood there recently, I believe there's enough space.

It would add a few hundred, but maybe too much of a hazard in case an emergency evacuation was required.

[culmstockgull]

Loving this thread and the differing ideas that have come up,what do we actually need for the next five to ten years, maybe another 2500 maximum and in any event it will come down to what is cheapest. it is once in a very rare blue moon that away supporters need more than the away terrace and two blocks of bristows.
I would love to see the family stand revert back to standing, the home of the vocal fan like the old days of the mini stand, the atmpsohere would be louder than the elongated pop side and ready access to alcohol which they seem to enjoy. the pop side has quite a lot of room behind it to alter and extend, i would make it all seating with an extra layer above for executive and corportate boxes.

[Taelee73]

That area In front of Bristows feels quite narrow/busy already to be honest.

Could each end of Bristows possibly be extended a bit, the cost to extra revenue would make it doubtful I guess. The main exit would need incorporating in it somehow unless the toilets by the turnstiles are demolished and reset in the new stand and that area then becomes the new exit, feels like the other end would be easier, guessing for a lot of work, you'd still only add 125 odd extra seats in each end though.

I do feel the majority of fans like watching football from the sides, the Family stand has always been the least favoured of all the stands, at least in my time (late 1980s).

Maybe the bowls area could form part of a new development/fan zone on that grass area behind the Family stand and the Pop side redeveloped?

[Parkys People]

That area In front of Bristows feels quite narrow/busy already to be honest.

I take it back. Looking at this image and I'd forgotten the disabled area.

Nowhere near enough room for my suggestion.

[TQ1er]

Enjoying this thread. I’ve always thought the bench looks a bit unfinished/scruffy at the bottom - however it is the best view of the game by a mile in that stand. I used to love the standing area in the previous grandstand but unfortunately unrealistic now.

Pop side and Wollens always going to be tricky going higher with the housing behind which probably only realistically leaves the family stand with the space behind it, but unsure id want a lopsided looking stadium.

As mentioned already, dream would be a tier of seating/hospitality boxes above the pop side terrace, would be amazing!

Although realistically the ground is fit for purpose with its current capacity. I think people just like watching a winning team regardless of the league we’re in. We start losing in any league the crowds will drop off

[Admiral]

I’m no graphic designer, but you get the idea. Not sure the roof comes out far enough though! It seems a bit bizarre that this wasn’t incorporated into the design originally, there’s a lot of wasted space.

[Admiral]

The payback time of any redevelopment investment would need to be considered. If we get two sell outs per season, a capacity increase of 500 would only generate around £8000 (av £16 per ticket accounting for seniors/kids) per match, plus a few quid in extra catering sales. Expansion would only be beneficial if we sustain these crowds for the next few years, and winning/promotion would help do that.