Stadium Expansion

[Silver Fox]

The club plans to increase bus use from 21% to nearly 50% of supporters, and will make space to park nearly 100 buses (taking over existing parking)

I like this one but I fear for Blakey trying to get 100 buses away at the end of the game!

[eaststandbird]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

[Tutti Frutti]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

Removing these would limit the ground's ability to host events like concerts and stop the half-marathon using the ground. It also limits pitch access for groundstaff and ambulances etc, so I doubt the club would do it. OT doesn't have them, but that's a sign of an older ground - Wembley has them in all four corners.

[Rhys The Royal]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

Removing these would limit the ground's ability to host events like concerts and stop the half-marathon using the ground. It also limits pitch access for groundstaff and ambulances etc, so I doubt the club would do it. OT doesn't have them, but that's a sign of an older ground - Wembley has them in all four corners.

I think that they should fill one of them in, but have one still in place like at the Emirates. It works fine for them.

[Harold]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

OT has them - the seats above the tunnel area can be lifted electronically to allow vehicles etc into the stadium.

[Coppelled Streets]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

Removing these would limit the ground's ability to host events like concerts and stop the half-marathon using the ground. It also limits pitch access for groundstaff and ambulances etc, so I doubt the club would do it. OT doesn't have them, but that's a sign of an older ground - Wembley has them in all four corners.

I think that they should fill one of them in, but have one still in place like at the Emirates. It works fine for them.

A good idea as two aren't necessary, but it wouldn't add anywhere near the 1000 seats eaststandbird suggested.

[AJ~]

Symmetry > Seats

[Royalshow]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

Removing these would limit the ground's ability to host events like concerts and stop the half-marathon using the ground. It also limits pitch access for groundstaff and ambulances etc, so I doubt the club would do it. OT doesn't have them, but that's a sign of an older ground - Wembley has them in all four corners.

I think that they should fill one of them in, but have one still in place like at the Emirates. It works fine for them.

They are also important for ventalation and grass grownth

[Coppelled Streets]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

Removing these would limit the ground's ability to host events like concerts and stop the half-marathon using the ground. It also limits pitch access for groundstaff and ambulances etc, so I doubt the club would do it. OT doesn't have them, but that's a sign of an older ground - Wembley has them in all four corners.

I think that they should fill one of them in, but have one still in place like at the Emirates. It works fine for them.

They are also important for ventalation and grass grownth

Working then!

[Big Ern]

Sorry if this has been mentioned.

Could we maybe fill the two gaps at either end of the east stand. I understand if their fire exits but Old Trafford doesn't have any(correct me if im wrong). I think this would increase the capacity by about 1000 but could be more/less.

Removing these would limit the ground's ability to host events like concerts and stop the half-marathon using the ground. It also limits pitch access for groundstaff and ambulances etc, so I doubt the club would do it. OT doesn't have them, but that's a sign of an older ground - Wembley has them in all four corners.

I think that they should fill one of them in, but have one still in place like at the Emirates. It works fine for them.

A good idea as two aren't necessary, but it wouldn't add anywhere near the 1000 seats eaststandbird suggested.

Considering how tight JM is about money, if he felt it was worth it, he would have done it a long time ago, so there must be good commercial and practical reasons for keeping things wow they are.

[premiership_bound]

The club plans to increase bus use from 21% to nearly 50% of supporters, and will make space to park nearly 100 buses (taking over existing parking)

I like this one but I fear for Blakey trying to get 100 buses away at the end of the game!

Considering that the club (according to the official site)are threatening to stop the new services next season, I don't see much chance of this.

[Silver Fox]

Do you mean the extra services to Wokkers, Winnersh etc? Looking at the piece on the OS it seems they're not being used enough so it's understandable if they're not economically viable. I'd guess the extra services in the planning permission are town shuttles in the main?

[AJ~]

It doesn't surprise me they're not being used enough, a lot of people who come from out of town probably already have a parking permit paid until the end of the season so wouldn't even consider switching at the moment.

A shame really, I used it for the United Cup game and it was excellent. Something I'd happily convert to full time given the opportunity.

[Harps stay sharp]

The Club are really trying to push the idea of Supporters Clubs or local pubs using private buses to bring fans to the ground, as the Rose & Thistle and Prince of Wales Caversham currently do.

I can't believe these are the only 2 pubs in the Reading area that have enough Reading Fans to enable a bus to be filled each week.

It might be worth speaking to the landlord of your local to see if there is a big enough take up to run a bus. It makes sense. Spend money over the bar and get free door to door travel to and from the stadium.

[Coppelled Streets]

The Club are really trying to push the idea of Supporters Clubs or local pubs using private buses to bring fans to the ground, as the Rose & Thistle and Prince of Wales Caversham currently do.

I can't believe these are the only 2 pubs in the Reading area that have enough Reading Fans to enable a bus to be filled each week.

......and The Spread Eagle.

[boycey]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6444083.stm

looks like they'll need to plan some space for standing.... hopefully

[T.R.O.L.I.]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6444083.stm

looks like they'll need to plan some space for standing.... hopefully

About bloody time too.

[Wycombe Royal]

A survey calling for the introduction of safe standing areas is a long long way from current policy and then stadiums being changed.

Nothing will happen any time soon.

[Coppelled Streets]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6444083.stm

looks like they'll need to plan some space for standing.... hopefully

Cheers for that. A very good read!

It can't be that far off before we get the go-ahead to develop the same safe standing features the German's have. Hopefully within the next 5-10 years, sooner would be wonderful. They've proved it works and I wouldn't hesitate to move to where ever Reading Football Club decided the standing area be.

Personally, I would hope they made the bottom half of the East Stand all standing. Bringing back the South Bank feel.

[Dirk Gently]

But would you pay extra to stand?

According to the Green Guide, more space must be allowed for standing spectators than seated ones. So any standing would reduce capacity and therefore reduce income - unless people were prepared to pay more to stand.