North Stand Construction Discussion

[Gordyola]

I've seen claims that the tier 1 concrete terracing and concourses were built at the very start and then buried to bring up the ground level for the games. We then dug down again and uncovered it all to put the seats in when converting to a football stadium. It's always felt wrong to me but then I have no explanation for what's holding up tier 2 & 3 at the start beyond sky hooks :(

Strangely I've never seen a single video or photo showing this, everything seems to skip this step entirely. Does anyone have anything stashed away as Google lets me down this time?

Agreed Doesn’t make sense to dig it out build the football level 1 then fill it in to only have to dig it out again Moving a vast amount of rumble where was it temporary stored?
The design of the stadium is cleaver using the terrain and the low water table meaning the cost of the stands being lower which made it less expensive and allowed for a football stadium to be used temporary for athletics

 

[Coatigan]

Agreed Doesn’t make sense to dig it out build the football level 1 then fill it in to only have to dig it out again Moving a vast amount of rumble where was it temporary stored?
The design of the stadium is cleaver using the terrain and the low water table meaning the cost of the stands being lower which made it less expensive and allowed for a football stadium to be used temporary for athletics

Unless it was built on a deck. Not saying it was, but eould have been a more cost effective way to have it raised while needed.

 

[Elbow beards]

Unless it was built on a deck. Not saying it was, but eould have been a more cost effective way to have it raised while needed.

Just found a picture, not very good quality but you can see where they have dug down and left a ridge for the lower tier.

 

[Centurions]

Just found a picture, not very good quality but you can see where they have dug down and left a ridge for the lower tier.
View attachment 143233

But that's the North Stand, everything at that end was built after removing the 3 temporary stands. You can see tier 1 on the West Stand in the background although with no idea if it was previously constructed and dug out from that picture.

It's probably just me but I find it odd that there's no confirmation either way and no video or photos seemingly available.

 

[Centurions]

Unless it was built on a deck. Not saying it was, but eould have been a more cost effective way to have it raised while needed.

Ahh, I see what you're saying. So similar to how the new North stand can be moved backwards and forwards on rollers once it's finished, they could have built the entire stadium on a deck that can be raised at will. That'll explain how the stadium is easier to spot from afar now, it really has been raised.

 

[Centurions]

But that's the North Stand, everything at that end was built after removing the 3 temporary stands. You can see tier 1 on the West Stand in the background although with no idea if it was previously constructed and dug out from that picture.

It's probably just me but I find it odd that there's no confirmation either way and no video or photos seemingly available.

Belatedly found a photo that seems to show that tier 1 would have been built in its entirety after the temporary North stands were removed and the centre was dug down.

Sixth picture down at:-

Sport City

manchesterhistory.net

 

[Elbow beards]

Belatedly found a photo that seems to show that tier 1 would have been built in its entirety after the temporary North stands were removed and the centre was dug down.

Sixth picture down at:-

Sport City

manchesterhistory.net

Yep does support the photo I posted. Would have thought they dug down and left a ramp for that big tunnel on corner of west and north stand for vehicles and build north stand over it.
Also if there was a false floor that was removed later it would have been mentioned. All reports I've read mention digging.

 

[Coatigan]

Ahh, I see what you're saying. So similar to how the new North stand can be moved backwards and forwards on rollers once it's finished, they could have built the entire stadium on a deck that can be raised at will. That'll explain how the stadium is easier to spot from afar now, it really has been raised.

I deserved that.

But no I was being serious. They built a deck at Hampden, to raise the whole thing, to get the length and width to host the commonwealth games. Lost most of the bottom seating then built the track the grass and everything on top of the deck. Then when it was all finished, removed it all and relaid the pitch on the lower level uncovering the bottom tiers.

Not saying that's what happened here (and you are right it would have been likely documented), but at least in theory it is less than the suggestion that tje thing was excavated to its future level, what 6-7 metres of earth was rammed in and then removed a few years later.

Which is why I believe the 'it didn't happen comment'. But I also Want to believe that it did happen, in one way or another as it is a pretty cool urban myth.

 

[cpoverview]

Todays fly around, managed to capture a crane lowering Terracing through the existing roof cables.

 

[Marvin.]

I am sure that when I entered Level One through the turnstile, I would walk into the concourse and then down the stairs which were at the top of Level One to my seat. If my memory is correct, this means that Level one is entirely below the exterior ground level. It is also my recollection that in the Commonwealth Games there were only 2 tiers in the main stands.

 

[failsworthblueboy]

Todays fly around, managed to capture a crane lowering Terracing through the existing roof cables.

Great video mate, thank you so much for your efforts.

 

[jrb]

Doh!

I didn’t realise every level of the hotel was connected separately to the North stand via the walkways, watching the video.

 

[Centurions]

I am sure that when I entered Level One through the turnstile, I would walk into the concourse and then down the stairs which were at the top of Level One to my seat. If my memory is correct, this means that Level one is entirely below the exterior ground level. It is also my recollection that in the Commonwealth Games there were only 2 tiers in the main stands.

I can't work out if this is a clarky?

 

[gouldybob]

I deserved that.

But no I was being serious. They built a deck at Hampden, to raise the whole thing, to get the length and width to host the commonwealth games. Lost most of the bottom seating then built the track the grass and everything on top of the deck. Then when it was all finished, removed it all and relaid the pitch on the lower level uncovering the bottom tiers.

Not saying that's what happened here (and you are right it would have been likely documented), but at least in theory it is less than the suggestion that tje thing was excavated to its future level, what 6-7 metres of earth was rammed in and then removed a few years later.

Which is why I believe the 'it didn't happen comment'. But I also Want to believe that it did happen, in one way or another as it is a pretty cool urban myth.

This is from ARUPs site. Debunks the it was built and then filled in for the track

From a Commonwealth Stadium to a Football Stadium​

A successful two-stage design approach enabled the stadium to meet its initial requirements as an athletics venue, before adaptation for its permanent use for football. To provide the running track for the Commonwealth Games, the stadium had to be elongated. The first stage of construction involved completion of three sides of the permanent stadium, with a temporary stand to make up the rest of the seating for the Games’ duration.

In the second phase, the track was removed, the ground was lowered by 6m (with 90,000 m3 of earth removed), and a lower section was installed to provide 24 additional rows of seating when the temporary stand was replaced. The bowl, which first covered three-quarters of the stadium in a horseshoe shape, was completed for the football stadium. The primary mast and cable structural system, totally independent of the roof plate structure, was fully constructed in the initial phase.

The secondary structure was finalised with the construction of the north stand in the second phase. The project shows the value that can be attained by strategic design, avoiding the redundancy associated with large one-off events

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

Todays fly around, managed to capture a crane lowering Terracing through the existing roof cables.

Wow! Goal of the month for sure! Excellent to witness the skills of the crane operators and the guys on the ground!

 

[krisblue]

This is from ARUPs site. Debunks the it was built and then filled in for the track

From a Commonwealth Stadium to a Football Stadium​

A successful two-stage design approach enabled the stadium to meet its initial requirements as an athletics venue, before adaptation for its permanent use for football. To provide the running track for the Commonwealth Games, the stadium had to be elongated. The first stage of construction involved completion of three sides of the permanent stadium, with a temporary stand to make up the rest of the seating for the Games’ duration.

In the second phase, the track was removed, the ground was lowered by 6m (with 90,000 m3 of earth removed), and a lower section was installed to provide 24 additional rows of seating when the temporary stand was replaced. The bowl, which first covered three-quarters of the stadium in a horseshoe shape, was completed for the football stadium. The primary mast and cable structural system, totally independent of the roof plate structure, was fully constructed in the initial phase.

The secondary structure was finalised with the construction of the north stand in the second phase. The project shows the value that can be attained by strategic design, avoiding the redundancy associated with large one-off events

This is also part of the Stadium Tour talk track. The "Halo" bar that runs all the way around the stadium is where ground level used to be.

 

[jrb]

What a day to be a City fan. :-)
And to make it even better, I'm going down to the Etihad now to do a construction picture roundup.The pictures will be posted this Afternoon.

 

[Centurions]

What a day to be a City fan. :-)
And to make it even better, I'm going down to the Etihad now to do a construction picture roundup.The pictures will be posted this Afternoon.

Keep your eye out for incomings, where is it they do medicals nowadays?

 

[DiscoSteve]

This is from ARUPs site. Debunks the it was built and then filled in for the track

From a Commonwealth Stadium to a Football Stadium​

A successful two-stage design approach enabled the stadium to meet its initial requirements as an athletics venue, before adaptation for its permanent use for football. To provide the running track for the Commonwealth Games, the stadium had to be elongated. The first stage of construction involved completion of three sides of the permanent stadium, with a temporary stand to make up the rest of the seating for the Games’ duration.

In the second phase, the track was removed, the ground was lowered by 6m (with 90,000 m3 of earth removed), and a lower section was installed to provide 24 additional rows of seating when the temporary stand was replaced. The bowl, which first covered three-quarters of the stadium in a horseshoe shape, was completed for the football stadium. The primary mast and cable structural system, totally independent of the roof plate structure, was fully constructed in the initial phase.

The secondary structure was finalised with the construction of the north stand in the second phase. The project shows the value that can be attained by strategic design, avoiding the redundancy associated with large one-off events

Think this March 2001 shot on the Historic England site provides physical proof that the lower tier came after the games

 

[Coatigan]

Doh!

I didn’t realise every level of the hotel was connected separately to the North stand via the walkways, watching the video.

It is not, not really. Only the top level truly is. The rest are just rooms filling up the space that's there to be filled.