COMS Capacity

[DontLookBackInAnger]

Anyone with a bit of engineering knowledge know how easy/hard it would be to increase the capacity at COMS?
It's obvious we are going to need more seats eventually, and I'm wondering how you add to a stadium that is one big oval...

It can be increased by building a third tier on the north and south stands, Arup allowed for this in the initial stadium design.

Do you happen to know what that would bring it up to????

 

[nem]

It can be increased by building a third tier on the north and south stands, Arup allowed for this in the initial stadium design.

Do you happen to know what that would bring it up to????

60k min was the figure bounded about

 

[alanjames24]

btw source: Me, I'm a structural engineer for Arup :)

Nice one, son!

 

[DavidWhitesBoots]

I read when the stadium was being built, it was basically designed to accomodate future expansion backing up nem i guess. I did think all four stands could be expanded upon though...

 

[DontLookBackInAnger]

Do you happen to know what that would bring it up to????

60k min was the figure bounded about

Adding 13k doesn't seem that would be an unreasonable figure.

 

[nem]

I read when the stadium was being built, it was basically designed to accomodate future expansion backing up nem i guess. I did think all four stands could be expanded upon though...

Yes the main stands (Colin Bell and East stand) can also be added to but the 'quick fix' is to built upon the north and south stands and refigure the roof structure causing minimal disruption and cost. Anything more than that will cost a hell of a lot and have major construction implications i.e limited spectators / stand closures for quite long periods of time because remember the roof is cable stayed so will effectively have to be rebuilt. Not sure how feasible it is to dig down though without seriously impeding on pitch space.

Twas designed long before I was on the scene but I will enquire for you all if your interested.

 

[Gordyola]

Do you happen to know what that would bring it up to????

60k min was the figure bounded about

nem Can you explain to me how they would modify the roof to do this? If as you say this was allowed for in the original design they you can explain to me how this can be done. There is no mention of this in the Arup detailed report about the stadium and its design It is also contradicts what Dennis Tueart said on Radio Manchester, he was on the stadium committee and he said that the question was asked about expansion and he said although not impossible it would be not viable financially

 

[Manchester1894]

Keep the capacity as it is please. Let's get 44k fans rocking!

 

[nem]

60k min was the figure bounded about

nem Can you explain to me how they would modify the roof to do this? If as you say this was allowed for in the original design they you can explain to me how this can be done. There is no mention of this in the Arup detailed report about the stadium and its design It is also contradicts what Dennis Tueart said on Radio Manchester, he was on the stadium committee and he said that the question was asked about expansion and he said although not impossible it would be not viable financially

Essentially the height of the compression back stays would have to be increased behind the north and south stands to accomodate the required roof height. This has implications into how you would adequately temporarily prop the roof whilst doing this, in a nut shell it can be done but as you say it has to be very much worth the club's while because it'll be disruptive and costly. Its an issue worth cable stayed structures, they look the dogs but are a PITA to alter where as structures like OT are easier because you can put steels where the hell you like without disrupting the aesthetic (lets face it its a meccano shit hole).

 

[PaoloB]

Not an engineer but .....

By digging DOWN even deeper.

Trouble is there was once a pit nearby so digging down has to be done with care as there is the liklihood of any possible remaining mineshafts etc.

At least that was the initial concensus if the club needed to extend the stadium ..... although recently i've heard that the club are looking at ways in which they could extend upwards ...... maybe at the North and South Stand Ends ...... which would of course result in the roof being levelled , or altered.

Impossible to build downwards surely, there wouldnt be room for the pitch

we already have dug down, when we moved in after the commenwealth games it only held 22000 we dug down and added the current bottom tier all the way round,we also got rid of the running track