North Stand Construction Discussion

[jrb]

The laws of supply and demand suggest the extra regular seats in the expanded North Stand will be good for ticket price restraint.

My mate who as a steel erector helped to build the bigger stands at St James’ Park reckons the construction work will continue throughout the “holiday” period, given the tight timescales. Credit to everyone working on the expanded stand and the posters updating us on progress.

Just my theory, and I have no inside knowledge or expertise, but I would have thought it’s more likely that the hotel would be finished before the Summer 2026 timescale than the stand open early. That’s just an uninformed opinion looking at progress on construction knowing the hotel will rake in a fortune from gigs at COOP Live.

I think it’s exciting and I will salute our Club for undertaking this amazing work in the face of a world wind of media negativity.

I saw a few construction workers onsite. I didn't see or hear any work taking place.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I saw a few construction workers onsite. I didn't see or hear any work taking place.

I was a bit surprised with my mate’s advice. I certainly think the construction workers deserve a few days off. It’s been shite weather too.

 

[Coatigan]

The laws of supply and demand suggest the extra regular seats in the expanded North Stand will be good for ticket price restraint.

My mate who as a steel erector helped to build the bigger stands at St James’ Park reckons the construction work will continue throughout the “holiday” period, given the tight timescales. Credit to everyone working on the expanded stand and the posters updating us on progress.

Just my theory, and I have no inside knowledge or expertise, but I would have thought it’s more likely that the hotel would be finished before the Summer 2026 timescale than the stand open early. That’s just an uninformed opinion looking at progress on construction knowing the hotel will rake in a fortune from gigs at COOP Live.

I think it’s exciting and I will salute our Club for undertaking this amazing work in the face of a world wind of media negativity.

I wouldn't expect either to finish ahead of what was loosely put out previously in public. If anything I'd expect the office part to overrun and delay the opening of the square and covered fan zone. Just my own take on progress so far, and the recent not that insignificant changes to it, including adding voids to the floorplates this late.

 

[Coatigan]

Great spot that, jrb!

If I were to guess, I would say that looks like a sample for review, rather than a random place to start installing those panels. Particularly the way it is 'fixed' in.

As a reminder, the 'louvered' panels are a condition of their own that hasn't yet been discharged. We know that that the planners have insisted on a design change here and the solution was to replace them with a perforated 'beehive pattern' panel instead, as was installed on the mock-up. There was a further request to clarify the extent and location ofnthe perforations, and this maybe is that, where they get to show them an example of the reality of it. My own guess, could be wrong.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I wouldn't expect either to finish ahead of what was loosely put out previously in public. If anything I'd expect the office part to overrun and delay the opening of the square and covered fan zone. Just my own take on progress so far, and the recent not that insignificant changes to it, including adding voids to the floorplates this late.

Thanks. I was thinking the office part (without the big income generation aspect) was the lowest priority too.

 

[Elbow beards]

I wouldn't expect either to finish ahead of what was loosely put out previously in public. If anything I'd expect the office part to overrun and delay the opening of the square and covered fan zone. Just my own take on progress so far, and the recent not that insignificant changes to it, including adding voids to the floorplates this late.

Can you explain what this means?

 

[Coatigan]

Can you explain what this means?

There was a change to the planning approval about a month or so ago, maybe two can't remember exactly when.

They reconfigured the use across the office building and also introduced voids or openings in the floors on the lower part, the retail and museum bit. Effectively so that some of the floors above can look down onto floors below to open/link them better.

It is not that significant a change on its own, but this stage when it has been priced, the rebar needing rescheduled, details and changed before a pour etc, it has an impact on construction. It could well be part of the reason the office block core and pour didn't start sooner. They may squeeze it in as a change within the programme, but it would be pretty reasonable to assume it would slow that block down.

 

[Keeper!]

The extension could be a real opportunity for City to set an example of using wealth to benefit fans in a very tangible way by reducing ticket prices.

It's a marvellous feat of engineering to modify a stadium without closing it, particularly on the scale of the south and now north stands. It would just be the icing on the cake for it to be an example of expansion to accommodate more fans at reduced prices than to be 'maximising our revenue', or more importantly increasing our profits.

We have led the way for the past decade in terms of transforming a football club on and off the pitch. Can't we lead the way on pricing too?

(I know there's a related thread on affordability, just think the expansion is a great opportunity to tie in with price improvements)

With a full rebuild (first11) required, not a chance that is going to happen.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

I saw a few construction workers onsite. I didn't see or hear any work taking place.

Not everyone celebrates Christmas, some for religious reasons and some for other reasons, so they maybe decided to grab some overtime and to a bit of tidying up.

 

[cpoverview]

Bit of a different look at it today, flew right over looking straight down in some places