Just interested in something regarding our beloved stadium. Even though capacity increase is certainly not a current issue surely it will be in a few years as all the big clubs will look to increase the size of their stadia.

I've heard the debate over how and where they'll expand what with Univerisity listed buildings behind the East stand and problems with Council planning permission.

Surely the Board must have looked into this matter before it spent £46 million on the recent project. I take it they know they can expand, otherwise what would be the point in spending such a huge amount of money and a stadium that could only be partially increased in size?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Answers

Before we even think about using cash to expand the stadium, we should be, a la Man Utd, be performing at the highest level on a consistent basis. Remember, in the post war hey day when alternative entertainment was limited we never exceeded an average of 55,000 and that remained an English record for many years. If we have a mediocre 2001/2 we shall have more than ample spare capacity!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

There's little chance of the stadium being expanded in the next decade, as there is no need for more seats. As time goes on more and more will take up seats in their own homes as TV sseason ticket holders. 52,000 is probably always going to be large enough, although if we start to get into the Champs league again, more people would posibly want to come back to see live games. Theonly option for expansion would be another 8,000 seats on a higher tier above the Gallowgate.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

Rob, that would require foresight and forward planning. The only forward planning this lot seem to have done is for the next trip to Marbella. Don't hold your breath.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

Unfortunately, public opinion demanded that we stay at St James as well as an inadequate council the board took the view of making hay while the sun shines assuming if football becomes more selective in it's supprt, the ground is half paid for.

It's unlikely that we'd need to increase the capacity in the coming years, 8000 seats on the gallowgate would be very expensive, more likely that any effort to give the ground a more symetrical look would be the cheaper option of building executive suites up to the milburn roof level. Thereafter, a terrible accident could happen in Leazes terrace.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

I don't think it would be terrible at all Dave ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

Before we even think about using cash to expand the stadium, we should be ... performing at the highest level on a consistent basis.

Well we can save some cash there then. :-)

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001