Stadium Expansion

[ManchesterRoyals]

If we stay up were expanding the stadium anyway.

Didnt they say that last time we went up?????

[Royal Lady]

If we stay up were expanding the stadium anyway.

LOL

[Royalclapper]

Some of the fiercer critics may say we have already got rugby in the premier league this season.

[SpaceCruiser]

Jesus Christ, haven't we already got a thread on this?!?

[SPARTA]

We wont see the expansion happen for at least another 15 months. Having had the chance to discuss the expansion with Sal Bibbo briefly in the summer, the earliest they could start work on the East Stand is Jan 2014, and that allows for a lot of the exterior work to take place whilst not affecting those seated in the stand itself. Then the final bits will be completed that summer, ready for the start of the 2014/15 season. But that is apparently the earliest we could expect to see it happen.

The club want to be sure we're in the Premiership next season, and that wont be known until at least April (if we're lucky). The work couldn't be agreed with a contractor in such a short space of time in readiness for the following season, hence earliest start date of Jan-2014. The chances are the work wouldn't actually start until 2015. That way we can say we are established in the Premier League, and if the design changes since the previous plans, then this gives the club time to rethink what they want from the expansion. (it's quite possible TSI may choose to add more exec boxes for revenues, and then make the extension a second tier, instead of the current/previous plans of building straight onto the existing stand.)

[UpThePrem]

I thought under the current planning permission construction has to start be Nov 2013??

[SPARTA]

I thought under the current planning permission construction has to start be Nov 2013??

The planning permission was renewed since the club first announced their plans. If the above date is part of the renewal then it will simply be renewed for a third time, or if there are changes added by the new owners, then new plans will be submitted.

[Cobi]

can't wait to see the east stand extended. even if we stop there, it'll make a suttle difference to the identikit design, and give it a unique identity. although to be fair to the madstad, apart from being dull, it is a lot nicer than the replica designs like m'boro, southampton, derby...

[Barry the bird boggler]

I know a guy who could do it quickly and cheaply...

[Silver Fox]

Well, now that someone's posted Sal Bibbo's thoughts on the matter we can put this discussion to bed, yeah?

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Well, now that someone's posted Sal Bibbo's thoughts on the matter we can put this discussion to bed, yeah?

No, wait ... I hope to be meeting Nigel Howe's sister's dustman soon.

[Ian Royal]

Too close to London for things like this - tournament organisers want stadiums out in the regions or in London, and we're neither.

Explain Milton Keynes in light of this. It's only a little further from London than Reading.

[Avon Royal]

Too close to London for things like this - tournament organisers want stadiums out in the regions or in London, and we're neither.

Explain Milton Keynes in light of this. It's only a little further from London than Reading.

Reading is a London satellite town, Milton Keynes isn't.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

i think you will find MK is a sattelite town of London, built to take the people London could not. Many moved out for a new life.

[West Stand Man]

i think you will find MK is a sattelite town of London, built to take the people London could not. Many moved out for a new life.

Spot on. Reading is a net importer of people in the commute every morning, which is not what you'd expect for a satellite town.

I think the principal reason that Madejski Stadium wasn't chosen is because the club didn't offer it.

[SpaceCruiser]

Reading is a London satellite town, Milton Keynes isn't.

Are you being fooled by the fact we have those idiots from London playing rugby at our stadium?

WE ARE NOT IN LONDON!

[SPARTA]

Reading is a London satellite town, Milton Keynes isn't.

Are you being fooled by the fact we have those idiots from London playing rugby at our stadium?

WE ARE NOT IN LONDON!

You completely miss the point.

[SpaceCruiser]

Eh?

Are you Bournemouth Royal?

[melonhead]

what does a satellite do spacey?
does it sit on the planet surface? or orbit away from the planet itself?

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Too close to London for things like this - tournament organisers want stadiums out in the regions or in London, and we're neither.

Explain Milton Keynes in light of this. It's only a little further from London than Reading.

I'm just recounting what was explained to me by a concert-promoter - but I understand the same applies to football matches too.

But the main factor is that Reading is too close to London in terms of its population size to support viable concerts - a concert in Reading won't attract enough people from London because they're reluctant to travel out of the city and there are plenty of equivalent venues in easier reach to them, so any promoter wanting to put on a gig will always pick a London venue over Reading because there's a wider range of venues (both bigger and smaller than the MadStad) and a much greater catchment area of potential customers. It seems there's something in the psychology of people that means they'll either travel a short-distance (i.e. in their own town) or a long distance (which means they make a proper day out of it) but they're reluctant to travel distances in-between. In addition, many of the local people in the Thames Valley are accustomed to going to London for events - but it doesn't work the other way round - it takes something really special for people in London to consider travelling to Reading for an event.

As to MK, well, in terms of catchment area, it's more or less mid-way between London and Birmingham, which makes it's potential reach so much bigger, and there's something about the psychology of it that means it's seen as more of a journey for Londoners and Brummies - as well as being more in reach to people in the East and the Midlands.

But illogical as it may seem, Londoners will travel to MK for an event - far fewer of them will travel to Reading for an equivalent event.