Last nights weird dream (5 replies)
Press release from BCFC - redevelopment of St Andrews.
When the season 2021/2 ends, work will commence on the first of a 3 stage redevelopment of the stadium.
Stage 1. The Kop and Titon stands will be separated. The Kop car park will have preparatory work to allow the stand to be relocated approximately 30 yards back from its current location.
Advanced building techniques will allow the stand to be lifted in its entirety and not demolished. When lifted, the remaining structural repairs can be carried out quickly.The Tilton stand will be similarly lifted and repaired quickly and dropped back into it's current position.
This work will take place over the whole of the season 22/23. We have entered into an agreement with the owners of the Ricoh Arena to groundshare for the whole of that season and expect to return to St Andrews for the start of season 23/24.
The pitch will be rotated through 90 degrees. The Kop and the Main Stands will now be behind the 2 sets of goalposts.This should be in place for the start of the season 23/24.
Stage 2. The corners between Kop/Tilton and Kop/Gil Merrick will be filled in. The corner betwen the Kop and the Gil Merrick will be the area allocated to visiting supporters. This work will start at the end of the 23/24 season and will mean a little reduced capacity at the start of the 24/25 season until the work is completed.
The subsidiary that owns the Stadium have acquired St Andrews Retail Park. The park will be extended across Cattell Road and a 1000 place multi storey car park erected as well as additional retail units. Traffic currently using Cattell Road will go along Coventry Road and Little Green Lane, rejoining Cattell Road near the junction with Garrison Lane. The multi storey car park will charge for secure parking.
Stage 3. The Main Stand will be demolished and replaced with a 2 tier stand. The footprint of the new stand will be similar to the current one, but designed to go further back as it reaches the roof, to increase the capacity of the stand without affecting the flats in Garrison Lane.. The lower tier will be a safe standing area, the upper tiers will have 20 executive boxes and open seating.This work will start at the end of season 24/25 and is expected to take 1 year, so we anticipate the redevelopment will be completed for the start of season 26/27
The new Main Stand will be funded by a commercial 3rd party who will be granted naming rights for the entire stadium and significant input into the design of the stand and the ancilliary services offered.
We are in advanced discussions with the operators of the Midland Metro to build a spur off the main route to go up Coventry Road and terminate at St Andrews Retail Park on matchdays.
Well known chef and Birmingham City supporter, Glyn Purnell has expressed an interest in opening a high quality "pub grub" style restaurant in the redeveloped stadium with a provisional name of Purnells Posh Pub for Prawnies. Initially this will open on matchdays only for 2-3 hours before and after matches. Glyn hopes that this will be the first in a chain of stadium based restaurants.
That's when I woke up. Resumed dream.
The new stadium is expected to have a capacity of at least 35,000. A fitting home for the newly promoted team. We will be looking to recognise 2 of the clubs legendary players in some way - Trevor Francis, Britains first million pond player and Jude Bellingham, who we expect to captain England in the 2026 World Cup and the first player associated with the club to captain the national team.