After this Friday's Rod Stewart concert the old East End will begin domolition to make way for a new 5,000+ seat stand. Expected completion time by the begining of season 2006/2007.

This is how it looks now:
http://www.atyeoender.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/assets/images/OAG09.jpg

http://www.bias.org.uk/images/ontheroad/040830a.jpg

http://members.freezone.co.uk/bcfcband/stadium.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/zapotek/EastEndvPlymouth03-04.jpg


and this is how they hope it will look:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/zapotek/EastEndNewStand.jpg

I will update as the season progresses as I am a lucky season ticket holder ;)

Would this be the stand that has now been indefinitely postponed?

We are still waiting for a decision on that. The Club are still going through tenders and finalising the financing package. One thing is for sure it won't be starting before the beginning of the new season so away fans will still be in the old east end until further notice (or until it falls to bits).

Planning Permission has been granted today and tenders received for construction. Now all that is needed is the funding to be finalised and a catering contract agreed.

Hopefully demolition will begin in a few weeks.

But I thought finance (and not planning permission) was the possible stumbling block? I’ve been hearing that your financial position - like that of many other lower league clubs, my own included - is something of a concern and that a capital project like this might be a little too ambitious at the moment.

(I should, by the way, declare my own allegiance as a Swindon Town supporter.) :)

The problem with finance is that part of the package to pay for it included a new catering and brewery contract. That's taken a little longer to finalise but once that's signed, work should start.

Yes, the planning permission was never really in doubt it was just a case of Bristol City Council pulling their finger out. The Chairman reassured delegates at the recent Open Day that work is hopefully going to start in the summer. The club is likely to report a loss of several million this year. However, this has been helped by the sale of several players. The £1.5 million or so raised will go towards paying off debts.

I look forward to talking 6 points off you this season Harry ;-)

Anyone heard anything new about the east end?
I know they will wait until promotion but I am not a fan of the plans;The current 18k is enough for a season or two (hopefully in the championship), until they draw up some plans that actually have some prpoer thought behind them. The current plan seems like a quick, cheap fix, and doesn't fit in with any future developements on, say, the williams. Why don't they tear down the williams and the east end in stages, building an 'L' shaped continuous tier that might one day link either dolman and/or Ayteo. I realise that the rake on the lower dolman is different than the upper, which is gonna cause some future probs unless they tear that down as well, but I think Ashton Gate needs more than this negative quick fix.
If you're gonna do it- do it proper.

No, there has been no talk of it for the past year and a bit. The club added "premium" seating in the Williams and will add new plastic seats in the Dolman and that is about it. Capacity will stay at just over 19K for next season then hopefully with consolidation in the Chamionship they will announce something. They have planning permission on three sides but I don't know how long is left.

Cheers Ciudad. That premium seating is a bit of joke. When do they intend to re-fit the seating in the dolman? And which three sides do they have planning permission on? I take it all but the atyeo..?

Yeah all three sides but the ateyo (which is a fine stand). The plan was Wedlock first (should have been finished by start of this season) then Williams this summer then Dolman after that, so by 2009/2010 season we would have had a 30,000 seater stadium to challenge for the Prem.

That hasn't happened so we are getting new plastic seats in the Dolman this summer. A new PA system is on the way which should improve match day experience. They will also upgarde the toilets in the Dolman this summer and off course we already have the new Dolman exhibition centre and new Premier club lounge in the Williams.

The club will also make loads of money hosting Bristol and Gloucester Rugby matches and a Meat Loaf concert in the summer.

The main thing this year in promotion. Worry about the stadium later.

Will Bristol Rugby be playing at Ashton Gate next season while the Memorial Stadium is upgraded?

I don't think it's been officially announced yet - but everyone is expecting it to happen.

The Bristol vs Bath and Glous matches held at Ashton Gate have been capacity games and, I think, hold the record for the highest attendence for a normal league match in the Premiership.

Rovers are definately not moving to Ashton Gate - it's now a toss-up between Cheltenham or Swindon and they're asking their fans to give feedback on both site, and one of the reasons for Rovers not going there (apart from the traditional rivalery) was that the pitch wouldn't be able to cope with City, Rovers and Rugby matches.

Incidentally, I wouldn't expect any redevelopment of Ashton Gate while they've got the lodgers in. Hopefully, this will mean that this year, get promoted, next year consolodate our position in the Championship and dust off the ground plans, the year after that once Bristol Rugby have moved out, then get the finance sorted out and start work on it.

So, it's going to be 3 years or so before anything major happens down there...

I don't think it's been officially announced yet - but everyone is expecting it to happen.

The Bristol vs Bath and Glous matches held at Ashton Gate have been capacity games and, I think, hold the record for the highest attendence for a normal league match in the Premiership.

Ashton Gate did hold the record, but London Irish beat it with the St. Patrick's weekend game against Wasps, attracting 22,648 to the Majedski Stadium.

Yes i agree promotion is the priority - something that could be a reality this sat, although I really won't be suprised if we blow it again. Seems like ground hog day stuck in lge 1.
But I think once we're up it's time to get the ball rolling, because I really believe the situation within the ground is affecting the team; I realise our home record has been good this season, but the greater acoustics of the east end mean that the away fans are always louder than the home. Which aint right..
We're lge 1's big spenders squad wise, but a couple of good cup runs (including fat replays etc) will have filled the coffers a wee bit.

COME ON YOU REDS!

On the Bristol Rugby question, yesterday they released a general update on what's going on at the club.

In that they said that during the reconstruction of the Memorial they're going to stay in Bristol. They're talking to Bristol City about Ashton Gate but they're going to wait until the new fixtures are released over the summer before committing to anything.

However, they said that they're also looking at a number of sites to build a temporary 10,000 seater stadium in the city! Surely that would take almost as long to setup as it would to build a whole new ground?

Follow this link and get Ashton Gate on the new monopoly board map! You can vote once every day.http://www.monopoly.co.uk/leaderboard.aspx:banana:

25% of Chairman Steve Lansdown's company is to be floated on the FTSE 250 and he will reap around £75 million from his 40% share. Hopefully some of this will be invested into Ashton Gate redevelopment and new players for the Championship season.

Well it has been said that this is what he will do once we obtain championship status. Let's all pray it happens saturday....

Bristol City have to be thinking more long term now, with the club only a league away from the premiership, the 2018 wc bid coming up in next few years, and a strong fanbase. They should be looking seriously at a major new stadium or expansion of Ashton Gate.

Bristol City have to be thinking more long term now, with the club only a league away from the premiership, the 2018 wc bid coming up in next few years, and a strong fanbase. They should be looking seriously at a major new stadium or expansion of Ashton Gate.

Steady now sparks. We aint in the championship yet! That'll happen on saturday I hope. But yes, they should, and I believe they will, come up with some imaginative plans which will match the aspirations of this club.

A problem that will arise if and when we ever build a larger stadium on the current site is logistics. Public transport to the ground, in line with much of Bristol, is very poor (buses only) and parking spaces are at a premium. Compounding this problem is a City Council who refuse to take transport issues seriously and a government who are refusing to invest. Bristol basically missed the boat last time around.

Yes I agree. There are rail lines still in place in the area - one runs all the way from the industrial museum in the centre to ashton park. Well almost, anyway. Needs a little tlc, but it's still there. And another from the portway which only seems to carry cars and such from the portbury royal docks goes right past ashton gate.

It's a pity there's no room for a major car park at the ground, but there are still plots of ground where one could be built. The old megabowl site would have been perfect except that it would only be used matchdays and is gonna be flats now anyway. There is also quite a large wasteland near the police dogs/mounted centre which would be suitable geographically speaking. Dont know who owns it though.

Yes I agree. There are rail lines still in place in the area - one runs all the way from the industrial museum in the centre to ashton park. Well almost, anyway. Needs a little tlc, but it's still there. And another from the portway which only seems to carry cars and such from the portbury royal docks goes right past ashton gate.

It's a pity there's no room for a major car park at the ground, but there are still plots of ground where one could be built. The old megabowl site would have been perfect except that it would only be used matchdays and is gonna be flats now anyway. There is also quite a large wasteland near the police dogs/mounted centre which would be suitable geographically speaking. Dont know who owns it though.

Yes and I'd don't even think Parson street station is open on matchdays!

I actually proposed opening up the railway line from Ashton Gate to the Industrial Museum during the Brunel 200 competition. You get the odd steam train using it from time to time. The line across the footbridge is boarded up and the line going under the flyover has been pulled up son chance. Although a tram would be fantastic.

We are there!!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :cheers: :cheers:

Great news, City's chairman announced that work on the new east end stand (5,300) will begin in May 2008. This will take capacity for football matches from 19,500 to 21,000 (after segregation).

He also announced that 201 extra seats will be added to the Dolman Stand this summer as well as a new PA system and fibre-elastic root system in the pitch.

I still think City will have to at least consolidate in the Championship next season or the redevelopment plans will be stalled again.

Well I'm not sure it'll be stalled even if we go back down next year. They seem pretty keen to get the wedlock out of the way regardless, and get some corp. hospitality in as well as a stand which breathes life back into the club. Sure they can still fill it when they need to but it's nearly 85yrs old!!

I like the fact the new stand will be tall - should make the ground look much more imposing - but will be sad to see the east end go, and am concerned about the acoustics of the new one.

The dolman is already looking much more elegant. Those old faded wooden seats were quite charismatic but it's time to let them go...

p.s. does anyone know which corner they plan to fill in when they re-develop the williams? I'd imagine it'll meet the new wedlock?

And does anyone have any renders of all this??

Well I'm not sure it'll be stalled even if we go back down next year. They seem pretty keen to get the wedlock out of the way regardless, and get some corp. hospitality in as well as a stand which breathes life back into the club. Sure they can still fill it when they need to but it's nearly 85yrs old!!

I like the fact the new stand will be tall - should make the ground look much more imposing - but will be sad to see the east end go, and am concerned about the acoustics of the new one.

The dolman is already looking much more elegant. Those old faded wooden seats were quite charismatic but it's time to let them go...

p.s. does anyone know which corner they plan to fill in when they re-develop the williams? I'd imagine it'll meet the new wedlock?

And does anyone have any renders of all this??

I suppose renders have not been released yet.

The stand should be bigger - at least 7,000. 5,300 is a lower capacity than the existing east end, although less seats will be lost through segregation and they are making some up in the Dolman (However we lost some when they put the Premier Club Seating in the Williams last summer). A taller stand just means that it will take up less room not that it will be bigger. We need grander ideas - the Ateyo stand should have been twin-tiered when built in 1994 but the club couldn't get a CPO on the houses behind!

As for filling in the corner of the Williams/Wedlock, that would make one huge stand and boost capacity to 26K at least! No time line though.

CITY TO PRESS AHEAD WITH WEDLOCK REDEVELOPMENT
Be the first reader to comment on this story

09:30 - 16 May 2007

Bristol City are resurrecting plans to rebuild the Wedlock Stand at Ashton Gate, two years after the project was first proposed, taking the next step towards having a stadium which holds 29,000 fans.Planning permission was granted in 2005 to redevelop that end of the ground, which currently houses away supporters.

Work was due to start in the July of that year. It was put back 12 months and then, mainly due to a lack of funds, was postponed indefinitely.

Now, having won promotion to the Championship, City are to press ahead, with the builders moving in to start work at the end of next season.

Chief executive Colin Sexstone said: "The plans won't change drastically from our original intentions. The back of that stand will become the main entrance to the stadium, and it will have a fantastic concourse and 16 executive boxes. It will even be taller than the Dolman Stand.

"And that's just phase one of the project. We were granted permission to redevelop the Williams Stand in 1998, and have consistently renewed that so it still applies today.

"Rebuilding that stand, and filling in one of the corners, will provide more than 13,000 seats, taking us up to a capacity of 29,000.

"I wouldn't say the Wedlock plan has been triggered by promotion, but it certainly helps."

Although no images are yet available for the Wedlock design, the club say it will be very similar to the single-tier construction proposed two years ago.

The new stand, which will cost in the region of £7 million to build, will house 5,300 fans, taking the capacity of Ashton Gate to 21,000 when segregation is used. Away fans will be moved to another part of the ground, although it is yet to be decided where.

The old stand design which shouldn't change too much. Note it is taller than the Dolman stand to the left.
http://members.freezone.co.uk/bcfcband/Stand.jpg

Stand now
http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

its good news and it will go ahead... It will evenually make Ashton Gate 30,000 all seater...

I do recon though that Bristol City should have plans to build a Major New Stadium... When south Bristol ring road is built it woud be good to build it there or near by for access reasons...

^^ No I dont think they should move. Why leave your roots? Don't fix it if it aint broken! Ashton Gate is more than adequate for the moment and probably will be for a long, long time to come. Ok as we have mentioned before the transport links and parking leave a lot to be desired, but unless we hit it big time (and I mean big time, like pushing for europe in the prem), then I don't see it being a problem.


And yes Cuidad, I realise the new stand is smaller than the current one capacity wise, but will nonetheless make the ground look a little less lop-sided. It's suprising how many they can pack into the wedlock - much bigger than it appears because the rake is so low. And also its very long. The new stand is narrow and so loses the seats from the corners.

As you can see from the render though (cheers by the way!) when the fill the corner (on the right I presume) it will have capacity of around 7k.

Does anybody think that Bristol City would be able to build a new stadium or re-develope Ashton Gate so that it could be a contender stadium for Englands 2018 World Cup bid. I believe the capacity would have to be a minimum of 40,000. I have read that Bristols Mayor wants Bristol to be represented in this potential World Cup.

I think Bristol certainly could be one city the government will try to push forward if we did get it in 2018, due to its size and geographical position. And yes, ashton gate could be redeveloped(they have planning permission 0n three sides)but I think 40k would be the limit. This would only happen if the government pumped money in to the project for the wc, or if City reached the premiership. I think its more likely a new stadium would be built on a neutral site for both clubs to share after the world cup.

On the WC bid, I would expect there to be 1 venue from the South West - but thats an area that includes Southampton and Portsmouth.

It's still a long way away (aren't there some grounds in South Africa that they haven't even started building yet) so over the next 11 years Bristol City may get into the Premiership and decide to expand again. As someone's already pointed out, they've got vague plans for 3 sides at Ashton Gate with planning permission including more detailed plans for the Wedlock Stand with just 1 stand (the Atyeo Stand) currently having nothing officially planned for it. However the Atyeo has problems with very close neighbours so unless City buy the row of terrace houses directly behind them, that'll cramp their plans.

Well there is another option, which is to move the stadium south by about 25-30metres. There is a huge space behind the current wedlock, and moving back into this would free up some more space at the atyeo end. Obviously it would be a huge undertaking, and they might have to do it in stages. Also if they had thought of doing this then the new wedlock stand wouldn't be going ahead, I would presume.

I think if I remember rightly, it was the height which had a restriction on the Atyeo, due to the lack of sunlight on the terraced housing behind. So if they brought it forward I calculate it could be up to 60% taller.

[QUOTE=dronkula;13943713]On the WC bid, I would expect there to be 1 venue from the South West - but thats an area that includes Southampton and Portsmouth.

Do you really think they would have Southampton and Portsmouth up against Bristol, I would consider them on the South coast. The way I see it The cities on the South coast Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton would compete with each other for a venue. Then Bristol, Plymouth, Reading, Norwich and Ipswich would compete for the only other southern venue outside London. I personally would like Venues in Bristol, Plymouth, East Anglia, and South coast either Portsmouth or Brighton (slightly more towards Brighton as its a more interesting place but Portsmouth new stadium looks great), however I know that this is unlikely as the Government / FA wouldn't be this daring.

Just wondering whether the plans for the new stand will be affected should -dare I say it - we still be 2nd in another 30odd games time? Obviously it's still very early in a long hard season and a bit unwise to assume we'll hang on to a playoff spot let alone automatic, but I wonder if:

A) They will hold the work back due to the revenue they will lose from all the full houses that the prem would no doubt bring.
B) They might re-think the plans and decide to be a little more adventurous.
c) Just press on as there were...

I personally think they should perhaps hold back, because any available funds should be piled into the team to try and keep them there should they get there.

A render I made myself(bored). Come on u city fans where are you? It was only a one off at Ipswich!

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/stadium-1.jpg

Bad news i'm afraid for the new stand construction.

Today at the AGM the Chairman announced they would NOT be going ahead with this at all.

It's because they're planning on building a brand new 40,000 seater stadium capable of hosting a WC match in 2018 if England hosts it.

They're already quietly got the land 'somewhere' in South Bristol not too far from Ashton Gate and they've had all three parties in the council sign letters of support.

Planning permission for the new stadium is going to be sought later in 2008 with construction planned for 2009 with the 2011/2012 season being the first in the new stadium.

They're looking at both a 30,000 seater stadium which could be expanded to 40,000 and a 40,000 seater stadium from the start - it'll depend on costs and, to be honest, where it looks like which league Bristol City will be playing in in 2011. If they carry on as they have done so far this season, then they'll probably at least get to stay in the Championship and then next season maybe be borderline Championship/Premiership...

Link to the story on their site here:

http://www.bcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~1178896,00.html

But I can't cut and paste it here.

Yes, I think it has been coming. They've been dithering on this new east end for so many years, and I think they had the idea of a brand new stadium in the back of their minds and decided to take the leap now they're competing a handful of positions below the Premiership. It's easy to get stars in your eyes! A pity to see Ashton Gate and all the history pulled down but I suppose these days we need to be able to compete at a higher level. Ashton Gate has the potential of a great Championship stadium but only the potential to be a slightly less than average Prem stadium. I think we could host the WC, which would be brilliant, but I also think the stadium will be pretty poor aesthetically. They are talking about figures of £50M, which doesn't get you much stadium these days. I hope they 'do' a Sunderland, and build cheap so easy to expand and make good in the future.

I reckon it will be by the P&R on the long Ashton bypass.

Time for a new thread!:)

Not so sure about this. I have a feeling the stadium will be in Hengrove park and will be a McStadium a la MK Dons.

Would be a shame a leave AG and the plan was to redevelop all the existing stands eventually to make a 30,000 seater and possibly up to 40K, much like Charlton are likely to do.

The other cynical view point is that this doesn't get built and yet again, the Wedlock stand which was due to be redeveloped at the end of the season misses out again.

Ha Ha yeah the poor old Wedlock....

Well they had PP on three sides, but I think tops is about 35k on the current site, which falls short of A) 40k needed for A club in a city of this size in the Prem. B) 45k required to host WC games.

I will be sad to see it go though. I always favoured AG expansion myself, but we can't have it all.

Not so sure about this. I have a feeling the stadium will be in Hengrove park and will be a McStadium a la MK Dons.

Would be a shame a leave AG and the plan was to redevelop all the existing stands eventually to make a 30,000 seater and possibly up to 40K, much like Charlton are likely to do.

The other cynical view point is that this doesn't get built and yet again, the Wedlock stand which was due to be redeveloped at the end of the season misses out again.

It wont be in Hengrove Park.

For starters, they tried that a few years back and the locals started a campaign against it.
Also, the plans for Hengrove Park are too far gone now with the Hospital and Olympic sized swimming pool to shoe-horn in a 40,000 seater football stadium
And, finally, apparently BCFC have already acquired the land they need and it's near to Ashton Gate - I think Hengrove is too far away.

Yes you are right having thought about it a bit more.

Park and Ride on the A370 bypass it is then (1/2 mile from the current ground). South Bristol Ring road is coming and linking up there in 2011 which would make sense. There would certainly have to be a good bus link to Temple Meads if this went ahead.

Slightly off-topic, but do you know the route for the South Bristol Link Road? I can't see how it will avoid going through several houses...

No-one seems to know for sure.......it is a secret:gossip: probably for the very reason you've just stated:)

There is a link to the probable route on the last page of the Bristol projects thread.

I hope its not going to be one of these boring bland stadiums like Leicester,Southampton,Derby and MK Dons

Well they had PP on three sides, but I think tops is about 35k on the current site, which falls short of A) 40k needed for A club in a city of this size in the Prem. B) 45k required to host WC games.

Where is this 45k minimum WC stadium thing coming from? At present, there are only 7 45k stadia in England! A WC bid would probably have 12 or 13 stadia, and bearing in mind you're only allowed two in the same city, at present you're looking at the smallest ground used being Southampton's, at 32,689. Yes I know, some are to be extended/expanded/rebuilt, but still...

I think it is another Blatter idea. But I can't see it being a problem for an England bid. Most host countries need to expand many of the current stadia and/or build a couple of brand new ones, like Germany did and South Africa are. We will be quite unique in that we will have the infrastructure already in place. Only the USA have been in this position before in modern times. At most I think we will need to expand two grounds; Bristol city's or Plymouth's if they decide to base any games in the westcountry, Norwich or Ipswich's if they choose one of theirs.

tbh ipswich doesnt have much room to expand and norwich doesnt have the money! i cant see either team becoming a premiership side for a while or justifying a new ground anytime soon, and norwich's stadium has been totally rebuilt since the early 90's as it is! the only way i could see it happening is if norwich expanded the south and north stand but they dont have the fanbase to fill 45.000 regulary, temporary stands for norwich would be ok but ipswich's older stands wouldnt be able to support it i dont think and i dont think they would want to move to an ikea 45,000 stadium away from portman road

maybe someone with a more structural background can help me out here.