Was looking on the BBC today & saw areport on this stadium opening in Jan 2007- Was quite suprised theres nothing here about it as its been under construction for what seems a while- probably cause they only get 4,000 crowds- They must be optimistic to be building a 30,000 stadium.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/4501170.stm

Anyway found this link

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestPics/0,,10420,00.html

I heard about this from a taxi driver in Milton Keynes earlier this year, I think the hope is that the young uns will grow up to support their local team

I heard about this from a taxi driver in Milton Keynes earlier this year, I think the hope is that the young uns will grow up to support their local team

true but its not their team is it!!

Where abouts in MK is this being built?

I think I read that it was being built in Denbigh North on the outskirts of Milton Keynes.

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/newstadium.jpg

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/

true but its not their team is it!!

It will be their team. Its a shame they had haul themselves up to Miton Keynes but they had little choice to be honest.

You think South West London couldn't support a team at the bottom end of tier 3 then?

phillip they moved the club from an area which already had football clubs to a big town with thousands of football fans without a club. It might not be a morally sound move but financially it makes perfect sense.

Thats if it works in the long run (ho ho ho).

YOU CANT MOVE FOOTBALL CLUBS.

I hope that wimbledon go out of business. I really do. You can take football away.

Support AFC Wimbledon.

Completely agree on all counts. Franchise FC (let's give the 'club' its proper name, please) is a pox on the arse of English football.

And as for club relocations/thefts making 'financial sense' - why stop there? Blackpool are having a tough time of it at the moment. Crowds are down and they are languishing near the foot of League One. So let's move them to Basildon. I'm sure Stanley Matthews wouldn't have minded one bit if his old club moves nearly 300 miles across the country. They would have a new name, new kit, new fans and be dispensing with over 100 years of tradition, but at least they would be able to improve on sponsorship revenues.

I'm still waiting for Franchise FC to go bust, and failing that - getting relegated out of existence would work for me as well.

13th december:

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/panorama89a.jpg

^^ Thanks for the pic.This is going to be worse than the Darlington stadium when open with 80% of the stadium empty during matchs.

Would love to see it the first time AFC play against Wimbledon/Franchise/MK Dons ;)

nicked from EBIH posting on another forum - what the finished article will look like:

http://www.buckinghamgroup.net/images/jpgs/MK%20Dons%20Stadium%20720%20A.jpg

http://www.buckinghamgroup.net/images/jpgs/MK%20Dons%20Stadium%20720%20B.jpg

haha eden, you read the FGG too? Nice one.

;)

What i don't understand is why they are buiding a 30k seater stadium. Surely they can't fill that! Even the Royals decided to build a smaller stadium with a possibility to expand it and they have a much brighter future than MK Dons.

That external render of the stadium looks so German! Change it! And 'they' should paint the seats different colours (like some of Portugal's stadia) so the stadium looks fuller when it is near empty on match days. :)

In a few years, they're going to have the best stadium in the Conference South.

In a few years, they're going to have the best stadium in the Conference South.

:laugh:

Looks very bland. I drove past this at the weekend and it's coming on ok. Didn't have a camera with me or my phone. I really can't imagine them filling this.

3rd feb, w/ thanks to mkdonsrus.com:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8823/inside00a6wm.jpg

15 Feb 2006 from MKdonsrus.com
http://www.mkdonsrus.com/panorama110a.jpg

For anyone who doesn't know where this is. About 2.5 miles from Milton Keynes Mainline Station.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/supertek/MKDenbighNorth.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/supertek/DenbighNorthStadium.jpg

What is the story with the MK National Bowl. I hear a buy out failed?? Is it going to be redeveloped?

Looks very bland. I drove past this at the weekend and it's coming on ok. Didn't have a camera with me or my phone. I really can't imagine them filling this.

Firstly, Wimbledon would not be here only for Milton Keynes rescuing the club. The south London borough did not want to know them, they were homeless and tried to get a stadium down there and shunned. Remember Celtic were going to buy them and enter the Premier. All they do is change the colours to green and white and the name to Celtic, and move location to Glasgow. A Dublin consortium was about to do the same. MK kept them within the South East of England.

If back in the Premier they will fill the stadium. The younger kids are all MK Dons fans, and they tour the schools promoting the club. They want the young ones. The catchment area is quite large, taking in most of Bucks, parts of Beds and Herts too.

3/4 of the frames of the stands are now complete. Look at the maps (the stadium is where the pin is). The largest ASDA is next door and a large IKEA too. There is little residential housing about, so fans will spend their money in the stadium not in any surrounding pubs, so good for the club.

The main north west rail line runs nearby (near Watling St). Bletchley is a major rail junction just south of the stadium, so east and west links too (the Oxford-Cambridge line runs through). Bletchley stn is not far away. There was talk of a new station nearby, but it would have to be big to accomodate the throughput, not a bus stop type of station. The M1 is not far off, the A5 yards away, and the M40 not far to the west.

The MK Bowl is just an open field with a stage. The stadium will take the major concerts in summer.

MK has the best road system in the country by a mile, it is superb, but I think some of the roads will need upgrading to cope with the stadium, ASDA and IKEA. It is bad enough now with IKEA and ASDA.

If they go down they are gona have 30,000 seater ground in the league two. They have no chance of ever filling it unless they do something amazing and get some points this season. I dont understand how a team who have been administration can decide to build a ground. Where have they got the money from to build it?

If they go down they are gona have 30,000 seater ground in the league two. They have no chance of ever filling it unless they do something amazing and get some points this season. I dont understand how a team who have been administration can decide to build a ground. Where have they got the money from to build it?

MK Dons are looking to the medium to long term. If they go down they have all the pieces in place to bounce right back up. That is the idea. The money? I believe the land may have been donated by MK city council (not that sure on that). But the council are giving a lot of help in the infrastructure - part of the deal was that Milton Keynes had to be in the name. Dons is the nickname of Wimbledon, so the two were combined. The promotion a football club brings in invaluable. Elton John was talking about taking Watford to Hemel hem,ptead or even Milton Keyens 10 to 15 years ago, as the local coubncil would not assist in any improvements to the football ground. Hemel and MK came in and offered land and other incentives. Watford then thought hard again. Merton council maybe thought Wimbledon tennis was more valuable, and enough, than the football club so ignored them.

There is also a 5,000 seater basketball arena attached to the new stadium and a large conference facilities too, which bring in 365 day income. Then the summer concerts too. They had a sound business plan and the money men liked it knowing the football side of the business may take a time to get into the top-flight again.

Dad could drop off the Mum at Asda next door, she could do the weekly shopping, have a bite to eat and go to the other stores close by too, while Dad is in the stadium with junior watching the game. All seems to fit in promoting a family atmosphere.

Milton Keynes has the youngest population in the country, and getting youngers as new familes are coming in and more bablies born ion the hospital - 15 a day and rising. John Prescot has earmaketed MK for rapid expansion, along with Ashtead in Kent, to take the brunt of the new homes in the south east.

The money men see all this as right for such a project. A pity other people don't have the ambition and business sense of MK City Council and the MK Dons - and they are broke.

it's looking good for a 30,000 seater: two tiers, executive boxes running between them - looks a bit different and it gives the impression that it's larger than it is.

Even from photo's you can almost feel the evil emminating from it.

what a joke, the comment they will fill if they are in the premiership is the most laughable comment, they're about to get relegated, and frankly im glad, they'll be getting their ass kicked by afc wimbledon soon who are a real club. As for the 'bounce back' comment I would have thought they were all set to bounce back when they last got relegated, doesnt seem to work does it?

You can say what you like about them moving but its clearly a joke, the fact they are MK Dons shows that, Milton Keynes Wimbledon. Doesnt quite work does it.

what a joke, the comment they will fill if they are in the premiership is the most laughable comment, they're about to get relegated, and frankly im glad, they'll be getting their ass kicked by afc wimbledon soon who are a real club. As for the 'bounce back' comment I would have thought they were all set to bounce back when they last got relegated, doesnt seem to work does it?

You can say what you like about them moving but its clearly a joke, the fact they are MK Dons shows that, Milton Keynes Wimbledon. Doesnt quite work does it.

Moving was not a joke as the club would not be here as a top competitor only for Milton Keynes. Clubs moving town is not new. Arsenal moved from Woolwich to north London. Man U moved from east Manchester to Salford.

Milton Keynes City played at the old Wolverton Park stadium (with the oldest stand in the country, which was used unrtil recently).
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/01/20/wolverton_stand_200106_feature.shtml>
Do you think money men would pour money into an amatur/semi pro team to get them into the leagues? I doubt it.

You have totally and utterly missed the point. If they do go down all is there to bounce back with a high revenue earning international class stadium to help along. Big money men don't throw millions at a lost cause. Currently the Hockey Stadium only holds about 7,000, so saying they only have low gates is because of the hockey stadium, and the poor team performance of course. In 10 years time when all the young kids are genuine Dons fans, the population has exceeded Sheffield and the team is in the Premier league, then the place will be full.

The players tour the schools and have very close links with scouts taking in the local talent - as the Dons always have done. Until recently the Dons trained in South London, I think they are in MK now, which gives them a full link with the city and they don't feel all home games are away.

MK Dons don't have much competition for fans. Luton is just too far away and a pig to get to and park - Luton were talking of building a new stadium on the edge of town to the north, one junction from MK, so there may be competition in the future from them, but I doubt it. Northampton are too far away, and too small, to the north and Oxford too far away to the west. The Dons have one hell of a catchment area.

As to AFC Wimbledon good luck to them. I hope the local council are better to them than they were to the Dons, who had to be shamefully rescued by another city. MK's gain is Merston's loss. BTW, many hard and old time Dons fans still go to the home games.

Milton Keynes City played at the old Wolverton Park stadium (with the oldest stand in the country, which was used until recently).

World's oldest stand (http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/01/20/wolverton_stand_200106_feature.shtml)

The Observer on Woverton Park (http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,1046679,00.html)

again from mkdonsrus.com:
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8316/aeriala3cb.jpg

Moving was not a joke as the club would not be here as a top competitor only for Milton Keynes. Clubs moving town is not new. Arsenal moved from Woolwich to north London. Man U moved from east Manchester to Salford.

Milton Keynes City played at the old Wolverton Park stadium (with the oldest stand in the country, which was used unrtil recently).
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/01/20/wolverton_stand_200106_feature.shtml>
Do you think money men would pour money into an amatur/semi pro team to get them into the leagues? I doubt it.

You have totally and utterly missed the point. If they do go down all is there to bounce back with a high revenue earning international class stadium to help along. Big money men don't throw millions at a lost cause. Currently the Hockey Stadium only holds about 7,000, so saying they only have low gates is because of the hockey stadium, and the poor team performance of course. In 10 years time when all the young kids are genuine Dons fans, the population has exceeded Sheffield and the team is in the Premier league, then the place will be full.

The players tour the schools and have very close links with scouts taking in the local talent - as the Dons always have done. Until recently the Dons trained in South London, I think they are in MK now, which gives them a full link with the city and they don't feel all home games are away.

MK Dons don't have much competition for fans. Luton is just too far away and a pig to get to and park - Luton were talking of building a new stadium on the edge of town to the north, one junction from MK, so there may be competition in the future from them, but I doubt it. Northampton are too far away, and too small, to the north and Oxford too far away to the west. The Dons have one hell of a catchment area.

As to AFC Wimbledon good luck to them. I hope the local council are better to them than they were to the Dons, who had to be shamefully rescued by another city. MK's gain is Merston's loss. BTW, many hard and old time Dons fans still go to the home games.

Those moves were a hundred years ago when the structure of the game was just getting established, and they were within a conurbation. If MK wanted a club it should have built its own. It would have been better for Wimbledon to go bust than to move. Plenty of "big money men" have lost money in football, and hopefully the MK thing will turn out the same way: tier 4 football was never part of the plan.

MK Dons' fans may have to wait even longer to see their team play at the Denbigh North Stadium.

Club chairman Pete Winkelman – still smarting from the rejection of his Inter MK bid for the National Bowl earlier in the week – said yesterday the £50m stadium definitely will be built by Christmas.
But, he said, the date when the team – rock bottom of League One – play the first match there is 'a matter of debate'.
The Citizen understands the club, which was due to play its first game at the ground in August this year, is now planning to open the turnstiles at Denbigh at the beginning of the 2007/08 season.
But Mr Winkelman would not confirm this.
"It is not exactly true yet," he said. "But when we move into it is still a matter of debate. We need to get nearer the time because it is not just a football decision – it is a Milton Keynes decision."
There have been a string of suggested opening dates,
including Christmas 2005; the start of the 2006/07 season this August; and Christmas 2006.
Now it could be put back to August 2007.
A grand opening of the venue is also being considered to coincide with Milton Keynes' 40th anniversary celebrations, and he said he was working with 100 voluntary organisations on the project. An opening at the start of the season, rather than mid-way through, has been seen by many as a more preferable option.

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/

Oo, I love the roof.

They'll fill it one day, mark my words.

By the way Milton Keynes is not a city

24th march (from mkdonsrus.com):

inside:
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8876/inside19a4jl.jpg

cladding:
http://www.mkdonsrus.com/wall00a.jpg

I really hope that they go bust, with all my heart. And so does every true football fan in the country.

Let's hope AFC pass MK Donalds on the way.

Fuck MK Dons and their board. Wankers.

I really hope that they go bust, with all my heart. And so does every true football fan in the country.

Let's hope AFC pass MK Donalds on the way.

Fuck MK Dons and their board. Wankers.

Someone pm a mod about this muppet for trolling and ask for a brig.

I really hope that they go bust, with all my heart. And so does every true football fan in the country.

Let's hope AFC pass MK Donalds on the way.

Fuck MK Dons and their board. Wankers.

I'm all for the new Stadium. Another piece of infrastructure for the UK. Its in MK so doesn't really need to be that inspiring - as long as it is efficient.

They'll fill it one day, mark my words.

They may fill it in years to come, but were talking decades rather than afew years. A much better idea would be to build a stadium with a view to expanding.

Think about it, the majority of MK people will already support another team, chances are these people will raise their kids to support the same team. Therefore with MK picking up an odd fan here and there it will take a very very long time before they can come close to filling it.

Thats if they don't go bust first

Someone pm a mod about this muppet for trolling and ask for a brig.

thats ridiculous, i feel strongly on this issue, i'm not trolling, just voicing my opinion on a thread related issue. i mean it about the board, they are scum.

and no doubt the stadium will be nice. hopefully mk dons go bust and in the future a succesful real team will go on to use it.

phillip they moved the club from an area which already had football clubs to a big town with thousands of football fans without a club. It might not be a morally sound move but financially it makes perfect sense.

Thats if it works in the long run (ho ho ho).

Er, right. Move a team away from where it belongs upsetting several dedicated fans, who are the people that count.

Makes no sense at all, they should have started a team from scratch and done it properly.

thats ridiculous, i feel strongly on this issue, i'm not trolling, just voicing my opinion on a thread related issue. i mean it about the board, they are scum.


It would be impossible to discuss any football stadium construction thread in this forum if everyone raised their opinions of the football team concerned.

This thread is for construction and stadium design, for football chat, I suggest you go to the sports section.

The stadium doesn't look too bad. But as a rule i strongly dislike MK Dons, my towns team Telford United went bust and we had to create a new one from scratch (AFC Telford United) we didn't have anyone buying a team for us and moving it. Because of this i will always have an affinity for AFC Wimbledon, as all of us AFCs have gotta stick together.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8871/out7ch.jpg


http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/7928/out27lo.jpg

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/9144/in3kn.jpg


http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2193/in23nz.jpg

I hate the exterior. What's with those pillars behind the goal? And that black, grey and mustard coloured facade? The inside isn't too bad. On the interior render it appears the seats to the left are different colours ~ will this be the case?

I like the stadium and something like it is overdue for that part of the country, but I would prefer to see MK Dons fold and a local club move in, thrive, grow, and rise up the divisions than to see the ownership get away with what amounts to turning a club into an NFL-style franchise that can be moved around at a whim.

Architecturally it looks good, although I think having two tiers all the way around in a stadium of only 30,000 seats risks sacrificing some atmosphere, you'll have a smallish crowd fragmented and scattered pretty thinly.

How can anyone in their right mind say that it looks architecturally good?

Well, I'm not sure I would have chosen black seats, but the roof, which is itself of an interesting design, leaving a nice opening for light around the back, sits up high enough above the seating not for it to be claustrophobic, and (especially if they would see the light on the seat color) there's a sense of openness on the inside. I'll withhold judgement on the exterior until they finish it, but I have a feeling it will probably be more interesting in a good way than a lot of the new grounds of that size.

AFC Wimbledon fans will probably see the seat color as grimly appropriate, I should think.

According to this year old story i'm reading a 5000 seat arena will be situated next to the stadium which will come the home of the MK Lions Basketball Team.

Can't see it U/C in any of the pics though.


This story also says it will open this summer...which I doubt it will. Also it will be a UEFA 4 Star Stadium...apparently.

I thought you had to have 40k seats? Seems like a red herring to me.

more pics here (http://www.mkdonsrus.com/8th_May_2006.htm)

Is this the thread for the Ricoh Arena in Coventry? (if that wins architectural awards several massive bungs will have to be paid!) As those pictures have a suspicious resemblance. I am now going looking for the Milton Keynes Super Casino Forum to supplement this development!

well this ground is now going to be adivision three ground....maybe conference when its finished?!

well this ground is now going to be adivision three ground....maybe conference when its finished?!

It'll be the best ground in the Conference!

They may as well have groundshared with Rushden and Diamonds (another shit club with a good ground), its going to take years to build the club up to anywhere near the status of attracting 30,000 people a week.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i130/amadhatter/MK%20Franchise/franchisepan.jpg

A Mad Hatter took this pic a day or two ago.

Hes a forumer on this site... http://footballgroundguide.ipbhost.com/

The terracing/seating looks done. They now need to work on the interior, roof and pitch. Could be quite a nice stadium, shame about the club that play in it! :fiddle:

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/west02.jpg

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/capping00.jpg

More pics for June. (http://www.mkdonsrus.com/Jun_06_index.htm)

just to confirm that the initial stadium capacity is actually 22,000, with an option to expand up to 30,000 (and meet uefa 4 star stadium status) if required:

june 06:
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/4152/01042029328780018lf.jpg

just to confirm that the initial stadium capacity is actually 22,000, with an option to expand up to 30,000 (and meet uefa 4 star stadium status) if required:



When are they moving into here again? I take it it's not for the start of the season?

^ august 2007, dronk.

end of july pics:
http://www.mkdonsrus.com/arielden2a.jpg

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/arielden1a.jpg

The stadium doesn't look too bad. But as a rule i strongly dislike MK Dons, my towns team Telford United went bust and we had to create a new one from scratch (AFC Telford United) we didn't have anyone buying a team for us and moving it. Because of this i will always have an affinity for AFC Wimbledon, as all of us AFCs have gotta stick together.

Fully with you and the Wombles,

As for this thread, nice stadium, shame about the franchise

Who is the team that will play in this stadium?

Excuse me for my english.

MK Dons, who used to be known as Wimbledon.

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/pitch00a.jpg

http://www.mkdonsrus.com/outside00ba.jpg

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/259/0104203053244001ff2.jpg

um - just out of interest, how will they be able to increase capacity with an extra 8,000 seats if they want to with that roof on it all the way around?

um - just out of interest, how will they be able to increase capacity with an extra 8,000 seats if they want to with that roof on it all the way around?

i'm guessing that a lot of that space inbetween the second tier and the roof is capable of being filled with additional seating, innit gav'naaaaaaaar.

the ground will be capable of holding 30,000 but the club will either leave the top tier empty of seats or seat the top tier but only apply for safety certificate for 22,000 spectators.

Anybody got any updated pictures of the ground with seats in etc

ta in advance

Went past this yesterday, looks good.

They were fixing the seat mounts on the last update, so I assume alot of them are in now.

It looks like a very neat stadium, I have reservations about the club, not majorly like some, but who doesn't.

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/96/2f/0,,10420~3157910,00.jpg


http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/9a/2f/0,,10420~3157914,00.jpg


http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/9e/2f/0,,10420~3157918,00.jpg


http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/a0/2f/0,,10420~3157920,00.jpg

Looking good!

they way they tried to incorporate the Wimbledon name in MK Dons was just tack. they should be renamed Milton Keynes FC and cut off all ties with Wimbledon rather than pretending that any of their old Wimbledon fans still support this team.

The seats are being installed:
http://www.mkdonsrus.com/seatsmore.jpg


More pics http://www.mkdonsrus.com/23rd_Mar_2007.htm

Average attendence is 5,832, which is half of what their current home holds. Why are they building a 20,000+ seater stadium?? Is it really likely to be filled, or even half filled regularly?

Why did the council in Wimledon rejects the dons plans for a new stadium there?

The full story is here (although it's from the point of view of a Wimbledon fan and so it's biased against the move to MK): http://wimbledon.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=900&p=2&stid=8356041.

However, the bit that's relevant is

91 On the last day of the season, chairman Sam Hamman announces in his programme notes that the Dons will move to Selhurst Park to groundshare "temporarily" with Crystal Palace. The Sham says that this is because of the Taylor report demanding all seater stadia. It's "only" ten miles from Wimbledon but a bugger to get to. There is a split in supporters, many choose not to go to Selhurst, some continue to follow if only to prevent a merger with Palace, rumours of which have surfaced again.

92-97 There are probably as many versions of what happened during the search for a home in Merton as there were people involved. According to Hamman, Merton council were no help and rejected his every suggestion. According to Daily Mirror journalist Tony Stenson "Wimbledon were offered 13 sites by Merton council back then and they had planning permission for two of them."*

The one indisputable is that at some stage Hamman persuaded Merton Council to lift the covenant on Plough Lane that meant that it had to be used a sporting facility, thus enabling him to sell it to Safeway's for a figure generally reckoned to be around £8 million. As to where that money went, not many believe Hamman's tale that it all went back into the club. I mean someone would've noticed, wouldn't they?

^^ Wouldn't be surprised, at all, if what was said by the tabloid journo was true.

I read yesterday that if Northampton Saints reach the Heineken Cup semi-finals, they'll play Wasps at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry (the side drawn at "home" in the semis has to play at a neutral 20,000+ venue in their own country) - had the MK Dons Stadium been completed they would have certainly chosen that instead, and filled it easily.

Of course, this is all academic since they're going to lose to Biarritz today :)

Of course, this is all academic since they're going to lose to Biarritz today :)

What was that about Saints losing today.:lol:

What was that about Saints losing today.:lol:

Me and my big mouth!

Northampton produced one of the biggest shocks in Heineken Cup history as they reached the semi-finals with a desperately tight win over Biarritz.

Prsumably this will be opening in Aug this year for the start of the 07/08 season?

Does the lower tier by its self make up the 22,000 capacity? Then the exiting upper tier can be filled with seats to take up to 30,000 when necessary or will there be a third tier?

MK Dons are looking likely to get promotion back to League One. They really need to get up to the Championship with a stadium like this.

Just the one picture from the official website..

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/fb/64/0,,10420~3171579,00.jpg

This is an old pic but it shows the effort that has been put into the roof
http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/sports/gallery2/d/67-1/stadium-mk-aa13440b.jpg

Although i despise MK Dons i have to say that the stadium is looking fantastic! Looks like a stadium from Switzerland or Austria and a bit different from the new ident-a-kit stadiums that have gone up around the country in recent times.

Fairplay, it's a lovely stadium. Gotta b the best in league two. Looks like u might b coming up to lge 1, though, where it'll still make you proud.

One thing I'm not so keen on is the colour of the seats; makes it look a tad cold.
And I dont like this modern trend where there is a big gap between the top row of seating and the roof. I think u lose the intimacy, and this is worst at Emirates. I realise there are reasons like air circulation or direct sunlight for the pitch, but I don't think it's that nesesary. At White hart lane it's completely enclosed and the pitch is still like a carpet.

Anyways, like i said, quality u Dons, quality.

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/83/92/0,,10420~3183235,00.jpg

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/57/92/0,,10420~3183191,00.jpg

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/64/92/0,,10420~3183204,00.jpg

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/80/92/0,,10420~3183232,00.jpg

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/78/92/0,,10420~3183224,00.jpg

Well done Milton Keynes Dons!! Great stadium.

I love the use of black on the stadium.

it's looking good

It looks great for such a simple design.

Nice! And just look at that pitch, superb!! :D

Surely with promotion to league 1, and with the growing population of Milton Keynes the support will increase to at least be worthy of a new large stadium. I mean look at Darlington. For such a small town it has a stadium with a bigger capacity than some premiership grounds.

Like the fact its 2 tiered all the way round and not a single tier like others of a similar capacity

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/e5/fe/0,,10420~3210981,00.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/ipswich180786/2005_0101various0067.jpg

I think London Wasps (who currently use Wycombe Wanderers Ground) could possibly move to mk. Wycombes ground has a capacity of 10k which is filled every time the wasps play however the ground cannot be expanded. MK is only half an hour away. Dont know if anyone is a big rugby fan out there but can you see wasps moving??

MK wasps has a ring to it........

I think London Wasps (who currently use Wycombe Wanderers Ground) could possibly move to mk. Wycombes ground has a capacity of 10k which is filled every time the wasps play however the ground cannot be expanded. MK is only half an hour away. Dont know if anyone is a big rugby fan out there but can you see wasps moving??

nope i think that london wasps should build their own stadium or work with wycolbe to redevelop the ground

They've already stolen a football team whose name started with W, now you want a Rugby Union team starting with a W, if I were a Wigan Warriors fan I'd be panicking!

MK Dons must be pretty ambitious. Nice stadium and it would be a shame if it was never filled to capacity.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n225/ipswich180786/2005_0101various0067.jpg

Is the top tier not actually used yet - it looks from that picture that there's no seating up there.

Month old that pic, might have seating up there now...

Is the top tier not actually used yet - it looks from that picture that there's no seating up there.

as i understand it the top tier will remain like that until there's sufficient ticket demand to justify installation of seating, so until they've secured a promotion or two, or actually more accurately three.

so yes, the top tier is currently not in use.

Its not just the seating that is missing from the top tier, all of the upper concourse is empty and would need fitting out too.

this is a great little stadium!

Can anyone show some stats or first-hand views regarding the popularity of the MKdons in milton keynes. I've always thought they weren't likely to be successful or rather popular until the city adopts them fully as the local team. Does any one have an idea of which teams are popular in MK? Just the usual ones, any other local teams? It could take a decade or more for generations to grow-up loving MKDons as their local team.

MK Dons Average Attendance:

2007-08: 8,390 (League 2)
2006-07: 6,033 (League 2)
2005-06: 5,619 (League 1)
2004-05: 4,896 (League 1)

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10420~200726,00.html

If I lived in a town for 20 years without a footy team and loved football, then one came along with a brand new stadium, I'd be happy to support them.

Shame they had to rob Wimbledon's, but with a footy team, it'll help MK get a bit of identity.

MK Dons Average Attendance:

2007-08: 8,390 (League 2)
2006-07: 6,033 (League 2)
2005-06: 5,619 (League 1)
2004-05: 4,896 (League 1)

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10420~200726,00.html

Thankyou my leader. So they're clearly becoming more popular since the attendances have been going up while they've been going down. That is promising.

Whats the public transport access like to this area then? Seems a little out of the way.

Milton Keynes Dons insist their new ground is on track to open in July 2007 with an initial capacity of 22,000.

That figure is set to rise to 32,000 in "12 to 18 months' time", according to chairman Pete Winkelman.

The new stadium will also be one of just five stadia in England to meet Uefa's four-star requirement.

BBC. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6366309.stm)

from the future darlo manager on flickr:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1431/1424410597_7d7df4d36d_b.jpg

^ Are they going to fill the gap between the roof and the upper tier, or leave it in case of future expansion?

The lack of seats make the stadium look like something from a third world country...

^ Are they going to fill the gap between the roof and the upper tier, or leave it in case of future expansion?

that's where the planned extra 10,000 capacity boost will come from, installing seats in that upper tier.

^I just thought they were going to put the seats in the upper tier:lol:!

hang on, sorry R, my fault. i didn't read your post properly: nope, the gap between the upper tier and the roof will stay (don't know if it's possible to use it for expansion). the 10,000 extra capacity comes from simply sticking seats in that upper tier as it is now.

^Cheers and thanks for the updates!
Its been a bit quiet round these parts.

I really like the gap betwen the seats & the roof. This stadium seems to have a bit more to it than the usual brickabrack grounds. Pity its MK Dons stadium really!!

It does pain me to complement MK Dons, but they have got a nice new ground there.

Gonna look good in League 1.

Hopefully they will then decide to install seats in the upper tier.

Is that all they need to do to reach the final capacity?

MK Dons Average Attendance:

2007-08: 8,390 (League 2)
2006-07: 6,033 (League 2)
2005-06: 5,619 (League 1)
2004-05: 4,896 (League 1)

http://www.mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk/page/DivisionalAttendance/0,,10420~200726,00.html

MK Dons fans snapped up their initial allocation of 26,000 tickets for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final in just five days. (Telegraph)

As i've said b4...nice ground and congrats. But how the f*ck has Milton Keynes suddenly got a stadium that many bigger clubs would die for?? How much has it cost, where did the money come from and why have they so much optimism?

Lets face it, they are the bastard child of football.

So many fans of other clubs turning up to support the death of lower league football by supporting them. Going to watch a team which has no true geographical connection to the area they are from. Then again as "apart from that day" Man Utd/Liverpool fans sure they will cope.

Can not believe any true fan of football in England could support this bunch of cuckoos.

Cant say I give a shit really, Wimbledon were a joke often having less fans at their home games than the opposition.

highest recorded attendance at stadium mk the other day: 14,521 v league leaders peterborough.

isnt it 3rd division team? woww 22,000 capasity is quite big!

isnt it 3rd division team? woww 22,000 capasity is quite big!

its fourth division at the moment where youve got Darlington 25,000, Bradford 25,000 and also Notts County at 20,000

Anyone know if they will install the remaining seats for next season seeing as though theyve been promoted and their last game got over 17,000?

I shouldnt think so.
Its my understanding that the completion of the upper tier is a long term plan and the club will only complete this if and when the y require the additional seats.

:?

Milton Keynes Dons insist their new ground is on track to open in July 2007 with an initial capacity of 22,000.

That figure is set to rise to 32,000 in "12 to 18 months' time", according to chairman Pete Winkelman.

^^ You are quoting something written more than a year ago, I was wondering if there had been any recent announcements?

Could it get anymore boring ? It looks like an insurance company HQ on approach.

Outdated and totally uninspired before it was even built.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9462/stadiamk682x511113608a.jpg

They're finally adding the seats to the second tier for next season. :nuts:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15636043.stm

I see they aren't expecting to fill it with football fans then...

Franchise FC disgust me; I hope they go bust!

Nice design for an english stadium. Are there any infos about how the third tier will look?

What I dont get on those haters, why is there so much hate about a team adding a new city to the league, especially when most of the PL-clubs are owned by investors making them more bad than DonMK. DonMK seems really have catching that good old football spirit, investing in good youth work instead of buying players for 100 Mio like Chelsea or ManCity.

To me I would really appreciate to see a new club when I visit Britain with Leverkusen in european championships again. All the time London with supportless crowd is getting real boring.

What I dont get on those haters, why is there so much hate about a team adding a new city to the league, especially when most of the PL-clubs are owned by investors making them more bad than DonMK. DonMK seems really have catching that good old football spirit, investing in good youth work instead of buying players for 100 Mio like Chelsea or ManCity.

I don't really follow English soccer, but my perception is that people (not just Wimbledon FC fans) are angry at how a team was effectively relocated to another city with little regard for the local fans. Yes, a "new city" was added, at the expense of an existing club.

Nice design for an english stadium. Are there any infos about how the third tier will look?

What I dont get on those haters, why is there so much hate about a team adding a new city to the league, especially when most of the PL-clubs are owned by investors making them more bad than DonMK. DonMK seems really have catching that good old football spirit, investing in good youth work instead of buying players for 100 Mio like Chelsea or ManCity.

To me I would really appreciate to see a new club when I visit Britain with Leverkusen in european championships again. All the time London with supportless crowd is getting real boring.

What effectively happened was the theft of Wimbledon's position in the Football League, that is why football fans in England are generally against MKDons. What is resented is that this new club did not earn its position in the football pyramid, Milton Keynes already had a local football club so why did the people who invested in MKDons not support them up through the leagues in the proper way? The pre-existing Milton Keynes club then went on to fold as a direct result of the new competitor for its fanbase.

Coming up through the leagues to earn a Football League place by right is not impossible, as has been proved by both the reborn Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon clubs in recent years.

StadiumMK is a nice facility though, and I've been there once, but I'll never go again.

What effectively happened was the theft of Wimbledon's position in the Football League, that is why football fans in England are generally against MKDons. What is resented is that this new club did not earn its position in the football pyramid, Milton Keynes already had a local football club so why did the people who invested in MKDons not support them up through the leagues in the proper way? The pre-existing Milton Keynes club then went on to fold as a direct result of the new competitor for its fanbase.

Coming up through the leagues to earn a Football League place by right is not impossible, as has been proved by both the reborn Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon clubs in recent years.

StadiumMK is a nice facility though, and I've been there once, but I'll never go again.

^^^^^^

+1!!!!!

99.9% of footy fans in England have a deep dislike of Francise MK FC for the reasons pointed out above.

Also, I think Francise MK even gave them their trophies back. Quite right too, as MK had f**k all to do with winning them!!!!

Record crowd today at Stadium:MK, in the high teens (can't remember if it was 17 or 19k).

What effectively happened was the theft of Wimbledon's position in the Football League, that is why football fans in England are generally against MKDons. What is resented is that this new club did not earn its position in the football pyramid, Milton Keynes already had a local football club so why did the people who invested in MKDons not support them up through the leagues in the proper way? The pre-existing Milton Keynes club then went on to fold as a direct result of the new competitor for its fanbase.

Coming up through the leagues to earn a Football League place by right is not impossible, as has been proved by both the reborn Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon clubs in recent years.

StadiumMK is a nice facility though, and I've been there once, but I'll never go again.

The old Milton Keynes city team was watched by about 20 people, and I mean that literally. It was a step up from a pub team, but not a big step. Teams in their division sometimes got single figure crowds. One had an average of just 7.

While in theory it's feasible that locals could have gone down to the ground and supported the club, and gained promotion to the league the normal way, that doesn't really touch with reality.

People don't decide to go along en masse and start following a team from scratch in the belief that the club will rise from nothing into being a professional club. They need something to believe in, to feel there's some ambition. The various incarnations of MK City didn't offer that. They were just a football club in the original sense - a place where people go to play football, and any money from spectators was just a bonus.

Yes Aldershot and Wimbledon have done it, but they had an existing fan base of several thousand from the start. If Aldershot's fan base had been about 30 in 1993 then they'd probably still be playing Flackwell Heath and Cove if they were lucky.

I don't agree with what happened - I'm not sure you'll find many who do - but I find the hatred of MK from non-Wimbledon fans a little self-righteous, particularly when they come out with crap about "all true fans hating MK" etc.

A bad thing happened, but MK going bust would help nobody. Wimbledon had been talking about moving for nearly 20 years before it happened, touting themselves around, so to lay the blame squarely at MK's door rather ignores individuals at Wimbledon who were at least as culpable.

If people wish to keep up their "true fan" persona then that's up to them, but for me it's time to move on. People don't seem too bothered these days by Arsenal doing a "franchise move" from Woolwich to a completely different part of London, or Chelsea being given an instant place in the football league without ever earning the right to be there, and other than being forgotten, what's the difference?

Are there any renders of how the final stadium (capacity 32,000) will look? I know it's the same stadium as it is now, but with seats in the upper tier, but i would like to see MK Dons add a different colour to the top tier, rather than just adding more 'depressing' black seats in?

^^

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/9144/in3kn.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/821/in3kn.jpg/)

^^

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/9144/in3kn.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/821/in3kn.jpg/)

oh...black seats it is then, thanks

Are there any renders of how the final stadium (capacity 32,000) will look? I know it's the same stadium as it is now, but with seats in the upper tier, but i would like to see MK Dons add a different colour to the top tier, rather than just adding more 'depressing' black seats in?
Black (or at least dark) seats are pretty useful, as they look less empty than brightly coloured ones. With MK not looking like they'll fill the bottom tier - let alone the top - any day soon, it would be handy.

The place will look better once the seats are all in though, used or not. The bare concrete looks bad.


I do think if this stadium was for anyone but MK, it's get a lot more praise. The strong dislike many have for the club makes them determined to hate absolutely everything to do with them, including the stadium.