WOLVERHAMPTON - Molineux Stadium (28,000 -> 50,000)

[johnnycakes]

i hope they dont mess around with it too much,just fill in the corners and dig down.great old ground.

[3SPIRES]

Originally Posted by MS20

I would think that a few more established years in the Premier League would be handy first. Similar to Reading wanting to expand before the drop came. From memory (don't shoot me), Molineux becomes quite deserted when times are tough. And those stats might be a little skewed considering they just won promotion last season.

You're wrong about Wolves support mate. I'd say they have the second best support in the midlands behind the Villa, and they've always stuck behind the team even in the Championship. I'm going on my knowledge of their support in the last 15 years, but you can't even compare them to Reading. This is from a Coventry fan, so I'm not biased.

[MS20]

Yeah, since I made that comment, I've seen that Wolves used to average 40,000 in the 1950's, which were some of the highest attendances back then.

I wasn't comparing them to Reading in terms of actual fan base. I was comparing them to Reading by saying that they were planning on extending the Madejski if they maintained their place in the Premier League to 38,000 (a massive jump).

I'll take your guys word for it that Wolves can fill 40,000 regularly enough, but all that is dependent on Premier League status. At this stage, Wolves are far from consolidating that place. I think that was my main point.

[Marin Mostar]

Originally Posted by gavstar00

Found this on one of the Wolves web boards - not sure if this is tied to the latest plans but from this it looks as though they'll go down the same route as the Westfallen Stadium

This doesn`t look bad at all.

[gavstar00]

A fan made render below - dont like it as it just looks like another Madejski clone etc.

[matthemod]

I think that's because they obviously used the Madjeski as a template for that fan made render!

[Ecological]

Hang on a minute guys ...

We havent had a statement from anyone at the club as of yet so anything floating around is purely from a fans perspective and probably wrong.

This is the only quote we've ever had in regards to the stadium itself from 2009.

Licensing committee minutes state that improvements could include replacing the north stand, an extra tier for the south stand – and work to join up the east stand with the north and south stands.

“Jez Moxey [the Wolves managing director] reported that the redevelopment of the stadium is progressing but is still in the very early stages,” the Molineux Stadium Safety Advisory Group was told.

“The club will try to submit the planning application by May 2009,” the report states. “It is hoped to start construction by the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. The development will be phased.

“It includes the replacement of the north stand and an additional tier on the top of the south stand.”

this is the east stand and south stand (the one which will get the extra tier aswell as being joined up to the east stand!

image hosted on flickr

[Rev Stickleback]

Originally Posted by gavstar00

A fan made render below - dont like it as it just looks like another Madejski clone etc.

Another Madejski clone?

What other ground has seats blending into an end like that?

(OK, Slavia Prague's Eden does, but it's hardly a famous stadium)

[Ecological]

BIGGER THEN THE VILLA, BIGGER THEN CHELSEA ... THE WOLVES ARE MARCHING UP, THE WOLVES ARE MARCHING UP. AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BELIEVE US, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BELIEVE US, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BELIEVE US ... THE WOLVES ARE MARCHING UP.

WIMABIGCLUB

Wolves unveil plans for potential 50,000+ Molineux

Wolves have unveiled exciting plans for a £40million redevelopment of Molineux which would take its capacity to 36,000 in time for the start of the 2014/15 season.

The project, which will be submitted for local authority approval in late July, was made public to local residents for the first time on Thursday night as part of a consultation meeting.

The club's vision comprises of four phases, although planning permission will only initially be sought for the first three phases.

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "These plans represent an exciting vision for the redevelopment of Molineux, which our chairman Steve Morgan had when he first acquired the club in 2007.

"His commitment to Wolves and his investment has helped us develop both on and off the field, culminating in the team retaining its Premier League status for the coming season."

Phase one is scheduled to start with the demolition of the Stan Cullis Stand at the end of the forthcoming season, with a state-of-the art two-tier structure constructed that extends into the open corner of the Steve Bull Stand - starting a stadium bowl design.

Phase two will then see a new two-tier Steve Bull Stand built over the course of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons in time for the start of 2014/15 - taking Molineux's capacity from 29,303 to 36,000.

Phases three and four respectively, which are subject to supporter demand and not included in the £40m figure, would see the Jack Harris Stand regenerated to match the first two stands and take capacity to around 38,000.

With early plans also drafted to possibly redevelop the Billy Wright Stand to take the figure up to 50,000.

Importantly, Moxey insists the money set aside for the initial stage of the plans is ring-fenced and will not affect manager Mick McCarthy's transfer budget as he looks to keep Wolves in the Barclays Premier League.

Moxey went on to stress the club's focus remains "all about the football" and firmly on building a squad capable of keeping the Black Country club in the top flight.

Capacity will naturally decrease while the proposed building work is undertaken, with plans being drawn up to cater for fans being moving around, but all other options in relation to building a new stadium and relocating elsewhere were exhausted.

And, with Wanderers having recently been granted a 999-year lease for Molineux from Wolverhampton City Council, chairman Morgan is determined to build a stadium that not only increases revenue but improves facilities and the overall matchday experience for supporters - with fans being brought as close as possible to the pitch to create an intimidating atmosphere.

[gavstar00]

More pics below:





Couple of more here but can't post them

http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/Gallery...060544,00.html

Fantastic plans with a great look to it

[Ecological]

And to think the club didn't even try and host 2018 world cup games! These are quality plans. Anybody who's been to Molineux will know just how well they will work with the extra tiers. The South Bank. The Kop that used to be the 2nd largest in Europe will now become 2 tier, but there will be a SMALL interchange step up from the current one, so it will act as a single stand. 8,000 seats that will hold.

The new mainstand. Billy Wright ... the final stand to be redeveloped. Phase 4. Would have to accomodate 24,000 seats to hit the 50,000 capacity. Currently it holds 10,000. That will be FOOKING MASSIVE. and VERY TALL.



Up the Wolves.

[MS20]

Bloody hell, 4 years. Looks great though

[gavstar00]

I honestly think it'd nearly look better at the end of phase three with the two open corners. I've always like Molineux and the redevelopement definitely keeps some of the character about it (particularly like the way the corners are slightly lower than the main stands where the seating area meets the backs)

Do you know if they'll be bringing the new stands closer to the Billy Wright stand hence making the pitch area smaller? (mind you nowhere near as big a gap between the new stands and the pitch this time round compared with the 80's redevelopment if they do!)

[Ecological]

Originally Posted by MS20

Bloody hell, 4 years. Looks great though

You have to remember. Wolves are RE-DEVELOPING. not building a brand new stadium. like our CEO said. They hope in the 2nd season of the redevelopment. Capacity should be 5,000 bigger as they will open up the lower stand. Come the following season. 10,000 seats bigger. Exciting times. 50,000 wowza! The Bill Wright will hold 24,000 SEATS? That would be the biggest single stand in EUROPE!

I wonder what Liverpool fans make of this. Steve Morgan wanted to by Liverpool. Now they cant build a stadium for the life of them.

[Ecological]

Originally Posted by gavstar00

I honestly think it'd nearly look better at the end of phase three with the two open corners. I've always like Molineux and the redevelopement definitely keeps some of the character about it (particularly like the way the corners are slightly lower than the main stands where the seating area meets the backs)

Do you know if they'll be bringing the new stands closer to the Billy Wright stand hence making the pitch area smaller? (mind you nowhere near as big a gap between the new stands and the pitch this time round compared with the 80's redevelopment if they do!)

Yes. This is already happening. Wolves are spending 1 million poounds this summer. The pitch has been stripped and is being moved closer the Billy Wright and South Bank. Moxey said you will be able to shake a players ahnd when taking a corner.

The new stands will obviously come in so they are right on top of the game. something Morgan was adamant he wanted due to the atmosphere he felt they generated at away games.

[topalex]

I like the renders and certainly hope it gets built one day.
Brace yourselves for plenty of 'Wolves will never fill it' type comments but for me, I will ask just this.......unless Wolves make it into Europe or win trophies regularly...do you think this will ever get to the 50,000 stage 4 or do you think its more likely to stop at say phase 2 or 3?

[RobH]

Looks great. Good luck with it.

And to think the club didn't even try and host 2018 world cup games!

RE: 2018. Only phases 1 and 2 will only be complete by 2015. And phases 3 and 4, which I assume would take a few years again, only take it to 38k. It'll be a good few years after that before it's larger than Villa Park. So it's understandable that the club didn't put the stadium forward for the world cup.

[topalex]

''It'll be a good few years after that before it's larger than Villa Park.''

To be fair I also think Villa's own expansion plans (redeveloped north stand taking VP to 50,000) will be well advanced by then anyway. I'm guessing they will go ahead with or without the 2018 world cup?

As a Spurs fan we have learned to live with the fact that our new ground wont be quite as big as our neighbours but will be better in may other ways so no big shakes really.

[Schmeek]

Originally Posted by Ecological

You have to remember. Wolves are RE-DEVELOPING. not building a brand new stadium. like our CEO said. They hope in the 2nd season of the redevelopment. Capacity should be 5,000 bigger as they will open up the lower stand. Come the following season. 10,000 seats bigger. Exciting times. 50,000 wowza! The Bill Wright will hold 24,000 SEATS? That would be the biggest single stand in EUROPE!

I wonder what Liverpool fans make of this. Steve Morgan wanted to by Liverpool. Now they cant build a stadium for the life of them.

Certainly very big, but no way the biggest in Europe. Old Traffords main stand is 25,500, and I think i'm right in saying that that is without including the corners, as the quads were only completed recently. I think Molineux's 50k target will include linking up the corners to both end stands, so I think it will be more like Leeds' East(?) stand - around 17-18k, which is still huge to be fair.

[gavstar00]

Originally Posted by topalex

I like the renders and certainly hope it gets built one day.
Brace yourselves for plenty of 'Wolves will never fill it' type comments but for me, I will ask just this.......unless Wolves make it into Europe or win trophies regularly...do you think this will ever get to the 50,000 stage 4 or do you think its more likely to stop at say phase 2 or 3?

After phase two with it being 36,000 is probably a good acid test in terms of where they are with attendances (even phase three at 38,000 works in much the same way)

They seem to be going about it in the right way, there's no point in shooting for the stars and then find you've a half empty stadium week in week out (look at the likes of Blackburn etc. although you could argue a lot of that is down to the standard of football!)

I've read on the older thread that they're the second biggest supported club in the midlands so there's no real reason why the 38,000 figure couldn't be met. The 50,000 would only be looked at if the team themselves were successful on the pitch I would've thought.

Either way the plans are fantastic and hopefully McCarthy can maintain their status and use it as a spring board for bigger things