BRISTOL | New Bristol City FC Stadium | 30,000 | Proposed

[dronkula]

Bristol City have added an 'Ashton Vale' section onto their website now in relation to the consultation launch.

http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/AshtonVal...,10327,00.html

No rendors or plans yet - just a general idea of what and where they're planning things.

[BS3_RED]

And now Bristol City Council are getting excited about possibly hosting World Cup games.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/...l/article.html

[JimB]

Originally Posted by BS3_RED

And now Bristol City Council are getting excited about possibly hosting World Cup games.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/...l/article.html

I think that Bristol would be a fine host city for the World Cup.

I would, though, be rather disappointed if any of the chosen stadiums had a capacity of less than 45,000 (and if a quarter of what limited capacity it did have was merely temporary) - especially since, by 2018, England will have so many great stadiums of 50,000+ and even 60,000+.

I would also hope that any chosen stadium would have rather more architectural merit than Coventry's Ricoh Arena - which, according to that article, is a model favoured by Bristol City's chairman.

[Schmeek]

Hi Jim. Yes temporary seating may well be used, depends largely on whether City have managed to reach the top flight/established themselves up there or not. But a stadium using quality temporary seating built into a structure designed to accommodate this will surely be more desirable than a larger stadium elsewhere, in a city of less potential and which represents a poorer geographical spread?
I think the comment in the article quoting Lansdown as admiring the Ricoh is quite dated, from when we first visited there a few years back now. He has since heard the collective voice of the fans slating this kind of bowl design, and the visionary renders displayed at the stadium announcement last november seem to confirm (well I pray anyway) that he has heeded this.

If Sepp Blatter gets his way then the minimum capacity in 2018 could well be 45k. I think the reason the expansion is set to 42k is because of the 30k design. I presume it allows for a 6k expansion at either end, and maybe this is the max they can get out of it. We will see early next year hopefully...

[Schmeek]

Also, while i'm at it... The thing that is concerning me most is the figure set out by BCFC. I realise it is only an early estimate but £40 million doesn't get you much more than some floodlights and a few portaloo's these days. Okay, a bit more than that, but nothing of any innovation and high capacity or with high quality. You can't have more than two of the three criteria above in the same stadium for that cost. With the exception maybe being innovation and capacity, but without the quality it is likely to be absurd, cheap and tacky or just plain embarrasing.

Steve Lansdown did reveal recently that, far from feeling the pinch of the economic downturn and impending recession, he intends to utilise it to BCFC's advantage. Material costs such as steel are spiralling lower as orders dry up, and afterall, local (and national) authorities are biting hands off to encourage construction projects to stoke up the economy. Large-scale non speculative ones such as a stadium are particularly sought after and welcomed.
So, £40m in 2010 may be the (very optimistic) equivalent of say, last years' £55m, which gets you, well, not a lot more TBH! To put it in perspective, the ill fated Bristol Arena was going to cost between £100-£150m! And that's just for 10,000 seats....

[Immunda Leodis]

Good to see this proposed. Bristol has to be a World Cup stadium surely!!!!

[JimB]

Originally Posted by Schmeek

Hi Jim. Yes temporary seating may well be used, depends largely on whether City have managed to reach the top flight/established themselves up there or not. But a stadium using quality temporary seating built into a structure designed to accommodate this will surely be more desirable than a larger stadium elsewhere, in a city of less potential and which represents a poorer geographical spread?
I think the comment in the article quoting Lansdown as admiring the Ricoh is quite dated, from when we first visited there a few years back now. He has since heard the collective voice of the fans slating this kind of bowl design, and the visionary renders displayed at the stadium announcement last november seem to confirm (well I pray anyway) that he has heeded this.

If Sepp Blatter gets his way then the minimum capacity in 2018 could well be 45k. I think the reason the expansion is set to 42k is because of the 30k design. I presume it allows for a 6k expansion at either end, and maybe this is the max they can get out of it. We will see early next year hopefully...

Let's hope that you're right about the design. And let's hope that, somehow, Bristol City can see their way to building a stadium that can eventually be expanded to accomodate at least 45,000 people to FIFA World Cup standards. Bristol would make a great World Cup venue.

[BS3_RED]

Well the nimbys (and bristol rovers fans) have now started a petition on Bristol City Councils website to stop the development.

http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/petition.php?id=220

Some of the reasons given, show just why some people should not be allowed to have children.

http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/signatures.php?id=220

[Gherkin]

"save the newts"

This would be the best reason for the stadium not to be built. Newts may well be harmed! Trying bringing up that topic in a stadium planning meeting without a few raised eyebrows.

[Schmeek]

Some renders have finally been released on the official website.
I'm quite impressed with what I'm seeing. Has a comtemporary feel yet retains a traditional look.

Have a look here http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetai...469349,00.html

[Gherkin]

Agreed it does look very traditional... but it's pretty much their current ground.

[JamesWales]

It looks alright, fair play. But renders always do. It'd be nice to have a new ground with character, but I won't be holding my breath unfortunately.

[Karldiff]

Don't trust the renders. We were getting a nicer version of the San Siro according to the renders. According to the renders Man Utd could eat their hearts out. A beacon for miles around according to the renders, an architectural wonder.

We got a plastic bowl, exactly the same as Leicester, Hull, Coventry, Soton etc etc just in different colours. Prepare for various renders for the next 5 years and then witness the gradual disintegration of the original vision into an off the peg one-size-fits-all stadium from the Tesco Extra school of architecture.

[Schmeek]

I've been preparing myself for that for a long time Karldiff! It saddens me to see what is replacing Ninnian TBH. And the rivalry doesn't even come into it, because at the end of the day, the more of these souless plastic bowls appear, the more this disease rots away our beloved game. One of the great things about football is seeing all the different grounds, and clubs' own unique identity. Alot has been erased over the last decade, and we can only hope that this is the first sign that the brakes have been put on a little.

But, I think it's fair to say that with regards to the new AG, things don't add up yet and something's gotta give. Either these renders are wildly off the mark, or the 40m quoted is...

[canarywondergod]

i must say its a refreshing change to the bowls there has been of late, not saying there is anything wrong with perfect views etc, but its just nice to see 4 different stands. One reason i was glad to see the liverpool renders (if it will ever happen). Im guessing the whole stadium has cantilever roofs? the two side ones look very empowering! it looks they will squeeze the capacity on the ends though. anyway a lovely stadium and its nice to see somewhere refreshing competing for 2018

[BS3_RED]

The bottom tier is a bowl and from what our Chairman said in an interview, the bowl part will seat 20,000.

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by canarywondergod

i must say its a refreshing change to the bowels

Too much information!

[Kobo]

Did they say anything about how it would look if the new A.G got expanded to 42,000. Would the two stands behind the goals be joined to the two main stands on the sides, thus creating a bowl. Or would they become two individual stands?

[Schmeek]

No real details have been released on how the expansion will look, but it looks like an extra 6k at either end. I think the ends will be joined to the side stands but I'm doubtful as to whether the upper tiers will connected creating a second bowl, as it would be hard to link the main stand which has more tiers than the other side stand. Also I think if they did this it would probably mean the capacity would be higher than 42k so reckon it will be a part-continuation at most. The other option City have is to slap most of the extra 12k onto the home end and add the smaller remainder onto the away/other end. For example; say each end stand is 5k and each side stand 10k, equalling 30k total, then to expand we could put on 9k onto one end, making it 14k (and similar in capacity to the Holte end, Villa Park|), with the remaining 3k added to the other end taking it up to 8k. I think I would prefer this, as it enhances the uniquity of the stadium whilst providing a pronounced 'home' end.

[Kobo]

Schmeek, do you know anything about what it will look like from the outside. Shall it have red brick work like some of the other older buildings in that part of Bristol?