The World Famous City Ground - Home of the PROPER WORLD‘S OLDEST LEAGUE CLUB

[Otis Redding]

My wife said Notts Forest the other day... she may have been trying to get a rise out of me though. She succeeded.

I try not to get too worked up by that, particularly when it's done deliberately, given that the club's own official letterheading and matchday programmes etc included "Notts Forest" in its early years.

I get more wound up when media people and ignorant pundits like Harry Redknapp use it.

 

[Ian Moore Gone Little]

I try not to get too worked up by that, particularly when it's done deliberately, given that the club's own official letterheading and matchday programmes etc included "Notts Forest" in its early years.

I get more wound up when media people and ignorant pundits like Harry Redknapp use it.

I had a phase of responding to anyone who used it with references to Totts Hotspur, Mancs United, etc. I usually got puzzled looks, especially when I said “Well you started it”, but it pleased me inwardly…

 

[Lady Penelope]

So the capacities of the various stands currently are as follows:

Brian Clough = 10000
Trent end = 7500
Bridgeford = 7710
Main = 5235

giving a total of 30445.

in order to get to 42000 without touching the Brian Clough or the Trend end, we need a rise of 11555. How much of an increase can be achieved from the bridgeford? 3k more by filling in the corner and levelling it to the same height as the Brian Clough?

This means the new main stand will need to be around 13k, can't remember what the original planning permission was for all those years ago, was it 12k?

To get to 50k in phase 2, the Clough stand will need to rise to 18k, even with adding another tier and filling in the container corner, it sounds ambitious.

A good bit more than 3,000 if they build it higher than the BC, going back behind the goal. I think that is the plan, three tiers behind the goal (not the corners) and that is why a lot of property has to be acquired.

There were some plans drawn up for a World Cup bid which showed what an expanded BE might look like. I've tried to find those drawings but I have failed miserably (my head has not yet fully cleared). I think that is the kind of design the club have in mind.

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

A good bit more than 3,000 if they build it higher than the BC, going back behind the goal. I think that is the plan, three tiers behind the goal (not the corners) and that is why a lot of property has to be acquired.

There were some plans drawn up for a World Cup bid which showed what an expanded BE might look like. I've tried to find those drawings but I have failed miserably (my head has not yet fully cleared). I think that is the kind of design the club have in mind.

That would be great if it can be done, eventually resulting in the Trent end being the least tall of the 4 stands.

 

[chaospunx]

Depends how big we want to go but was listening to a villa fan the other day I'm not sure what villa park holds 45k maybe but recently probably to do with the European games there have been quite a few empty seats.
The start of this season we were selling out alot slower I'm sure it's improved now due to the league position I'd say upto 45k seats would be perfect for us anymore could definitely leave empty sections occasionally depending on our trajectory

 

[Ian Moore Gone Little]

I’d agree 45,000 is a reasonable figure to aim for at the moment. The advent of all-seater stadia has made empty spaces in grounds more obvious. With terraces, unless it was particularly sparse the variation was in how densely packed they were, whereas now it’s clearer if large areas are unoccupied. There seems to be a feeling that we should aim for a capacity at which we would sell out every week, ie the situation we have now but bigger. To me, that loses us potential income.

I think we currently need a capacity around 45,000 (assuming continuing top flight football and some degree of relative success along the way), where we would have enough to sell out for the biggest games and maintain a considerably higher average attendance than we are currently able to accommodate. In other words, I’d rather average 37,000 and sell out at 45,000 half a dozen times than have a 37,000 capacity that’s always full.

It gives us enough room for new supporters to get to see games, far-flung fans to know they have a chance of a ticket, potential regular supporters to make watching games live a habit rather than an occasional treat, and so on.

 

[Otis Redding]

A good bit more than 3,000 if they build it higher than the BC, going back behind the goal. I think that is the plan, three tiers behind the goal (not the corners) and that is why a lot of property has to be acquired.

There were some plans drawn up for a World Cup bid which showed what an expanded BE might look like. I've tried to find those drawings but I have failed miserably (my head has not yet fully cleared). I think that is the kind of design the club have in mind.

I was under the belief that when Nottingham won the 2018 World Cup host-city bid for the East Midlands, without an actual stadium to play in at that point (and, amusingly, much to Derby's anger), the FA had been hugely impressed by the city council leaders' (Collins & Chapman) plans for a new stadium on the Eastside site, close to the station and transport hub and a provisional agreement with a major chain for a 5-star hotel close by, as is obligatory for FIFA's final approval.

That's what I was told by a long-time friend who was a city councillor at that time.

 

[redun]

I wonder if there's any truth in the rumour that the club have already purchased the remaining properties required in order to enlarge the Bridgford stand ?

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[Scott Gemmill's Hair]

I wonder if there's any truth in the rumour that the club have already purchased the remaining properties required in order to enlarge the Bridgford stand ?

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I think the last we knew was that they'd purchased all but two of the properties.

They may now have had offers accepted on the other two (fingers crossed!).

 

[redun]

I think the last we knew was that they'd purchased all but two of the properties.

They may now have had offers accepted on the other two (fingers crossed!).

I believe that they are HMOs. Given the legislation coming into force this year if I was a landlord and got a got offer I would snap their hand off.

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[Quntib Hollox]

The fact that the council are making statements saying how confident they are that Forest will purchase the rights to the land by April is giving me hope that progress on an updated ground development will at least be announced soon.

 

[incident]

I think the last we knew was that they'd purchased all but two of the properties.

They may now have had offers accepted on the other two (fingers crossed!).

"Knew" is way too strong a word there.

We *know* the club have #21, #23, and #24 (and have done so for many years) as marked on the map below:

Beyond that, there's only rumours without any confirmation, and the land registry haven't registered any change of ownership yet (though they'll be somewhat behind).

Even in terms of "all but two", we don't know what "all" looks like - to my mind, they'd ideally purchase everything north of Orston Road West along with that odd house on Roseberry Avenue nearest the corner. Maybe even more. But the club may believe that they don't need all of that.

 

[Lady Penelope]

On impulse, I took Dad to watch the Sadpies yesterday. An entertaining game which ended in a victory for table-topping Walsall, a controversial disallowed goal for the visitors and a disallowed equaliser for ex-Red David McGoldrick in the last ten seconds of added time.

What has this got to do with the WFCG? Well, the catering is much the same at Meadow Lane, although obviously less crowded. Choice, pricing are such that the "don't bother" option pops up in my head, as it does at the WFCG. The seats were clean, the stewards helpful, and the PA decent. However, toilets ... spotless, hot water, soap and a towel. The same in the Gents as well apparently. Come on Forest, if Notts can do it then so can we.

it's embarrassing to have to admit that they are ahead of us in any way whatsoever. They are a club on the up for sure, but my tele is bigger than their 'big screens'.

Decent crowd in for them yesterday, 12600 which is not bad given that there wasn't any public transport available. Not far short of 2000 from Walsall, who were loud but embarrassingly boring. When I go to games and hear the same old songs I realise that Forest fans are amongst the most creative.

I will share with you though an incident from a few years ago. On a flight back to EMA from Guernsey the plane was full of a team called Walsall Wood and their supporters. They'd been playing a knock-out cup game over there. They had adapted an old Hermans Hermits song "Something tells me I'm into something good" and they sang "Something tells me I've got the Walsall Wood". I took it as a compliment of course. Fair play to them for creativity, far more so than their EFL counterparts from Walsall.

Back to the serious point ... Notts are getting a good thing going and their owners are definitely 'on it'. We got in at barely two hours notice, buying tickets on line and getting decent seats, and the standard was similar to the WFCG but the hot water ... cold day, makes a difference. I keep going on about it because it is so basic.

Driving down to Rooney-less Plymouth in a bit.

HNY

 

[Scott Gemmill's Hair]

"Knew" is way too strong a word there.

We *know* the club have #21, #23, and #24 (and have done so for many years) as marked on the map below:
View attachment 44915

Beyond that, there's only rumours without any confirmation, and the land registry haven't registered any change of ownership yet (though they'll be somewhat behind).

Even in terms of "all but two", we don't know what "all" looks like - to my mind, they'd ideally purchase everything north of Orston Road West along with that odd house on Roseberry Avenue nearest the corner. Maybe even more. But the club may believe that they don't need all of that.

You're are right here. Nothing is certain, although I had in my mind a couple of reliable sources had confirmed, all but two properties on Colwick Road have been sorted (not necessarily transacted, and if so, as you know the LR will be slow at updating).

You would think we'll also want properties on Rosebery Avenue too, either to help with larger PT stand footprint or egress for fans.

 

[PlayedOnGrass]

A good bit more than 3,000 if they build it higher than the BC, going back behind the goal. I think that is the plan, three tiers behind the goal (not the corners) and that is why a lot of property has to be acquired.

There were some plans drawn up for a World Cup bid which showed what an expanded BE might look like. I've tried to find those drawings but I have failed miserably (my head has not yet fully cleared). I think that is the kind of design the club have in mind.

This is the same information that I am hearing

 

[PlayedOnGrass]

I’d agree 45,000 is a reasonable figure to aim for at the moment. The advent of all-seater stadia has made empty spaces in grounds more obvious. With terraces, unless it was particularly sparse the variation was in how densely packed they were, whereas now it’s clearer if large areas are unoccupied. There seems to be a feeling that we should aim for a capacity at which we would sell out every week, ie the situation we have now but bigger. To me, that loses us potential income.

I think we currently need a capacity around 45,000 (assuming continuing top flight football and some degree of relative success along the way), where we would have enough to sell out for the biggest games and maintain a considerably higher average attendance than we are currently able to accommodate. In other words, I’d rather average 37,000 and sell out at 45,000 half a dozen times than have a 37,000 capacity that’s always full.

It gives us enough room for new supporters to get to see games, far-flung fans to know they have a chance of a ticket, potential regular supporters to make watching games live a habit rather than an occasional treat, and so on.

I think it really important that there is additional capacity - for parents to take their kids - we need to get the next generation engaged

 

[The Duke]

I think it really important that there is additional capacity - for parents to take their kids - we need to get the next generation engaged

This is very true. I’d take my daughter but just can’t. I’d also take the lad round the corner who’s dad died but can’t.

There must be thousands of kids that can’t go, even if it’s not all the time.

 

[PlayedOnGrass]

This is very true. I’d taken my daughter but just can’t. I’d also take the lad round the corner who’s dad died but can’t.

There must be thousands of kids that can’t go, even if it’s not all the time.

My grandkids are a bit young yet, but it won't be long.

I was on holiday recently and missed the Fulham match. I gave my SC to one of my 'younger' friends so he could take his lad.
What a faff that was! - He had to pay £45 to register his 8 year old lad as member before I could transfer the ticket across to him. That can't be right. We need to have a couple of thousand seats available so that it is easy & affordable.

 

[Gaz1980]

Notts will gladly scoop up any floating fans while we have ground issues, but i wouldn't give them a penny knowing 80% of them cannot stand us doing well.

 

[bloodred]

do we know the revised capacity of the ground with the updated bridgford stand…ie same height as Brian Clough stand/two tier around to A block ?

 

[PlayedOnGrass]

do we know the revised capacity of the ground with the updated bridgford stand…ie same height as Brian Clough stand/two tier around to A block ?

The plan as I have heard is

Phase 1 - New PT stand & Extended BE - 42k
Phase 2 - If/When required - New BC - circa 50k

 

[bloodred]

Notts will gladly scoop up any floating fans while we have ground issues, but i wouldn't give them a penny knowing 80% of them cannot stand us doing well.

They might wish to scoop these fans up but they would need to be much more attractive to actually do it

 

[bloodred]

The plan as I have heard is

Phase 1 - New PT stand & Extended BE - 42k
Phase 2 - If/When required - New BC - circa 50k

I sit in the upper bridgford, close to the Brian Clough. If the plan is to bring the bridgford up to the same level I think that would be at least ten new rows.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Notts will gladly scoop up any floating fans while we have ground issues, but i wouldn't give them a penny knowing 80% of them cannot stand us doing well.

I know what you mean. I've faced snide comments, even a bit of aggression, when owning my forest allegiance on my annual trip to Meadow Lane. Yesterday though the guys right next to me, both a fair bit older, but they were fine. Hopefully their grumpy crew are either not going or dying out.

I wish Notts well. I don't consider them rivals. They are a club on the up and good luck to them. They certainly will gather up folks who can't get in to Forest, they are doing already in fact. Marinakis must be aware of that.

 

[Quntib Hollox]

They might wish to scoop these fans up but they would need to be much more attractive to actually do it

Some people actually prefer non league football.