Breaking News Facilities Update - North Bank (NWQ) X block now open

[Mr Browns Ghost]

The only way the north will happen and will be needed is by the club finally putting a success team out on the pitch that’s consistently winning and entertaining. Simply as that the gates will come back when the people are entertained and we are making a real push for promotion ( York for example )

 

[londonblue]

One of my issues with staying at Roots Hall is the fact that you can't walk round the perimeter of the stadium so getting from the West stand to the East means going out to the street.

But if the North stand was given back to the home fans, and the away fans were housed in the South, then you would be able to because, presumably, the gates that separate the North and East can be opened.

 

[They Call It Madness!!!]

One of my issues with staying at Roots Hall is the fact that you can't walk round the perimeter of the stadium so getting from the West stand to the East means going out to the street.

But if the North stand was given back to the home fans, and the away fans were housed in the South, then you would be able to because, presumably, the gates that separate the North and East can be opened.

Sorry, why is this an issue?

I can think of dozens of stadiums that don’t have this facility and what positives would it allow for?

The current way allows security to be managed (in terms of safely exiting the stadium).

 

[EnglandShrimper]

Away fans will always be segregated so surely there is no way this will ever happen for us again?

 

[sufc4life21]

It can happen if there the will and determination from the club and fans! Personally I would have the away support in the corner section and block x with the option of 1/2 blocks of the north bank if the away support is bigger than usual, 2/3 exits points there already and the away fans can continue to use fairfax drive. Southend fans allocated in the blues seats with the option of yellow if the demand is there, with Southend fans coming from the east side of the north bank. Having the away support in the corner section would diminish there presence at Roots Hall. Let's be real here 200 away fans do sound louder than blue voice and that's not criticism of the blue voice just fact.

 

[londonblue]

Sorry, why is this an issue?

I can think of dozens of stadiums that don’t have this facility and what positives would it allow for?

The current way allows security to be managed (in terms of safely exiting the stadium).

It would allow us who sit in the West stand to get to the club shop without having a half hour walk. I would be more likely to spend money in the shop, as I suspect would a number of other people.

For clarity, I'm not saying it's a bid deal, but it would be far more convenient.

 

[They Call It Madness!!!]

It would allow us who sit in the West stand to get to the club shop without having a half hour walk. I would be more likely to spend money in the shop, as I suspect would a number of other people.

For clarity, I'm not saying it's a bid deal, but it would be far more convenient.

That's a very valid point.

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

I’m possibly on the wrong thread for this one, but I’m surprised no one has mentioned in terms of upgrading the north bank whether we would consider the large style stand that Woking have behind one of the goals and convert it all to safe standing?

 

[Supershrimper]

It would allow us who sit in the West stand to get to the club shop without having a half hour walk. I would be more likely to spend money in the shop, as I suspect would a number of other people.

For clarity, I'm not saying it's a bid deal, but it would be far more convenient.

If the north was fully home then what's to stop the club shop from moving into a new North bank which is then easily accessible from East, North and West.

Plenty of space if they repurposed the little car park behind the North Bank

 

[Shrimper]

I’m possibly on the wrong thread for this one, but I’m surprised no one has mentioned in terms of upgrading the north bank whether we would consider the large style stand that Woking have behind one of the goals and convert it all to safe standing?

Don't think there is room to expand it due to the houses behind it.

 

[Smiffy]

Southend United FC | Southend United Football Club

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

As part of our phased approach to opening the Solopress North Bank for home supporters, we are pleased to announce that Block X of the Gilbert & Rose Stand will now open, starting with this Saturday’s game against Forest Green Rovers.

We’ve listened to your feedback, and we’ve acted. The aim is for our fans to return to the North Bank by the end of the year.

Supporters who have already purchased tickets for the Forest Green game and wish to move to Block X can do so by contacting the BTMK Box Office.

To progress this further, we will need to carry out some essential works to create a new access route for away fans via the North-East corner. These works are being undertaken in partnership with the police and the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), both of whom have been incredibly supportive of our plans.

As mentioned, our aim is to open the North Bank yellow seats for home fans on Boxing Day. By this time, we will have completed the necessary improvements to ensure the safe access and egress of away supporters.

Thank you for your continued support as we make these improvements to enhance the matchday experience.

 

[Smiffy]

On the back of the news above, 630 extra seats are now available for purchase in Block X.

 

[Cricko]

It's great news that X block will be open to alleviate the pressure on W block, however I am not convinced that the North Bank will ever work unless it is standing and not seated.

 

[Sherif H]

It's great news that X block will be open to alleviate the pressure on W block, however I am not convinced that the North Bank will ever work unless it is standing and not seated.

The only way to make the North Stand work for us (in terms of creating an imposing atmosphere), and crucially, to do it safely, is to convert to safe-standing, however you'd have to do it to the whole stand, not just a portion.
More to the point, the SGSA have been clamping down on standing in seated areas for a couple of seasons, and now really have the daggers out (more so at PL level, but applies across the pyramid), ergo standing in Block X isn't going to be able to last forever.

 

[Smiffy]

The only way to make the North Stand work for us (in terms of creating an imposing atmosphere), and crucially, to do it safely, is to convert to safe-standing, however you'd have to do it to the whole stand, not just a portion.
More to the point, the SGSA have been clamping down on standing in seated areas for a couple of seasons, and now really have the daggers out (more so at PL level, but applies across the pyramid), ergo standing in Block X isn't going to be able to last forever.

That is my concern. It wont end well if the NB opens and the stewards spend 90 minutes telling everyone to sit down. As has already been said, the only way it works is at the very least standing is allowed (not clamped down on) even if it does remain a seated area for now.

If sitting is going to be enforced, then they may as well close the area and just open it for the part-timers when a big game comes along.

 

[Tommy2holes]

On the back of the news above, 630 extra seats are now available for purchase in Block X.

It's great it's open but I can see crowds tailing off between now and the end of the season.

 

[Smiffy]

It's great it's open but I can see crowds tailing off between now and the end of the season.

Should we not make a second half of the season tilt at the play-offs, then yes it's not rocket science that the crowds will ultimately tail off. If by some miracle we do though, then these extra seats will come in handy...

Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail.

 

[Sherif H]

You can see the crowds are starting to gradually fall already - if we carry on playing this way and losing, then honestly, we will very quickly be seeing the return of 5,000 crowds as the norm.

 

[Smiffy]

You can see the crowds are starting to gradually fall already - if we carry on playing this way and losing, then honestly, we will very quickly be seeing the return of 5,000 crowds as the norm.

I said a while back we need to try and make sure we don't do an Oldham. They have lost big numbers on the back of a season or two of dross post takeover. A big summer is ahead for COSU with a lot of positive noise and action needed to get these almost record numbers of season card holders to renew. A good second half of the season would help massively...

 

[Tommy2holes]

You can see the crowds are starting to gradually fall already - if we carry on playing this way and losing, then honestly, we will very quickly be seeing the return of 5,000 crowds as the norm.

Unless the club do what other clubs do and count season card holders whether they attend or not.

We have 4500 season cards and I'm pretty sure they will be counted regardless of attendance.

I am seriously thinking about working from home Saturday, earning some money and watching the game indoors in the warm rather than freezing and seeing us get battered.