SUFC: The Future How would you redevelop Roots Hall?

[Shrimper]

Elounda owns Roots Hall

Elounda is in turn owned by Julie, Jack and Tom

Thanks

 

[southendkid]

On a serious note, how many food franchises have been approached? KFC, burger King, Macdonalds, noodle bar and so on. So much has been spoken about alcohol but we do need families for long term sustainability. I remember someone mentioned Rossis.. why not?

Not sure how interested they'd be (excluding Rossis I could see them being up for supplying the snack bar). McDonalds opened a branch at Anfield in the 90s but it shut 8 years later because (whilst business was high on match day) hardly anyone was going in on non-match days.

 

[Sherif H]

Would shifting the footprint north & east slightly be an option, to gain a bit more space on the West and South sides?

Indeed - the only way of future proofing the ground is to shift the pitch, certainly East. Not sure you'd gain much by going North as it is still quite constrained at the back there.

Moving the pitch East also has the rather fortunate side effect of improving the sightlines from the West in its current formation.

For those interested, this is how sightlines are calculated - moving the pitch further away from the West will basically enable us to 'have to' do less to the West....

 

[londonblue]

I'd apply for planning permission for a shed load of flats and go and build a new stadium somewhere else.

 

[Smiffy]

Indeed - the only way of future proofing the ground is to shift the pitch, certainly East. Not sure you'd gain much by going North as it is still quite constrained at the back there.

Moving the pitch East also has the rather fortunate side effect of improving the sightlines from the West in its current formation.

For those interested, this is how sightlines are calculated - moving the pitch further away from the West will basically enable us to 'have to' do less to the West....

View attachment 29033

Thanks mate, I was assuming you would say that.

What is the ideal "C" value?

I wonder what they are currently around the stadium?

I've always thought we could do with the steps being a bit steeper giving a better rake. Particularly in the West and North stands.

 

[OldWilliam]

I'd apply for planning permission for a shed load of flats and go and build a new stadium somewhere else.

Basildon?

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

As much as I love the old place, realistically I think a new stadium makes more sense in the long run than redeveloping RH, which would take a huge amount of work and money and mean years of reduced capacities, parking issues etc. I don't even know if it could be done, I'm no expert on these things but the place is decrepit.

But if we did go down that route, every stand would need replacing eventually. Start with the East. Then I'd do the North and South, probably making the North the home end and turning the South into a single-tier stand for away fans. Then do the West last.

 

[SouthendSpence]

As much as I love the old place, realistically I think a new stadium makes more sense in the long run than redeveloping RH, which would take a huge amount of work and money and mean years of reduced capacities, parking issues etc. I don't even know if it could be done, I'm no expert on these things but the place is decrepit.

But if we did go down that route, every stand would need replacing eventually. Start with the East. Then I'd do the North and South, probably making the North the home end and turning the South into a single-tier stand for away fans. Then do the West last.

I'd argue a stand at a time and the reduced capacity isn't such an issue, such as Wrexham having a side missing during work

Yes there would be inconvenience of course; but with gates of around 6k in a 12.5k stadium it should be doable.

In terms of parking, prioritise those with access needs and the rest of us will just have to get on with it for a while. It can be done I'm sure.

 

[Sherif H]

Thanks mate, I was assuming you would say that.

What is the ideal "C" value?

I wonder what they are currently around the stadium?

I've always thought we could do with the steps being a bit steeper giving a better rake. Particularly in the West and North stands.

C60 is the minimum for modifications to existing.
C90 is the minimum recommended for new build.
C120 is the ideal, but largely unused.

C-values are quite subjective though. If you have something like C20 and you have a smaller kid in front of you, you are less affected by a sub-optimal value. If, on the other hand, you have C90,l but somebody 6ft 10 is sitting in front of you, then your experience is also not going to be great.

 

[Sherif H]

I'd argue a stand at a time and the reduced capacity isn't such an issue, such as Wrexham having a side missing during work

Yes there would be inconvenience of course; but with gates of around 6k in a 12.5k stadium it should be doable.

In terms of parking, prioritise those with access needs and the rest of us will just have to get on with it for a while. It can be done I'm sure.

You'd phase the redevelopment so that you can hand over blocks of seating at a time throughout the season.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

A redeveloped Rootshall has some potentiual major downsides

1. Reduced capacity for x amount of seasons when development takes place (potentially a 5,000 maximum capacity for some of the development)

2. Reduced capacity overall. Even with the corners filled in, with modern regulations, we could see Rootshall becoming a 10,000 seater or less

3. disruption around the stadium. Parking, access, Seating (usual season ticket seats being unavailable) etc

4. More money. up for debate, but redeveloping a stadium costs more than building a new one and takes way longer to finish. the debate revolves around the price of land etc

Upsides

1. The location, Rootshall is in a prime location for supporters and has always trumped FF in this category

2. A smaller capacity isn't a bad thing, Bournemouth a prime example of this. now I know that if Southend ever got to the prem ... we would need 20,000 seats ... but lets be honest ... we are a long way away from that idea. also, a modern refurb would hopefully make the viewing experience a whole lore more comfortable with more leg room and less obstructions.

3. We stabilise the club and live a modest existence for the foreseeable future and just continue to smile when away fans sing "Southend's a **** hole" as at least we have our club back


For me ... I was a strong believer in moving home ... but now, I would rather stay and have a club to watch

 

[Ex-SouthendUnitedEmployee]

A redeveloped Rootshall has some potentiual major downsides

1. Reduced capacity for x amount of seasons when development takes place (potentially a 5,000 maximum capacity for some of the development)

2. Reduced capacity overall. Even with the corners filled in, with modern regulations, we could see Rootshall becoming a 10,000 seater or less

3. disruption around the stadium. Parking, access, Seating (usual season ticket seats being unavailable) etc

4. More money. up for debate, but redeveloping a stadium costs more than building a new one and takes way longer to finish. the debate revolves around the price of land etc

Upsides

1. The location, Rootshall is in a prime location for supporters and has always trumped FF in this category

2. A smaller capacity isn't a bad thing, Bournemouth a prime example of this. now I know that if Southend ever got to the prem ... we would need 20,000 seats ... but lets be honest ... we are a long way away from that idea. also, a modern refurb would hopefully make the viewing experience a whole lore more comfortable with more leg room and less obstructions.

3. We stabilise the club and live a modest existence for the foreseeable future and just continue to smile when away fans sing "Southend's a **** hole" as at least we have our club back


For me ... I was a strong believer in moving home ... but now, I would rather stay and have a club to watch

Pulling the East Stand down and moving it back would sold your capacity issues in the longer term - which in term allows the West expansion in the years to follow. A different scenario, but West Ham pulled down their main stand and rebuilt to increase capacity.

 

[LennySUFC]

A redeveloped Rootshall has some potentiual major downsides

1. Reduced capacity for x amount of seasons when development takes place (potentially a 5,000 maximum capacity for some of the development)

2. Reduced capacity overall. Even with the corners filled in, with modern regulations, we could see Rootshall becoming a 10,000 seater or less

3. disruption around the stadium. Parking, access, Seating (usual season ticket seats being unavailable) etc

4. More money. up for debate, but redeveloping a stadium costs more than building a new one and takes way longer to finish. the debate revolves around the price of land etc

Upsides

1. The location, Rootshall is in a prime location for supporters and has always trumped FF in this category

2. A smaller capacity isn't a bad thing, Bournemouth a prime example of this. now I know that if Southend ever got to the prem ... we would need 20,000 seats ... but lets be honest ... we are a long way away from that idea. also, a modern refurb would hopefully make the viewing experience a whole lore more comfortable with more leg room and less obstructions.

3. We stabilise the club and live a modest existence for the foreseeable future and just continue to smile when away fans sing "Southend's a **** hole" as at least we have our club back


For me ... I was a strong believer in moving home ... but now, I would rather stay and have a club to watch

This.

The only benefit of moving to FF was if you were building 1000 houses.

 

[thenobster]

Not sure how interested they'd be (excluding Rossis I could see them being up for supplying the snack bar). McDonalds opened a branch at Anfield in the 90s but it shut 8 years later because (whilst business was high on match day) hardly anyone was going in on non-match days.

I would have only suggested a pop up natch day franchise anyway.

 

[LBBlue]

So who is going to pay for all this?

 

[jnl]

A redeveloped Rootshall has some potentiual major downsides

1. Reduced capacity for x amount of seasons when development takes place (potentially a 5,000 maximum capacity for some of the development)

2. Reduced capacity overall. Even with the corners filled in, with modern regulations, we could see Rootshall becoming a 10,000 seater or less

3. disruption around the stadium. Parking, access, Seating (usual season ticket seats being unavailable) etc

4. More money. up for debate, but redeveloping a stadium costs more than building a new one and takes way longer to finish. the debate revolves around the price of land etc

Upsides

1. The location, Rootshall is in a prime location for supporters and has always trumped FF in this category

2. A smaller capacity isn't a bad thing, Bournemouth a prime example of this. now I know that if Southend ever got to the prem ... we would need 20,000 seats ... but lets be honest ... we are a long way away from that idea. also, a modern refurb would hopefully make the viewing experience a whole lore more comfortable with more leg room and less obstructions.

3. We stabilise the club and live a modest existence for the foreseeable future and just continue to smile when away fans sing "Southend's a **** hole" as at least we have our club back


For me ... I was a strong believer in moving home ... but now, I would rather stay and have a club to watch

Redeveloping the stadium, including filling in the corners, would surely at least maintain the present capacity, especially if a new larger main stand is built with corporate failities etc.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Incorporate onions at each food outlet!

 

[gpd]

View attachment 29026It would be very tight development as there is not a lot of room around the outside of the ground. But I stayed at Coventry Double-Tree by Hilton hotel and was given a room that overlooked the pitch (this is the view from my room). On match days all those rooms are turned into boxes for fans to hire/rent. I had a meal in the sports bar downstairs. very nice...good quality food (but pricy beer). Id like to think that an east Stand re-build could afford us to incorporate quality attractions including a hotel and sports bar/restaurant. We are allowed to dream.

Unusually... I had to ask for batteries for the remote control as they remove them and the sliding backs of the remote controls on match days. Apparently so they cant be thrown.

 

[Justleavingwork]

this is my rationale for switching the pitch orientation as its a terrible use of the plot, however moving the pitch east to attempt to open space on the west and south is a good plan however access in the north is going be a concern with the houses that were built.

 

[barton west]

On a serious note, how many food franchises have been approached? KFC, burger King, Macdonalds, noodle bar and so on. So much has been spoken about alcohol but we do need families for long term sustainability. I remember someone mentioned Rossis.. why not?

With respect, approaching the same old food franchises would be a terrible idea, guaranteeing poor quality food and high prices. Much better to approach go-ahead local food and Bev retailers. Rossi’s would be a perfect start.