SUFC: The Future The North Bank Return

[Smiffy]

Now the dust has settled on our home campaign for another season. How do you think the reopening of the North Bank has gone?

There were quite a few sceptical comments prior to the re-opening, but I for one think it’s been a huge success…

It’s been packed out most weeks (900-1000+) and the noise generated has completely transformed the atmosphere at Roots Hall. I don’t think the view is all that bad either. Granted it’s not as great as having a side view, but then again you don’t get a better view of the north bank goal either!

I hope COSU find a way of allowing us access to most/all of the North Bank next season. We shouldn’t be giving 100 Solihull the ability to sound like 500. Chuck them elsewhere, where they can’t be seen or heard and let 2,000 of us create a cauldron of noise.

I for one will be happy to purchase season card here next season. Might be an idea for COSU to keep season cards priced slightly lower here to really ramp up the numbers.

Long term I’d love the North bank round to X block to be safe standing.

What are your thoughts of how it’s gone, what needs to change, hopes for next season in the North Bank etc?

 

[PIERS]

I think is been superb. get the away fans in the North West corner. Have the whole North Bank for the more youthful and lively fan.

 

[Shrimper]

Make it all safe standing, ideally stick the away fans in the South Lower but not realistic. Otherwise, give away fans one block, more for big teams maybe?

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

North bank will be oversubscribed next season if it stays as it is. There'll be a whole raft of new season tickets in there.

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

it took a while to get going, but was magic yesterday

 

[Liam AAS]

Now the dust has settled on our home campaign for another season. How do you think the reopening of the North Bank has gone?

I hope COSU find a way of allowing us access to most/all of the North Bank next season. We shouldn’t be giving 100 Solihull the ability to sound like 500. Chuck them elsewhere, where they can’t be seen or heard and let 2,000 of us create a cauldron of noise.

What are your thoughts of how it’s gone, what needs to change, hopes for next season in the North Bank etc?

This just isn't going to happen. Access and egress has to be safely managed. An opposition fan was killed not fan from Roots Hall not that long ago.

If the stadium was rebuilt then this might be a consideration but for now we are almost certainly going to have to accept sharing the NB with away supporters.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

A lot of young lads are standing on their seats so if safe standing involves removing seats im all for it. Cant see **** when theyre in front of us, trying to police it ourselves without being too middle aged grumpy type.
Fine balance between being able to see the penalty box whilst the game is on, and getting a mouthful back from a kid reminding me how old i am

 

[Danshrimper]

It’s been a massive success this time around, much better than the half hearted attempt after Christmas. Assuming we don’t go up, just leave it as it is. Maybe open up the corner to try and help the atmosphere connect to the West even more. And give an extra block to home fans behind the goal, most teams in this league don’t need more than 100 seats.

Only issue is, in the long term (or hopefully short term) what happens with the away allocation when we return to the EFL?

I think you have to give a minimum of 10%, so the current 850 or so away allocation won’t be sufficient. About a quarter of teams in L2, and probably about half of L1 would bring 850+ so we would have no choice but to remove home fans from the North Bank to accommodate that.

In that situation, where do you put those with season tickets in the North Bank? I’m not really sure there’s anywhere else in the ground you could easily move 1,000 to, so you’d end up with TBV being split up across random areas of the ground, killing the home atmosphere for the biggest games like Col U.

 

[PIERS]

It’s been a massive success this time around, much better than the half hearted attempt after Christmas. Assuming we don’t go up, just leave it as it is. Maybe open up the corner to try and help the atmosphere connect to the West even more. And give an extra block to home fans behind the goal, most teams in this league don’t need more than 100 seats.

Only issue is, in the long term (or hopefully short term) what happens with the away allocation when we return to the EFL?

I think you have to give a minimum of 10%, so the current 850 or so away allocation won’t be sufficient. About a quarter of teams in L2, and probably about half of L1 would bring 850+ so we would have no choice but to remove home fans from the North Bank to accommodate that.

In that situation, where do you put those with season tickets in the North Bank? I’m not really sure there’s anywhere else in the ground you could easily move 1,000 to, so you’d end up with TBV being split up across random areas of the ground, killing the home atmosphere for the biggest games like Col U.

indeed. the away fans cant go in the East as that will be the main stand. you cant sell season tickets for the North bank and then tell fans its south lower for you as XYZ are bringing 800
They will either have to make An allocation in the NW corner and up to Block X. or maintain an ad hoc game by game approach . which will be tricky should we continue to draw 8k plus crowds.

 

[sufc4life21]

It’s been a massive success this time around, much better than the half hearted attempt after Christmas. Assuming we don’t go up, just leave it as it is. Maybe open up the corner to try and help the atmosphere connect to the West even more. And give an extra block to home fans behind the goal, most teams in this league don’t need more than 100 seats.

Only issue is, in the long term (or hopefully short term) what happens with the away allocation when we return to the EFL?

I think you have to give a minimum of 10%, so the current 850 or so away allocation won’t be sufficient. About a quarter of teams in L2, and probably about half of L1 would bring 850+ so we would have no choice but to remove home fans from the North Bank to accommodate that.

In that situation, where do you put those with season tickets in the North Bank? I’m not really sure there’s anywhere else in the ground you could easily move 1,000 to, so you’d end up with TBV being split up across random areas of the ground, killing the home atmosphere for the biggest games like Col U.

That's not true, there is a way to accommodate Southend fans in the north bank with big away following. Let's say it's 1,000 plus away fans they can be allocated in block x and the corner section with the potential of couple blocks in the North bank. For that to work Southend fans would have to be where the away fans are currently housed which would be maximum capacity of 800 odd due to the flow rate which that section is allowed by health & safety. That would also be easier to police as away fans would enter through fairfax drive while Southend fans enter via the east stand car park.

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

What you have to remember, is for the FA Cup, we have to allocate 15% of our total available capacity to the away team. Doesn’t matter if that’s a big side who will easily sell it out, or some obscure Northern team in our division.

This has to be planned for, even if it’s something that may never happen.

 

[Danshrimper]

That's not true, there is a way to accommodate Southend fans in the north bank with big away following. Let's say it's 1,000 plus away fans they can be allocated in block x and the corner section with the potential of couple blocks in the North bank. For that to work Southend fans would have to be where the away fans are currently housed which would be maximum capacity of 800 odd due to the flow rate which that section is allowed by health & safety. That would also be easier to police as away fans would enter through fairfax drive while Southend fans enter via the east stand car park.

So as you say, a maximum of 800 home fans in the North Bank in this scenario. That still leaves potentially 200-250 North Bank season ticket holders having to get moved to a random area of the ground.

Also, what are the chances the police will approve Colchester fans being right next to home fans in the West, as well as sharing the North Bank with Southend fans? Can’t see it happening.

 

[sufc4life21]

So as you say, a maximum of 800 home fans in the North Bank in this scenario. That still leaves potentially 200-250 North Bank season ticket holders having to get moved to a random area of the ground.

Also, what are the chances the police will approve Colchester fans being right next to home fans in the West, as well as sharing the North Bank with Southend fans? Can’t see it happening.

Why? We see it all the time for big games in the Premier league/championship where the segregation is minimal distance which have more fans attending than Southend currently do. Admittedly you would need more stewards in certain areas but it's not impossible.

 

[Shrimper]

As part of the East Stand development, will they look at filling in the corners to the North and South?

 

[Supershrimper]

As part of the East Stand development, will they look at filling in the corners to the North and South?

You'd like to think they would. Away fans could then be pushed into the corner of he West / North and the home fans could come closer to the East. Hopefully forward thinkin and the North East corner is filled in with the option for it to link up with a revised North Bank (if one is ever to be mooted)

 

[Shrimper]

You'd like to think they would. Away fans could then be pushed into the corner of he West / North and the home fans could come closer to the East. Hopefully forward thinkin and the North East corner is filled in with the option for it to link up with a revised North Bank (if one is ever to be mooted)

Was thinking that too.

 

[Liam AAS]

As part of the East Stand development, will they look at filling in the corners to the North and South?

Ron's £20m is now down to £12m. I think everyone would have had high hopes but not sure what we'll get now tbh.

 

[Shrimper]

Ron's £20m is now down to £12m. I think everyone would have had high hopes but not sure what we'll get now tbh.

Get these lads involved

 

[Cricko]

Ron's £20m is now down to £12m. I think everyone would have had high hopes but not sure what we'll get now tbh.

It is written into the deal that we will get it. No money to the club means no houses on BL

 

[NZamba Legend]

It is written into the deal that we will get it. No money to the club means no houses on BL

No money flows, no bungalows