QPR flash new stadium!!!!!

[loftustoad]

Maybe 40,000 is just the possible attendance for events when you take into account people on the pitch also???

[WeAreQPR12]

"

It was always intended to be nearer to 30,000, but the real reason for the lower initial capacity was down to the easier path through the planning issues.

They always had a decent size ground until the owner sold it for his benefit, forcing them to ground share with Gillingham prior to renting out the Athletic track.

A really lovely stadium to be fair. Whilst a lot of the cost was met by grants, the rest was paid for by the chairman. Not a loan, a gift. Ground now in a trust so that they ever have to worry about that sort of thing again. But then again, he is a life long fan. The worst thing about it is the location. Looks great approaching it from the fields above, but nowhere near the town.

I know you're Rangers through and through but there does tend to be a real soft spot for your local team.

Have you ever considered buying a ST, for example last season when we were in the premier and high ticket prices, not a pop just wondering because with there facilities etc it much have been tempting?

[brightonr]

"

Possibly not the best example in terms of looking at how their crowds increased..........but a very good example of controlled growth.

Original capacity was around 22k and has been gradually increased with the fanbase, which is an excellent way to maintain the 'full' stadium vibe but with an eye on the future.

It was always intended to be nearer to 30,000, but the real reason for the lower initial capacity was down to the easier path through the planning issues.

They always had a decent size ground until the owner sold it for his benefit, forcing them to ground share with Gillingham prior to renting out the Athletic track.

A really lovely stadium to be fair. Whilst a lot of the cost was met by grants, the rest was paid for by the chairman. Not a loan, a gift. Ground now in a trust so that they ever have to worry about that sort of thing again. But then again, he is a life long fan. The worst thing about it is the location. Looks great approaching it from the fields above, but nowhere near the town.

[Johnnykc]

For all but the last season or two that Brighton were at Withdean, the main reason for the crowds being less than 10,000 was that there were less than 7,000 seats. The reason for the delay was planning problems and legal challenges from residents in the local village who were up in arms about lots of people pitching up every couple of weeks. Funny really, as they don't seem to mind being surrounded by Brighton University campus on one side and Sussex University campus on the other for most of the year. And quite frankly, if you have ever been to the village of Falmer, you would be forgiven for not noticing you had.

You make many valid points, but Brighton is most definitely not the best example.

Possibly not the best example in terms of looking at how their crowds increased..........but a very good example of controlled growth.

Original capacity was around 22k and has been gradually increased with the fanbase, which is an excellent way to maintain the 'full' stadium vibe but with an eye on the future.

[dave58]

I am not disagreeing with you. Merely pointing out that without the capacity (which Loftus Road does not have), we cannot see how the attendances will grow from 18,000.

QPR will just have to build the stadium and see how many fans attend games. And should they find that it is not filled straight away, build a squad capable of gaining success and the fans will go and watch games, just as Chelsea went from 25,000 to 40,000 sell-outs inside 5 seasons.

Chelsea increased their gates by staring to win trophies, spending lots of Roman's. Own coffers to do it ,if the Mittal's decided to really give it a go and we started winning things buying marquee players I'm sure our fan base would increase? Also Chelsea & Fulham they nicked a large part of what prob would have been our fans base because of our years in the lower league wilderness. Also saw someone quoting Cardiff, Reading & Brighton they did increase their fan base but still only built stadia all smaller than 32.000. Which I think would be perfect for us.

[Jeems]

For all but the last season or two that Brighton were at Withdean, the main reason for the crowds being less than 10,000 was that there were less than 7,000 seats. The reason for the delay was planning problems and legal challenges from residents in the local village who were up in arms about lots of people pitching up every couple of weeks. Funny really, as they don't seem to mind being surrounded by Brighton University campus on one side and Sussex University campus on the other for most of the year. And quite frankly, if you have ever been to the village of Falmer, you would be forgiven for not noticing you had.

You make many valid points, but Brighton is most definitely not the best example.

And one of the reasons we dont get over 20k is because we can only fit 18k ;) I know we dont always sell out but we're normally there or thereabouts - in the Prem anyway. So at the Goldstone they had 20k+ crowds, now they have 30k...

Brighton IS a good example as to what possible delays to expect. We protest over everything in this country, and there will be numerous meetings, residents protests blahblahblah to get through which will drag on forever. Brighton's was just a stadium, our one is a whole lot more!

[brightonr]

Talking of flash...

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/footballer-shown-red-in-fa-cup-preliminary-for-flashing-referee-8775516.html

[lymehoop]

How did Brighton manage to increase their home gates almost 4 fold when moving into a new stadium?

they were already there, Goldstone Ground regularly had 20,000 plus

[brightonr]

How did Brighton manage to increase their home gates almost 4 fold when moving into a new stadium?

By putting in 4 times the number of seats.

That's not meant sarcastically, it is the truth.

[stanistheman]

How did Brighton manage to increase their home gates almost 4 fold when moving into a new stadium?

I am not disagreeing with you. Merely pointing out that without the capacity (which Loftus Road does not have), we cannot see how the attendances will grow from 18,000.

QPR will just have to build the stadium and see how many fans attend games. And should they find that it is not filled straight away, build a squad capable of gaining success and the fans will go and watch games, just as Chelsea went from 25,000 to 40,000 sell-outs inside 5 seasons.

[brightonr]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8881167/ according to this, the entire site will be finished by 2026 so the 10 year stadium was an estimate on my part. Realistic imo, given how long everything takes in this country.

I believe our fan base will grow by looking at other teams around us who have done the same. Chelsea and Fulham are the obvious examples, but the best one to look at is actually Brighton. Sub 10k crowds until a move to a new stadium combined with success on the pitch means they now fill a 30k stadium. They started planning their stadium in 1998. I can only imagine what their fans were thinking at the time - 10mil in debt and the directors planning a 30k stadium!

For all but the last season or two that Brighton were at Withdean, the main reason for the crowds being less than 10,000 was that there were less than 7,000 seats. The reason for the delay was planning problems and legal challenges from residents in the local village who were up in arms about lots of people pitching up every couple of weeks. Funny really, as they don't seem to mind being surrounded by Brighton University campus on one side and Sussex University campus on the other for most of the year. And quite frankly, if you have ever been to the village of Falmer, you would be forgiven for not noticing you had.

You make many valid points, but Brighton is most definitely not the best example.

[Del]

Should be 20-25k max,

What would be the point of spending a fortune on a new stadium and only increasing the capacity by 2k?

[TW7R]

Probably because they like the more pessimistic viewpoint.

As for building up the fanbase to fill a 40K stadium, it can't happen soon because the current stadium will not allow it to even grow to 20,000. There is no room for expansion, other than create a waiting list for tickets.

The QPR Board will just have to build a stadium and find a way of making the seats retractable to decrease/increase capacity as and when required so that it doesn't look 50-70% full. They could perhaps ensure that seats in the top rows of stands are covered up or disguised so that they do not remain empty.

The only real way forward is a new stadium. If they don't build it soon the club will just stay a mid-range Championship club.

How did Brighton manage to increase their home gates almost 4 fold when moving into a new stadium?

[stanistheman]

Love the way everyone uses Coventry as an example.

Why not use Hull, Cardiff, Brighton or Reading as examples?

Have a look at their attendances when they were in their previous grounds to what they get now, and tell me they havnt prospered since increasing their gates in some cases well over double.

Atmospheres too are arguably better (bar reading) so not sure where all this stuff about not filling a ground comes from. If its marketed well and you get the right people in, you gain support and grow. Look at Brighton now to what they were the last time we were in the same league. Who's gonna be taking the **** out of the others Mickey Mouse out of date ground now?

Gone from crowds of 4k or whatever it was to ST sales over 20k I think I read. Does the Samesex Arena resemble the cottage with a load of newbies? No

Probably because they like the more pessimistic viewpoint.

As for building up the fanbase to fill a 40K stadium, it can't happen soon because the current stadium will not allow it to even grow to 20,000. There is no room for expansion, other than create a waiting list for tickets.

The QPR Board will just have to build a stadium and find a way of making the seats retractable to decrease/increase capacity as and when required so that it doesn't look 50-70% full. They could perhaps ensure that seats in the top rows of stands are covered up or disguised so that they do not remain empty.

The only real way forward is a new stadium. If they don't build it soon the club will just stay a mid-range Championship club.

[Jeems]

You get to this time scale how? But that aside, what makes you think our fan base is going to increase at all between now the opening of this possible new stadium?

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8881167/ according to this, the entire site will be finished by 2026 so the 10 year stadium was an estimate on my part. Realistic imo, given how long everything takes in this country.

I believe our fan base will grow by looking at other teams around us who have done the same. Chelsea and Fulham are the obvious examples, but the best one to look at is actually Brighton. Sub 10k crowds until a move to a new stadium combined with success on the pitch means they now fill a 30k stadium. They started planning their stadium in 1998. I can only imagine what their fans were thinking at the time - 10mil in debt and the directors planning a 30k stadium!