Olympic Stadium Remodelling, 54,000
Designs for the conversion of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium have been unveiled by West Ham United, who is set to move from their present home in East London and become the primary tenant of the Olympic Stadium.
Work to alter the fabric of the stadium has been ongoing since the Olympics finished, but several modifications will be required in the coming months to ensure that the stadium can be used for both football and athletics. Modifications include retractable seating over the running track, and the world’s largest tensile roof to provide additional cover for spectators. Overall capacity will be reduced from 80,000 to 54,000, bit this would still make it the fourth largest stadium in London (behind Wembley, Twickenham and the Emirates).
Stadium in Athletics Mode
Image from West Ham United: http://www.whufc.com/articles/201303...236884_3125605
Stadium in Football Mode
Image from West Ham United: http://www.whufc.com/articles/201303...236884_3125605
Image from West Ham United: http://www.whufc.com/articles/201303...236884_3125605
Brentford Community Stadium (Brentford FC), 20,000
Whilst not one of London’s most famous football clubs, Brentford have been playing football in West London for close to 125 years and currently ply their trade in the third tier of English football.
Brentford’s current home ground: Griffin Park is now over a century old and has a limited capacity of 12,000; furthermore surrounding housing development and the proximity to Heathrow’s flight paths limits any potential expansion. The club have thus sought over the last few years a new site within the Brentford area of West London.
Image taken by lakeside1964: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3416555...n/photostream/
After several years of negotiation, it was announced last year that the club had acquired a 7.6 acre parcel of land half a kilometre due east (towards Central London) of the present Griffin Park ground surrounded by railway lines. In recent weeks, the club have also unveiled plans for what the 20,000 capacity stadium will look like, as well as the surrounding residential development (by Barratt Homes) which will assist in the development costs of the new stadium. Kew Bridge station on the Hounslow Loop Line is adjacent to the stadium site, whilst Gunnersbury on the District Line is a short distance away.
Brentford are aiming to start site work next summer, with an opening in July 2016 in time for the 2016-17 season. Once complete, the old stadium will be converted into housing.
All of the following images were sourced from:
http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium...ds-A-FINAL.pdf
http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium...ds-B-FINAL.pdf
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Brentford Community Stadium: http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?cat=6
Allianz Park, 10,000
Allianz Park is the new home of rugby union side Saracens, who have been a resident of North London for some 135 years. The new stadium incorporates portions of the old Barnet Copthall athletics stadium, a new stand and two temporary stands. Retractable seating allows for the venue to still be used for athletics events.
The stadium also incorporates the first artificial pitch in rugby union competition, and fans are welcomed to walk on the pitch after matches. There are however two downsides: firstly it’s on the Mill Hill East branch of the Northern Line (basically a one-station shuttle) which is a bit of hassle. Secondly on the two occasions I’ve been, games have been a sell-out, so 10,000 is possibly conservative for attendances.
Image taken by Professor Alf on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/profess...n/photostream/
Image taken by Professor Alf on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/profess...n/photostream/
New Loftus Road, 35-45,000
Plans for a new modern home for QPR have been in the works for several years now, but last week (and despite the club being all-but relegated from the top flight), the club’s owner Tony Fernandes indicated that details on a new stadium are in the works, and that details would be released soon:
https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/st...49636234067968
QPR’s present home at Loftus Road (18,500 capacity) in West London has limited potential for expansion due its location due to the restriction of nearby residential streets. Thus a new stadium is likely to be built somewhere else in West London. Fernandes has indicated a stadium with a capacity of up to 45,000 is sought, but 35,000 is more likely in the short-term due to the clubs’ present position.
Loftus Road
Image taken by milanm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/milanm/...n/photostream/
St Mary’s, 50,000
St Mary’s is the home to Southampton FC, a Premier League side in the south of England (a city on the periphery of London’s ‘metro’). Southampton moved to St Mary’s in 2001, having moved from their historic ‘The Dell’ ground which had been Southampton’s home for over a century. The present ground which is now over a decade old holds a capacity of just shy of 33,000, and with Southampton likely to avoid relegation, and increase revenues, the owners have sought to expand the stadium capacity. As to what the future capacity would be is uncertain, but a figure of 50,000 has been thrown around.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...5&postcount=50
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...5&postcount=50
Madejski Stadium, 38,500
Located in a commuter town of the same name, Reading is a football club that were recently promoted to the Premier League. The club’s home ground (the Madejski) is a modern stadium with a capacity of 24,000 built in the late 90’s. The stadium is also used by rugby union side London Irish.
In recent years the club had sought to expand the capacity further, and when the club was acquired by Anton Zingarevich (a Russian tycoon), things looked positive. Subsequently a planning application was submitted earlier this year to expand the stadium’s capacity by 50% to 38,500, however this was dependent upon the club remaining in the Premier League.
Unfortunately, Reading has done rather poorly this season, and are now destined to be relegated to the second tier of English football. If Reading can bounce back, there is the possibility that the club will accelerate the plans upon promotion as the added revenue from more corporate suites and seating can be substantial. The following image is from an earlier planning application, but it provides an idea of the scale of the project.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...1&postcount=36
The Madejski as it is today
Image taken by Jack Tanner: http://www.flickr.com/photos/4736512...n/photostream/
Southend United Stadium,22,000
Located due east of London, Southend-on-Sea is more famous for the world’s longest pier (it has its own rail line), but it is also home to League Two (English 4th division) side Southend United.
Roots Hall is the club’s present ground (capacity of 12,400), but as with all historic grounds, it lacks the space for modernisation and expansion. The club has thus spent several years seeking a new home, and trying to get planning permission for a new stadium on the periphery of Southend. Present plans see the eventual construction of a 22,000 capacity stadium, training facilities, residential apartments and a retail park; construction could start soon.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...1&postcount=16
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...1&postcount=16
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...1&postcount=16
The Oval, 24,000
The second largest cricket venue in London after Lord’s, The Oval recently experienced substantial expansion and modernisation with the creation of the OCS Stand, however the owners are seeking to expand the capacity by a further 1,000 seats bringing capacity to 24,000.
Image sourced from Kia Oval: http://www.kiaoval.com/wp-content/up...of-Terrace.pdf
Image sourced from Kia Oval: http://www.kiaoval.com/wp-content/up...of-Terrace.pdf
Craven Cottage,
Craven Cottage based along the bank of the River Thames in West London is home to Premier League side Fulham. Plans to develop the western stand alongside the River Thames were raised last year to increase capacity to 30,000.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=26
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=26
Unfortunately a delay in gaining planning approval, has pushed the development back, but the club is looking to complete the development by the start of the 2014-15 season. No seats would be lost during construction. The following text and images were sourced by
RMB2007 from skyscrapercity.
Phase 1: Closed season 2012/13. New river wall, new fender piles, new stadium bearing piles, modifications to Putney Stand undertaken and new river walkway are built.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=31
Phase 2: Open season 2013/14. Temporary platform constructed, and foundations finished. Then steel frame is erected, floor slabs put in place and core towers at each end (for roof) put into place. Roof trust is delivered and put into shape on top of new stand, before being put into place and supported on its end cores. Finally, the remaining steelwork (the seating) is erected, before the roof is put up and clad.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=31
Phase 3: Closed season 2013/14. Existing Riverside roof is removed, as well as supporting columns, whilst stand is fitted out and modified for the start of the 2014/15 season. New gates/ turnstiles put into place at end of Bishops Park and start of riverside walkway on Hammersmith side of stand.
Image sourced by RMB2007: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...9&postcount=31
Stadium mk, 32,000
Home to the relatively new MK Dons (founded in 2004; they were controversially previously known as Wimbledon), the club is based in Milton Keynes (due north-west of London) and gradually made progress on and off the pitch allowing them to construct a modern 22,000 capacity stadium that opened in 2007. Rather unique for most stadiums, the upper tier was constructed but not fitted out; this is now due to occur over the summer break, thus bringing the capacity up to 32,000. New large screen will also be installed.
The semi-complete upper stand which will now be completed in the coming months
Image taken by ud23: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3384864...n/photostream/
The Hive Stadium, 5,100 (10,000)
Barnet FC played their last home match at the century old Underhill ground in the London Borough of Barnet last weekend. The club have been aiming to build a 10,000 capacity stadium for two decades, and were interested in acquiring the Barnet Copthall site (now home to Saracen’s Allianz Park), but due to resistance from the local council, the club are relocating to their training ground in the neighbouring London Borough of Harrow.
Barnet will construct a temporary 5,100 stadium on their training premises (adjacent to the Jubilee Line), in time for the 2013-14 season. The local authorities have only granted permission for ten years, and it is likely that the club owners will continue to seek a site in their home borough of Barnet to construct a fully modern and permanent 10,000 capacity stadium before 2023.
Images taken by pletch99: http://www.onlybarnet.com/forum/view...tart=15#p75472
Images taken by pletch99: http://www.onlybarnet.com/forum/view...tart=15#p75472
Image sourced from Only Barnet: www.onlybarnet.com/stadiumplan2.pdf
The AMEX, 30,750
Brighton & Hove Albion moved to their new ground less than two years ago; a fully modern 22,000 capacity stadium nestled amongst the hills overlooking Brighton (50mins train ride due south of Central London). Subsequent excellent performance on the pitch (the club is a contender for the last promotion spot to the Premier League), has led to substantial attendances the club looking to boosting stadium capacity.
After several months of alternations and extensions, the capacity of the stadium is now 30,750.
Image taken by Icfcian1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lcfcian...n/photostream/
Image taken by Fulham phil: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fulhamp...n/photostream/
Yokosuka Stadium, 15-18,000
Gillingham is a commuter town in part of the Medway area close to the Thames Estuary. The town’s football club (Gillingham) currently play home games at the Priestfield Stadium which dates back 120 years, with a capacity of 11,500. Over the last decade the club’s management have sought to develop a new stadium with a capacity of up to 18,000, although issues on the pitch (relegation from the second tier to the fourth) and off (financial uncertainty) stunted progress.
Last year, plans were unveiled by the club to develop a 40 acre site (currently the club’s training ground) on Yokosuka Way on the outskirts of the town. The site would encompass the construction of a stadium of up 18,000 capacity, hotel, leisure centre, tennis academy and various shops, however the development is dependent upon the redevelopment of the nearby Chatham Docks.
Image sourced from Kent Online: http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonli..._petition.aspx
Image sourced from Kent Online: http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonli..._petition.aspx
London Wasps Stadium, ????
Rugby union side London Wasps currently share a stadium with Wycombe Wanderers in a commuter town due west of London. The stadium (Adams Park) has a capacity of 10,000, and despite being built in the 90’s, is limiting revenue growth options for both sports clubs. Originally there were plans to construct a 20,000 capacity ground owned by both clubs on a little used airfield closer to the town centre and adjacent to the M40 motorway. These plans were subsequently turned down and the owner of Wasps then sold the club.
Earlier this month (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013...ardson-stadium) the new majority owner of the club announced that the club was looking to end the current ground-share arrangement with Wycombe Wanderers, and build a dedicated rugby union stadium, preferably in West London. The new owners are working on a five year plan, so indicative plans will probably be announced in the coming months.
Wasp’s current home at Adams Park, High Wycombe
Image taken by Peter J Dean: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowanba...n/photostream/
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