Thanks to Martin Brailli for all these notes:
The stadium has been designed / orientated so no one will get the sun in their eyes during games ( good news for the North Stand !) - That didn't work out then! Often in the East Stand the sun can be very dominating.
The car park space for 2000 has been calculated by a firm of specialist engineers as optimum for this size stadium. It will take no more than 30 minutes to clear the car park when they are full. The car parks will be free. - 30 Minutes?
The club is contributing 6 million to the cost of the A33 relief road to get it built quicker. It won't be ready until December 98 which means the first 6 home games will have some traffic problems ( not sure why only 6 - surely there are at least 2 a month). The payment was a condition of planning permission.
There will be bike and pedestrian routes built into the stadium and bike parking for 300 cycles.
There isn't a railway station included yet but the club are discussing it with the railways and definitely want to have one.
The club will be running supporters coaches from various areas of town to the ground. The specific example quoted, in response to a question, was buses from Ford's Farm.
There will be a Sports Hall built next to the training ground which will be suitable for indoor athletics ( sound slike a big sports hall !). This has just been added to the plans.
There is 80k sq ft of land available for future development.
There is no hotel included ( Nigel commented when I asked him about this that one would be built on the away fans car park - not sure whether this was a serious answer !)
The site is currently 8 m deep in refuse. This won't be removed ( it would cost 45 million to completely clear the site) but will be 'controlled'. A major issue is that Courages draw their water from a chalk acquifer next to the site and were concerned that disturbing the refuse would contaminate the water ( not sure how you'd tell that with Fosters I must admit).
The space under the East and West stands ( the long ones) will be used. Under the West stand will be lots of hospitality suites, a pitch side restaurant, 700 seat restaiurant, a creche, club offices etc.
Under the East Stand will be a members only Sports bar with room initially for 500 to be expenaded to 1500 ( no doubt employing 2 bar staff).
Nostradamus (sp?) eat your heart out! The space under the ends will be developed when the finance is available.
There will be TVs in all the concourses plus food outlets, betting shops, merchandising outlets, lots of toilets.
There will be a club superstore.
There is a disabled viewing area right on the half way line at the back of the East Stand. I hope there is a lift to it - didn't get a chance to ask.
There is an exhibition area on the ground floor of the Conference centre which will be sued by local firms to display their products.
The stadium is to a higher specification than any of the other new grounds built. Howe was impressed by Bolton's new ground but said most of the others (he mentioned Boro, Sunderland, Derby and Stoke) are built from a single design. Ours is completely unique and has used state of the art features throughout.
There won't a a big screen - they cost 1.5 - 2 million each. He has met with the MD of Panasonic and suggested they give us 2 screens in return for an Exec box - he's waiting to hear back ! There will be a score board.
A retractable roof would add 15 million to the cost
Build time is 56 weeks starting mid July - look out for wet paint at the start of next season.
He is certain that we would not be allowed to stay at Elm Park beyond the end of next season under any circumstances. Converting Elm Pork to all seater would give a capacity of 8000 and would probably not get planning permission.
There will be 16 bars in the new ground!
The ground will be owned by Reading FC plc. The Non food retail site ( anchored by B&Q but with other stores also expected) has been sold to B&Q. This had to be done to raise the upfront cash for the stadium, therefore there is no ongoing rental income from that area.
There are no plans to float the club on the Stock Market
Admission prices have not been set yet. They will be higher than Elm Park ( surprise) but they will not be much higher.
There will be undersoil heating.
The pitch may mix grass and synthetic fibres - they are looking at a number of options.
The business plan is based on attendances of 12000 growing to 15000 over 3 years. They expect to get more but these are the break evens. Payback on the costs is expected over 5 years ( seems quick to me !). It is assumed we will be in Div 1 for this period.
It will be possible to block book seats so people who have stood together at Elm Park can sit together.
There will be areas of unreserved seating.
The single tier stands can be expanded to double tiers once we reach the Premier and sell out every home game!
There will be no cash payments on the turnstiles and the aim is to have unmanned turnstiles. Payment will be by smart card or tickets purchased from machines outside the ground ( not sure about this one - but I think he said no cash on the door !) The club is currently negotiating for a retail outlet in town.
There will be a viewing platform on site to watch the stadium grow, tours will be run during building. They want people to be able to feel involved in the stadium from the start.
The seats are to the highest green guide specs (ie they will be big enough for the largest fans with loads of leg room).
We have had no money from the Football Trust but are top of the list for the next grant payments.
The floodlights are hung from the roof.
The reserves will probably play on the training pitch. They are keen to attract other sports but need decent gates to make it worth opening the ground, he implied that the rugby club would be welcome but would need to attract more than the players girlfriends to watch.
Our current turnstile income is 1 million and our wage bill is 3 million. He expressed horror at the recent state of other commercial activities but believed that things had improved and would really take off with the new ground.
I hope you got all that ! I was actually extremely impressed by the plans and his comments. This stadium is really something and I can't quite believe that the shambling club we all love to criticise has put something this stunning together.
Just stumbled on this while bored at work. Just felt strange to look at a few pictures of the ground being built and it took me back to my old man and I driving over to the Madstad each month to see how much had changed.
And who'd have thought we'd be extending the capacity from 24,000 to almost 40,000 within 11 years of the stadium opening?
I bloody love this club I do!
