15-06-2021, 05:56 AM
(14-06-2021, 10:24 PM)Pompey_in_Derby Wrote: The 90 degree rotation scheme should be a no-brainer, shifting the entire ground to the North and West. Build a big Milton Side on the extra space that's currently the penalty area to counter objections from the households behind Specks Lanes, use the spare 13m behind the Fratton End to turn it into a huge side, a new North Stand behind the goal similar to the Holmesdale Lane End at Palace and redevelop the South Stand as a smaller away end. The cost of sorting out the electricity substation (£2-3m?) is insignificant in the overall scheme of things for a project designed to last 50+ years.
Historically, FP has had a capacity around 50% bigger than scum so a limited level of ambition should see FP expanded to a 40,000 capacity. Even a small club such as Brighton - never a hotbed of passionate support - has somehow ended up with ground holding 30,000. Newcastle have successfully expanded SJP in a more central location than FP so a significant redevelopment should be possible - fans need to pressurise Portsmouth City Council to keep the ground in the city and ensure they find a way of approving an ambitious expansion. If they fail to fully support PFC then kick them out of office.
Apart from the Fratton End, we've not had a newly-built stand since the 1930s and gone from a ground capable of hosting the World Cup in 1966 (but for a limited amount of ambition) to the Fratton Park we have today. Time for the powers that be at Pompey to challenge conventional thinking, relish the opportunity they have to create a unique modern, yet atmospheric ground, and leave a lasting legacy for the next generation of supporters.
One of the key advantages of rotating the ground 90 degrees is that you can actually avoid the substation altogether. Retaining the current footprint is where you encounter the issue of sub-station relocation. I believe the figure is closer £6m!
In addition to the benefits already raised, the reorientation means the pitch can be enlarged and faces a North to South axis. Both of which is a UEFA requirement if we ever reach the Premier League again. More importantly though, the reorientation is logistically easier to achieve. The cost differential is about 5% from what I can remember after reading the Trusts report on stadium redevelopment 4-5 years ago.