Expanding the Mad Stat

[Dirk Gently]

It's been proved many times that extra parking produces extra congestion - so expect even long queues to get in and out if more parking is provided. Personally, I just can't see that happening.

Other new grounds have much less parking provision, so I can see a much greater use of park and ride schemes and public transport provision. Rightly or wrongly, that's the way most local authorities are going these days, and RBC will be no different.

[Reading Abbey]

As a quick fix, how about filling in one of those corners?
Do we really need two of them?
Plus it could add about 100-250 seats in no time at all, but still an increase and we should be able to fill it.

[JC]

If they do expand it will there also be an expansion in facilities, particularly catering which is still a huge joke

would that be the outside catering, which before the game, an hour to kick off had no queues whatsoever behind the North Stand?

No that would be the catering in the concourses which seem incapable of serving more than about 1 person every 5 minutes at half-time

[The 17 Bus]

As a quick fix, how about filling in one of those corners?
Do we really need two of them?
Plus it could add about 100-250 seats in no time at all, but still an increase and we should be able to fill it.

what corners?

[Reading Abbey]

As a quick fix, how about filling in one of those corners?
Do we really need two of them?
Plus it could add about 100-250 seats in no time at all, but still an increase and we should be able to fill it.

what corners?

I had no idea what to call 'em, but those gaps in the North East and South East corners.
They're there for emergency vehicle access, as well as somewhere to keep grass cutting equipment, goal posts (football and rugby) etc.
But do we really need two of them and if not, filling one in might be worthwhile.

[The 17 Bus]

You see, now that you explain what you mean there's a good idea there, however it would need to be a temporary seating area, and that might cost too much

[Reading Abbey]

One of the blokes in the JC on Saturday was saying we should rip out the seats and replace them with seats that were 1 inch narrower and therefore increasing the capacity by god knows what.

[The 17 Bus]

which bloke?

[Reading Abbey]

which bloke?

Was it you?
Mid to late 50's, balding.......

[Forbury Lion]

The big pitch entrance/exit between the North and East Stands was filled in for one game by the commentry box thing now positioned up by the scoreboard.

Presumably blocking the entrance was permitted as it caused no health and safety issues.

So, move the box thing back down there and you free up some seats where the box thing is now.

Or, just fill that area in with seats.

[Big Ern]

As a quick fix, how about filling in one of those corners?
Do we really need two of them?
Plus it could add about 100-250 seats in no time at all, but still an increase and we should be able to fill it.

Might mean we wouldn't be able to host concerts or other large events at the stadium as how would they get the stage equipment into the ground?

[Platypuss]

It's been proved many times that extra parking produces extra congestion - so expect even long queues to get in and out if more parking is provided. Personally, I just can't see that happening.

Other new grounds have much less parking provision, so I can see a much greater use of park and ride schemes and public transport provision. Rightly or wrongly, that's the way most local authorities are going these days, and RBC will be no different.

The biggest problem with congestion, both for cars and pedestrians is the fact that there are only two routes to get away from the Madstad - and they both take you to the same place.

I can't think of many other "new" stadia where the ground is hemmed-in so much.

[Dirk Gently]

It's been proved many times that extra parking produces extra congestion - so expect even long queues to get in and out if more parking is provided. Personally, I just can't see that happening.

Other new grounds have much less parking provision, so I can see a much greater use of park and ride schemes and public transport provision. Rightly or wrongly, that's the way most local authorities are going these days, and RBC will be no different.

The biggest problem with congestion, both for cars and pedestrians is the fact that there are only two routes to get away from the Madstad - and they both take you to the same place.

I can't think of many other "new" stadia where the ground is hemmed-in so much.

Stoke has similar numbers parking but again limited access roads and similar queues.

[robminchin]

We seem to have already managed a sneaky increase in capacity of around 50 seats! Our official capacity appears to be 24,045 (on the official webstie) - but we managed to squeeze in 24,092 against Man City and 24,094 again Man Utd.

Robert

[Reading Abbey]

As a quick fix, how about filling in one of those corners?
Do we really need two of them?
Plus it could add about 100-250 seats in no time at all, but still an increase and we should be able to fill it.

Might mean we wouldn't be able to host concerts or other large events at the stadium as how would they get the stage equipment into the ground?

We would only fill in one of them.