If it was designed in from the start, then cost per seat for those extra 5000 seats would likely be between 8 and 9000 pounds per seat, so it'd actually cost something in the order of 40 to 45 million rather than 150 million
Source : Partly standard industry pricing, and also worked out on the basis that the budget being talked about for BMD is ~ 500 million, with ~ 100 million set aside for preparation works because of the nature of the site. So, once the site's setup, it's costing ~ 400 million for 52,000 seats, which is about 7,700 quid per seat
Your 2 million a year is probably not far off though, so, unless you know with a reasonable degree of certainty that you'll sell those extra 5000 seats, week in, week out without heavy discounting, then, without European football and long cup runs, purely from a financial perspective, it's hard to make a case for the extra seats in phase one of any development. It's all a bit chicken and egg, but, if we become successful on the pitch, then the goalposts, and the size of the stands, move.
Of course 150m wasnt a realistic figure.
And if its a case of another 50m for a 2m a year, then MAYBE its worthwhile, MAYBE.
Meis has spoken of wanting the ground full every week, I cant see any reason we wouldnt sell 52k most weeks, but theres honestly no financial reason to build those extra 5k seats.
I worked out the 2 million based on the current Season Tickets prices.
5,000 x 489 = so thats currently 2.4m.
Of course prices will no doubt increase.
But the real money maker from the new stadium will be in the form of custom-built lounges, ranging from ya champagne and oysters, to ya beer and a pint. Naming rights, which will help pay and will make money after its all bought and paid.
I part understand the people who want a higher capacity, cos it will "make" us more money in the long run, what I dont understand is the penis envy people who judge our stadium next to the rest of the league, in some cases they even measure our stadium against other stadiums that teams in this league dont even own yet. It baffles me. I do understand this will be our home for the next 50-100 years, but I cant imagine it will be built without the ability to increase it at some point, despite whats been said.
I just want the thing built, what some people dont realise is that whilst we are paying for the stadium, we will have less money to spend on other things, like players, wages and the like, so if saving 50-150m means we pay off the loans earlier, it means we can get back to spending money on things that matter, for me an extra 5k seats or an extra few inches wont really matter.