New Stadium- How to size it?

[kithnou]

Good article @catcherintherye. I'm glad you added that final paragraph in the end as I was going to disagree up until then
For me, we build a capacity to match our ambition. Do we want to be just another mid table team with the occasional Europa finish? Then build a 50-55k stadium. Is our goal to compete for titles and be regulars in the CL? Then build thinking we are the best in Europe accordingly...60k+

 

[kithnou]

When Ryazantsev spoke about appointing Koeman in the summer he spoke of the importance of not falling behind our north west rivals in terms of stature of manager we have. So surely the same thinking will be behind the size of the new ground with the RS & city having around 55k-60k and Utd obviously having over 75k. Anything below 50k would firmly position us below those 3 for the next 100 years.

That's not happening. That would just be a waste of time and taking the mickey really.

 

[Woolverhampton_Blue]

Have mentioned this before - personally I would go for 60,000 but would have the top tier behind each goal ( total 8-10000 ) only available after the intial 50,000 has sold out. This would keep the atmosphere better and avoid the Emptihad effect of upto 10,000 empty seats scattered across the stadium. Big games/ if and when we regularly get bigger crowds regularly they could be used then.

Personally I think this is a good idea if we go for 60k straight away. Nothing worse than a stadium that never sells out, with empty patches everywhere. I'd have gone to a lot more games if I could have gotten a non obstructed seat a few days before the game in question, and I'm sure others would have too. But can we really sell 15-20k extra seats consistently?

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

@catcherintherye i have really nothing to add here mate other than this made the plane boarding in the worst city in the states (Houston) somewhat bearable. Great read with a lot of good points

Carry on

 

[Big Neville Southall]

There's no problem in only occasionally selling out. Attendances of 30000 now can still feel full, even a fair bit lower.

So 10000 - 15000 seats unsold and is no issue whatsoever.

You can have away ends selling 3000 tickets in an area holding 5000.

If we sold out every game in the new stadium then that just means the capacity is too small and you're missing out on extra tickets sold for the big games.

 

[catcherintherye]

Maybe I'm very wrong here but I don't see "premium" seating or corporate/hospitality or whatever you want to call it being as big a draw as it say at OT or in particular the Emirates. Evertonians go to watch the football because we support the team. We don't go to be wined and dined. And I like that.

I just think we're not really that kind of club.

We would have to attract a new crowd really mate. A stadium on a world heritage site in the marine capital of the UK gives us the opportunity to target ever FTSE 250 company with the opportunity to have a box at our ground. And a set of season tickets in the premium area. The opportunity to take clients to a ground in that location to watch EPL is a big draw.

 

[kithnou]

There's no problem in only occasionally selling out. Attendances of 30000 now can still feel full, even a fair bit lower.

So 10000 - 15000 seats unsold and is no issue whatsoever.

You can have away ends selling 3000 tickets in an area holding 5000.

If we sold out every game in the new stadium then that just means the capacity is too small and you're missing out on extra tickets sold for the big games.

Correct.

 

[catcherintherye]

Good article @catcherintherye. I'm glad you added that final paragraph in the end as I was going to disagree up until then
For me, we build a capacity to match our ambition. Do we want to be just another mid table team with the occasional Europa finish? Then build a 50-55k stadium. Is our goal to compete for titles and be regulars in the CL? Then build thinking we are the best in Europe accordingly...60k+

Most definitely mate. In all honesty throughout our history we have been one of the most consistently and best supported teams. We need to aim to be amongst the elite. 60k works for me, especially if there is an option to extend.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Nice job @catcherintherye. Seems like a 50,000-55,000 build, so long as it plans for reasonable expansion in the future, is where to go.

*The opinion above was formed after nearly minutes of reading and thinking, and no arduous hours/days of research were harmed in the forming of such opinion.

 

[joey_macmo]

Maybe I'm very wrong here but I don't see "premium" seating or corporate/hospitality or whatever you want to call it being as big a draw as it say at OT or in particular the Emirates. Evertonians go to watch the football because we support the team. We don't go to be wined and dined. And I like that.

I just think we're not really that kind of club.

Trying to get a ticket for in house hospitality is an absolute nightmare. Especially when you consider these things are normally bought in 4s at least and often for the entire season.

We still sell out very often and we make people walk from Isla Gladstone which is absolutely ludicrous.

 

[ToffeeTim]

We would have to attract a new crowd really mate. A stadium on a world heritage site in the marine capital of the UK gives us the opportunity to target ever FTSE 250 company with the opportunity to have a box at our ground. And a set of season tickets in the premium area. The opportunity to take clients to a ground in that location to watch EPL is a big draw.

Yea there's that aspect of it. Although as a young professional who's only recently had exposure to this kind of scene, I can only say that I hate it!! Super rich bosses or clients getting freebies to events and matches where poor old me has to fork out of my graduate wage for mine lol

Obviously there's a place for it, but we aren't really that kind of club!

 

[joey_macmo]

Looks like Swansea will easily sell out as well. This season has really shown how much we need the extra capacity.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

Maybe I'm very wrong here but I don't see "premium" seating or corporate/hospitality or whatever you want to call it being as big a draw as it say at OT or in particular the Emirates. Evertonians go to watch the football because we support the team. We don't go to be wined and dined. And I like that.

I just think we're not really that kind of club.

How many fans at Man Utd and Arsenal that are comparable to ours go there to be wined and dined? They also watch the football. The premium paying corporate guests are a completely different type of client, they come along once the facilities are in place and the football on the pitch is at a high enough level to warrant some sort of attention from them and gain some kudos by being there.

 

[maccarob]

we have a core support of 35000 match going blues, but if you keep the kids initiatives going and price reasonably we can easily sell 45000 on a bi weekly basis at the minute, good team and a chance to win something we can do 55K easily, got to think big but remember who we are and make it available to all.

 

[ToffeeTim]

How many fans at Man Utd and Arsenal that are comparable to ours go there to be wined and dined? They also watch the football. The premium paying corporate guests are a completely different type of client, they come along once the facilities are in place and the football on the pitch is at a high enough level to warrant some sort of attention from them and gain some kudos by being there.

I know the types mate. And I know it unfortunately has its place. I just don't like it. And it's not a primary issue that our new stadium should be focusing on.