Mad Stad, Uhm, expansion plads (plans). Rad or Bad?

[mschofield]

Reading are applying in October to add at least 10,000 seats to the mad stad, which I would see as a sign that 1. they're investing the prem money they're getting and 2. they're feeling pretty positive about getting more next year.

In fact, to me the plans sound like those of a club who expect to be a regular in the top level, and not a once every 135 years type of thing (as it now stands).

This is great ambition, and, of course, as a true pessimist, I can see it bankrupting the club. The article, from the site:

Thehttp://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~899178,00.html

[prvev]

Yea, it could lead to bankruptcy, but I think that would only happen if relegation were to come this year or within the next couple of years and ticket demand were to drop drastically. Hopefully though, it does lead to Reading becoming a mainstay in the Premiership and maybe even a regular top 10 club in the future. I am surprised that the process is already getting started, though, as I thought Madejski had said that it would only happen if relegation was avoided. But I guess this start as him feeling as confident as the rest of us.

[RichardL]

I think extensions tend to be rather cheaper than building complete new stands. It only gets difficult when a ground's design makes adding a new slab of seating awkward. The original architect's claims of increasing capacity being relatively straightforward will be put to the test. The foundations are apparently already there and theoretically the revenue (if full) would pay for the extention in under two years. At £35 a ticket, 10,000 extra seats would bring in £350,000 of extra revenue per match. While perhaps unlikely, that works out at nearly £7 million per season.

I think outline planning permission was granted when the stadium was built, so there should be no obstacles there, and there are no residents to lodge appeals or anything (I can't see Pizza Hut or the B&Q warehouse complaining that the extension will ruin the beauty of the area).

Although expensive, John Madejski seems relatively happy to invest in bricks & mortar type investments (the hotel is also in the process of gaining an extra 50 rooms at the moment, taking the total to over 150, whereas when the Madejski opened the hotel didn't even exist.) even if he isn't so keen on spending the cash on players.

Parking will be even more of a bastard than now though.

[mschofield]

I think extensions tend to be rather cheaper than building complete new stands. It only gets difficult when a ground's design makes adding a new slab of seating awkward. The original architect's claims of increasing capacity being relatively straightforward will be put to the test. The foundations are apparently already there and theoretically the revenue (if full) would pay for the extention in under two years. At £35 a ticket, 10,000 extra seats would bring in £350,000 of extra revenue per match. While perhaps unlikely, that works out at nearly £7 million per season.

I think outline planning permission was granted when the stadium was built, so there should be no obstacles there, and there are no residents to lodge appeals or anything (I can't see Pizza Hut or the B&Q warehouse complaining that the extension will ruin the beauty of the area).

Although expensive, John Madejski seems relatively happy to invest in bricks & mortar type investments (the hotel is also in the process of gaining an extra 50 rooms at the moment, taking the total to over 150, whereas when the Madejski opened the hotel didn't even exist.) even if he isn't so keen on spending the cash on players.

Parking will be even more of a bastard than now though.

What is with the parking? Either mass transit or mass parking, is the usual plan. Neither is an interesting strategy.

Off topic, who has stayed in the hotel? Is it nice enough? I'm thinking about arranging to stay there for my next london trip, although it would put me an hour from paddington. Bit cheaper than the places I stay in london, though, so I could justify it.

[RichardL]

What is with the parking? Either mass transit or mass parking, is the usual plan. Neither is an interesting strategy.

the plan was that the businesses in the business park behind the stadium would let fans park there for a fee, but all have seemingly refused (or perhaps it's just the Prudential, who own the park, who have refused). They were also supposed to build a railway station for the business park, but that's still a year or two away, and it's still be a fair walk from there. A lot of the other businesses in the area have taken measures to stop people using their car parks on Saturdays, even though they aren't open for business.

the club car park was also supposed to be double the current size, but the council used part of the site as a park & ride car park for the town centre shoppers.

I have no idea where I'll park on Saturday. I usually use the speedway/greyhound stadium next door, but the 800 spaces there are unavailable as there's a greyhound meeting on. I'm looking into buying a ticket for the greyhounds (which I think offers free parking) and just walking up to the match as normal. Expect to see about 2000 empty seats at kick-off time.


Off topic, who has stayed in the hotel? Is it nice enough? I'm thinking about arranging to stay there for my next london trip, although it would put me an hour from paddington. Bit cheaper than the places I stay in london, though, so I could justify it.
The hotel is meant to be very good, as is the restaurant. On the other hand, there isn't exactly a lot else to do round there, not unless you fancy popping into B&Q and buying some shelving.

[mschofield]

...
The hotel is meant to be very good, as is the restaurant. On the other hand, there isn't exactly a lot else to do round there, not unless you fancy popping into B&Q and buying some shelving.
Wow, really, shelving? Now I am interested...
I've been several times and know it's not an interesting place, but I'm a boring basta at night anyway. Now, if they offered packages with game tickets...

[Katsbox]

I stayed at the hotel when I saw Reading play Sheffied Utd last season. As that was my only purpose for being in Reading (and England), the hotel was a fun/convenient place to be (and recover from West Coast-England jetlag). A number of the Sheffield players were at the restaurant Sat AM for breakfast - a fact that would have been totally lost on me if some of the other civies hadn't been going up and asking for autographs.

The room looked out on the parking lot, which allowed me to see when the players were coming to the stadium.

Took this from the hotel window (sorry about the mongo size):
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f89/Katsbox/Soccer/Hannemanandfans.jpg



Took these after running down a couple flights of stairs (after my husband said "Isn't that Bobby Convey? What are you waiting for?" He obviously had spotted Bobby's murse and decided there was no need to be threatened):

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f89/Katsbox/BCandfans.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f89/Katsbox/Soccer/smile2.jpg

[Pablo Chicago]

Great mug shot of Covey! :D

[RichardL]

at least there shouldn't be problems getting in next season if this comes off...

http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~909934,00.html

[T_Rock]

This may or may not be the same story as posted above:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/6040938.stm

Stadium has a pretty nice look to it...