NAR: Pompey's proposed stadium

[GriffinGunner]

Seeing as the Gunners will likely play some games there someday...

Concept design announced today.

http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewStadiumDetail/0,,10396~1016037,00.html (http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewStadiumDetail/0,,10396%7E1016037,00.html)

http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/f0/a1/0,,10396%7E3187184,00.jpg


Given the location and that it's surrounded on 3 sides by the residential structure, it seems near impossible to expand. Thus, why make it only 36,000 seats? With England bidding for the WC finals wouldn't you go ahead and surpass the needed 40k to guarantee your facility's participation?

Architecturally I'm a little perplexed by the purely organic form. I get the peak rising in the direction of Calatrava's tower, but the site doesn't offer any indication that such bulky form will add to the character or beauty of the space. Methinks it's a feign at Ghery's fluid designs that falls short of postcard quality.

It will supposedly be very "green," which is great, and it won't hurt to have another first rate facility in the league. Here's to hoping they make something good happen.

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Portsmouth is rather unlikely to host any World Cup matches as a city, so it's no use building a stadium that Portsmouth FC will never fill.

[ASkergonan]

Architecturally I'm a little perplexed by the purely organic form. I get the peak rising in the direction of Calatrava's tower, but the site doesn't offer any indication that such bulky form will add to the character or beauty of the space. Methinks it's a feign at Ghery's fluid designs that falls short of postcard quality.

I actually think it's pleasing. I'm not a fan of Gehry, especially the EMP and the new Guggenheim, which IMO is pretty self-indulgent. But the model has some more subdued lines, and I think the light would play well with the water.

It seems to be pretty ambitious of Pompey, I wonder how they plan on funding it?

[Smalls123]

Portsmouth is rather unlikely to host any World Cup matches as a city, so it's no use building a stadium that Portsmouth FC will never fill.

Well it says on the site that the stadium will be a 36,000 seater. I think its possible they can fill that, especially for the first 5 or 6 years when everyone will be dying to see the new stadium.

[Guy Fawkes]

Well it says on the site that the stadium will be a 36,000 seater. I think its possible they can fill that, especially for the first 5 or 6 years when everyone will be dying to see the new stadium.

Yeah, they'll fill that, easily at first. I think they'll do well later on also.

I think it looks ridiculous though...

[GriffinGunner]

Portsmouth is rather unlikely to host any World Cup matches as a city, so it's no use building a stadium that Portsmouth FC will never fill.

While I concede Pompey certainly doesn't need 40k as a club, England might need Portsmouth for a WC bid. Per discussion on the England board only one metro area is allowed 2 stadia. Assuming London's duo of Wembley and the Emirates takes that honor, then Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham are limited to one facility each. Take into account the need for at least 10 40,000+ seaters and you're looking at:

Wembley
Emirates
Old Trafford
Stanley Park
St. James
Villa Park
Stadium of Light (Too close to Newcastle?)

... and then a host of other places that could do the job but would they be the best option:

Elland Road
Riverside
Derby Park
Bramall Lane/Hillsbrough

Given the liklihood of the WC bid leaving some team with a new stadium/ improvements they couldn't otherwise sustain on their own, and knowing England will certainly try to share some of the wealth and tourist attention Portsmouth seems as likely a candidate to host a bid as a number of places.

Unless, of course, they build a facility incapable of pulling it off. :o

[JoeAFC_9]

wot about stamford bridge?? home of the "champions". or wud they hav bought themselves a £456 million new stadia by then??

[HomeatHighbury]

I think it looks ridiculous though...

It looks horrendous if you ask me...I don't mind Pompey one bit and would love for them to be reasonably successful, but that stadium looks awful..

[antifan]

Seeing as the Gunners will likely play some games there someday...

Concept design announced today.

http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewStadiumDetail/0,,10396~1016037,00.html (http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewStadiumDetail/0,,10396%7E1016037,00.html)

http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/f0/a1/0,,10396%7E3187184,00.jpg

That thing looks like a giant urinal.

[GriffinGunner]

wot about stamford bridge?? home of the "champions". or wud they hav bought themselves a £456 million new stadia by then??

Only they make one better and larger than the Grove, but that might cost them their name as Chelsea Pitch Owners hold the rights to the name. Erego, it's either pay off the Pitch Owners, which would be pricey, and build a new home, which would be really pricey, or renovate the Bridge. The latter would unlikely replace the Grove as a WC site, I'd have to imagine.

[HomeatHighbury]

That thing looks like a giant urinal.

That's what it is! I was trying to figure it out

[GriffinGunner]

That thing looks like a giant urinal.

I was thinking a beat up bed pan.

[Skizz]

Well the venues for Euro 96 were Wembley, Old Trafford, Anfield, Villa Park, Elland Road, Hillsborough, St James' Park, and The City Ground.

Look at it now, you've got 8 stadiums which are 40,000+ to start with - Old Trafford (76,312), The Emirates (60,432), St James' (52,837), City of Manchester Stadium (47,726), Anfield (45,362), Villa Park (42,593), Stamford Bridge (42,449) and Goodison Park (40,569). Add Wembley (90,000), Elland Road (40,296) and then the other stadiums which are capable of easy increase EG The Riverside (35,100), Pride Park (Derby, 33,597), The Ricoh Arena (Coventry, 32,609), The Walkers Stadium (Leicester, 32,500) and you're pretty much set to host a tournament anyway, regardless of whether Pompey's stadium is built. Bear in mind if worst comes to worse, a few games could be factored out to the Millennium Stadium or Hampden Park.

[antifan]

Well the venues for Euro 96 were Wembley, Old Trafford, Anfield, Villa Park, Elland Road, Hillsborough, St James' Park, and The City Ground.

Look at it now, you've got 8 stadiums which are 40,000+ to start with - Old Trafford (76,312), The Emirates (60,432), St James' (52,837), City of Manchester Stadium (47,726), Anfield (45,362), Villa Park (42,593), Stamford Bridge (42,449) and Goodison Park (40,569). Add Wembley (90,000), Elland Road (40,296) and then the other stadiums which are capable of easy increase EG The Riverside (35,100), Pride Park (Derby, 33,597), The Ricoh Arena (Coventry, 32,609), The Walkers Stadium (Leicester, 32,500) and you're pretty much set to host a tournament anyway, regardless of whether Pompey's stadium is built. Bear in mind if worst comes to worse, a few games could be factored out to the Millennium Stadium or Hampden Park.
Isn't Sunderland's stadium around 40,000 as well?

[Skizz]

Isn't Sunderland's stadium around 40,000 as well?
Yeah, I forgot to add it. It's 36,000 odd but it's got shitloads of room for expansion.

[red & wite army]

Well my sister just looked at the picture and said it looked like a ship...which does fit the scene.

Perhaps I was looking to deep into the design, but I also saw it as an organic shape.:o

[antifan]

Well my sister just looked at the picture and said it looked like a ship...which does fit the scene.

Perhaps I was looking to deep into the design, but I also saw it as an organic shape.:o
It would be classy if they filled the bottom of it with ice.

[deeplennon]

Yeah, I forgot to add it. It's 36,000 odd but it's got shitloads of room for expansion.

48k actually, but can be expanded to 72. So yeah, shitloads.

St James' would probably get the nod though as they're only ten miles apart.

[gooner4eva]

I actually think it's pleasing. I'm not a fan of Gehry, especially the EMP and the new Guggenheim, which IMO is pretty self-indulgent. But the model has some more subdued lines, and I think the light would play well with the water.

It seems to be pretty ambitious of Pompey, I wonder how they plan on funding it?

600M is the cost, but they are redoveloping the area including harbour side appartments, shops etc....

[Skizz]

Well there are already some apartments being built near the Gunwharf Quays (the harbour) and there is a brand new shopping centre there already, so they are probably referring to the side where the ground is. That artist's impression includes a very different looking Portsmouth Harbour station, so I would assume that is included as well.