Stadium news

[Bispham Seasider]

Work continues on the South Stand and there are some pictures on the Blackpool Gazette website.

Also, it looks like the pitch is being relaid and about time too.

[Bispham Seasider]

This afternoon the club confirmed that work has begun on relaying the pitch.

Over the weekend 25mm was taken off the surface of the playing area and a Verti-Drain will be operated on the pitch over the next few days. At the end of the week an expert from the Sports Turf Industry, who has advised many other clubs, will arrive to provide specialist guidance.

The pitch will then be reseeded at the weekend with R14 grass seed which shold germinate within seven days. The aim is then for the pitch to be playable by early July.

[Bispham Seasider]

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/453/camq.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camq.jpg)

A thumbnail of the latest webcam image showing the pitch completely dug up and lots of activity on the stand.

[Bispham Seasider]

Karl Oyston has said that the South will "be there for all to see, before pre-season, as a structure" with it still on course to open in October.


Mid to late October is the latest finishing date we've got regards the south stand. It is price sensitive rather than programme sensitive but having said that I don't think there is going to be any benefit now to delay it in order to hold out for better prices.

I think we are far enough on with letting the various packages that we can effectively obtain the best rate without further delay. So it's full steam ahead really with it now and it's going OK. The ground workers are doing very well and doing a good job, and the steel is ordered.

If there are any further delays or problems I'll let people know, but the current programme is mid to late October. That is looking like a viable one.


Full story with short video interview at

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Oyston39s- (http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Oyston39s-)October-South-Stand-pledge.5315030.jp

[Bispham Seasider]

Drove down Seasiders Way today with the new look road by the West Stand, which with the large "piazza" style area does look much better. Just hope the club get their act together now and sort out the two signs which are due to be erected and for which the Christmas Raffle last year was raising funds for!

Also went down Bloomfield Road and lots of work ongoing on the South Stand, and the "To Let" sign which has been advertising office space, bar/restaurant and small hotel in the new stand has "Sold" across it. So maybe there will be a hotel in the stand "with balconies overtlooking the pitch"!!

[Bispham Seasider]

A big blue crane has appeared today! And the grass on the pitch seems to be growing well!

http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3393


http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3394

[Bispham Seasider]

One guess has been that the crane is "for adding fixings to the existing South West end of the West stand so that the new build can affix to it."

The two men on the crane are certainly doing something at the top of the West stand. Work was also done on site over the weekend. So it seems that they are pushing on, mayb, just maybe, the steel will finally arrive soon!

[Bispham Seasider]

A very strong rumour emerged yesterday that the steel will start arriving on Monday and that the steelwork surrounding the new structures (the South Stand and South West Corner) will take about eight weeks to complete once work starts on Tuesday - so long as there are no further delays.

Cladding on the SW side West stand has already been ripped off in order for the SW corner to be attached. The steel will be delivered in small chunks at a regular basis, rather than all at once, ready for steady production.

And that would mean that the steel part of construction would be completed about 23rd August. Then after that of course the stand will need fitting out.

But next week might be a good time to watch the webcam!

[Bispham Seasider]

The steelwork has started arriving!

Blackpool FC today confirmed that Solway Steel delivered their first 20 tonne load of steel columns and roof purlins, with deliveries expected to continue over the next few days. And on Wednesday morning the first delivery of the pre-cast terracing is expected to arrive.

Project Manager Brendan Flanagan said,


There is a lot happening on site at the moment. The steelwork is on site and the pre-cast terracing is due on Wednesday. And it won't be long before we see something rising from the ground. We are aiming to start work on the roof for the South West Corner towards the third week of July.


There is also another big crane on site. :D

Looks to me like the club are maybe hoping that they can get the seating in the stand ASAP - maybe in time for the visit of Newcastle...

[Bispham Seasider]

More steelwork arrived today, and part of the South West Corner steel structure is already up, only 24 hours after it was delivered!

http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3415


At this rate the whole of the steelwork will be up some time next week. The above picture is looking at the place from the corner of Bloomfield Road and Seasiders Way - so it is the one area that isn't seen on the webcam!

The latest rumour is that the aim is to have 1,000 seats online in time for the Newcastle game, so a capacity at that time of about 10,650.

[Bispham Seasider]

I forgot to say that the webcam is showing a real hive of activity with a total of seven cranes and diggers (or whatever they are to my untrained eye). But two big cranes can be seen working toward the roof in the South West Corner plus of course there is all the work going on which can't be sen by the webcam.

Sad I know, but Blackpool fans have been waiting for 8 years for this to happen and for much of that time, many fans have tended to think that the club were never going to build the damn thing. So it is great to see it finally rising up!

[Bispham Seasider]

The club have also now got some pictures on the official site including these -

http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3416


http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3420


More pictures at http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1699000,00.html

[Dynamogal]

Will the Newcastle game be on television? If it is, it would be great if the new stand was ready (even partially) for that game!

When do you think it will all be completed? Any word on the hotel?? :D

[Bispham Seasider]

There has been no news yet about the televised games. Hopefully we will get more this season!!

The club still aim for the whole stand to be open by late October/early November. Still no news about the hotel, bar/Restaurant etc though!

Another picture of the SW corner -

http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3437

http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1702094,00.html (http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1702094,00.html)

And finally the webcam can see part of the development as the concrete stepping in the picture above can now be seen on the cam, with more stepping having been added since the picture was taken.

[Bispham Seasider]

A fan picture taken earlier today -

http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv294/Sir_Lance-a-lot/CIMG1105.jpg

[Bispham Seasider]

There are also a new batch of pictures on the official site from later on today, with part of the roof now being installed. Work is continuing at a great pace, seven days a week at the moment, and from (certainly on weekdays) about 8am to to about 7pm.

Pictures at:

http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10432~1706213,00.html

[Bispham Seasider]

Work has now started on the next section, with the base for the concrete stepping now in place. A week on Sunday Bloomfield Road will be on television with rugby leagues Northern Rail Cup final being on Sky Sports. It will be interesting to see how far the stand will have progressed by then.

Also, once they finish the SW corner, the South stand is apparently going to have four floors (the other stands all have three floors) - and maybe the hotel. One rumour last week suggested that the stand will contain a Burger King. It is certainly due to have a Supporters Bar and the Oystons Estate Agent sign on the site mentions a bar/restaurant too.

[Dynamogal]

It's amazing what a little motivation ($$$) can do!:p

[Bispham Seasider]

Indeed! :D

Went past the ground this evening (on the way home from the superb Gurkha restaurant) and it is so great to see the stand rising. Never thought I would see it at all to be honest!

Seasiders Way running down the side of the West stand with the new piazza area is looking really smart too.

[Bispham Seasider]

Latest fan picture, taken yesterday showing how much more of the corner has now been done -

http://www.blackpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/get-attachment.asp?attachmentid=3490