I wonder if it's possible to build a replacement which is up to today's requirements structurally and looks like the existing externally but inside houses more modern facilities.
See Plymouth's Mayflower Stand for a great example of preserving and modernising a classic structure.
Or at least a functioning set of toilets. These days, with young kids, I've mostly gone with the Family Stand - it often feels a bit dead up there though. As a teenager and when I lived locally I used to like sitting in the West Stand - it feels a bit more part of the chanting, has a good view of how the game is panning out tactically, and you see three proper stands in the rest of the ground so makes the whole place feel much bigger.
Other than the entire lower tier being less than 30 years old, the sides of the upper tier being less than 10 years old. A lot of the gantry being about 5 years old.xtje gantry itself only being about 40 years old and about a third of the width of the upper tier being about 70 year old. Other than that it's not changed a bit
I wonder if when the turnstyles were built. Glass adorned the top of the walls. To stop the fans getting out. I have to admit when I moved over to the east stand from standing on the terrace. It felt weird. And tbh the lower tier is a very good view at the back end. When I watched Central league games alongside Kelvin and others. Loved his comments to the opposition dugout lol. "Tha wo no good as a player and now no good as a coach" Some of em played at the highest level lol. and now the odd academy game.
My top tip is to drink as much as is physically possible beforehand so you can have loads of trips to the bogs.
Imagine fans trying to get in now over the walls with glass on. Claim in, protest march, anti broken glass group set up on wankerbook, go fund me page and loads and loads of keyboard warriors posting that it’s the most heinous act they’ve ever had to subject their 3rd hand knowledge to.
I'll stand corrected. But I believe the old brewery stand was the way to climb over and get in for nowt, and many did apparently. Some on here I'm guessing lol.
Wish I knew a way to send a photo of the Oakwell I've made for in mi garden. As though I was looking at the brewery stand. I think it'd bring you to tears lol.
Each to his own. I sit near the back of East Upper, almost in line with the halfway line, and I consider that to be easily the best position to be able to see well what is happening in every area of the pitch.
my ST is in the West Upper it’s a great view though some seats have pillars in your view mine has one but it doesn’t block either penalty area. Leg room is a bit tight unless you are at the front but I’ve been there for 20 years and love it. There has been one change of note. They put a roof on the men’s bogs! Going for a slash at half time in the rain just isn’t the same. Hope you enjoy
The best thing about sitting in the west stand is that you don't have to look at it. Needs replacing but god knows where the money would ever come from for that.
One of the few remaining stands designed by the great Archibald Leitch, an icon which should be preserved. Paid for with the proceeds from the 1910 FA Cup Final receipts.
What about pre ko our players move across to the west stand and they come out down the ramp as in the prime 80s. Leave the officials and away team to come out in the corner. Maybe stop short of the Weeds style wave in the middle of the pitch but get the players out with our fans and not a empty/away corner.
Preserving it seems to be the only option at this moment in time. The club doesn’t own it, I would have thought the Council’s priority would be to keep it maintained for safety and ‘comfort’ purposes and hopefully get the other half put back in use?
