Back to work today at college for the first time in nearly 6 months. Looking out towards the ground,I noticed that the steelwork on the East Stand had been renewed. It looks very bright and clean from a distance, people might forget it's nearly 30 years old ,got to keep up with the maintenance. It would be lovely and possibly make it feel warmer,if they partially glazed and filled in the open element at the rear of the stand too. Anyway, congratulations and thanks to those who made it happen. Apologies also if there has been a thread on this recently.
It’s took them 2 seasons nearly to paint it. Looks better though. Yes, would be a lot warmer and more comfortable if they filled in the gap between the turnstiles and the 1st floor. Can only imagine it’s left open for smoke ventilation (fire not fags).
It's left open because the stand isn't finished, that's the only reason. Reduced costs at the time of construction to build it to an unfinished standard and then do the other work later but it's never been done.
It was a bit more than painting as well. Don't ask me what, because I've no idea, but it was a hell of a lot of work, cost a lot of money and all in the name of safety.
In my four years, I've used Grove Street hundreds of times online and in physical print. It's the street our stadium sits on. It's our address. Our home. We use it to refer to us. Not often, compared to Oakwell, but now and again. Particularly in lengthy articles about the stadium where you don't want to keep repeating Oakwell or Barnsley. It's not a recent thing to reference it, but it has been used a bit more this summer on purpose/for a reason. Anyway, below are two examples I quickly found. Articles from 2019 and 2018.
I struggle to remember what season / year we are in now. It's all rolled into one big campaign for us.
It would look a bit amateurish if you kept saying Oakwell Oakwell Oakwell. Got to mix it up. Now calling the ponty end the south stand is a different matter, you can cut that out mr white
If it's a match report, or even a preview or press piece, we'll use "in front of The Ponty / Ponty End" whereas in a serious piece such as access information etc, you have to use the correct terminology. So it'd be South Stand or C.K Beckett South Stand. All very boring I know.
There have been more rec Please don't think I'm having a go at you or any of the media team, I'm really not (I would never do that), I'm just amusing myself. It has been noticed though the more prominent use of Grove Street not Oakwell in some newer articles which have been discussed on the BBS. Appreciate the need to change it in the examples you've given
i would agree with you. Fulham and Leeds last season the east stand metalwork certainly wasn’t fully painted.
In a different job and as a much younger man I won the contracts and supplied much of the hardcore that went under the east stand and all of the stone under the main car park. Got me a free tour of the the newly build east stand with Gerry Whewall. Always have a little bit of pride in that long after I’m gone a bit of my history is down at Oakwell.
