No club bashing. Just stating what I see - as a season ticket holder in the West Stand who looks at it every home game, and someone who works in Construction. I honestly don’t believe it was finished the before the past season. It spread across 2 seasons. I was surprised why it took that long, and could only think it was to do with money reasons and back-to-back fixtures.
Yes, I know there is space for a mezzanine floor type construction in there. Regardless of that, it should be blocked off with cladding or something. You’d get people willing to spend more time and money in that lower concourse during winter or windy games if it was. It’s freezing even on Summer days sometimes.
Having been anal and gone back through old photos, the last gangway area towards the away end was incomplete on the opening day against Fulham, and for Carlisle in the cup. It was just the edges for Charlton that remained, same for Luton. By Leeds it was practically finished. In terms of internal, what you'd see from the West. So I stand corrected. But it wasn't two seasons as was stated. It was just over a year I believe, and should have been around six months but you know what folk who work in construction are like....
Cheers. Like I say, it wasn’t bashing - it was the highlight of conversation during some games and also the pre-match anticipation to whether it was complete or not It does look a lot better though. Is the West Stand complete now? I know they started with the metalwork in there too and were probably half-way on last time I went (Cardiff home). Cheers.
I imagine anything done to the West Stand these days is like putting a plaster on a gaping wound. I can't say I've noticed any work in there this year. Such a bizarre place, the West Stand. There are parts within it that look exquisite, like the boardroom and the corridor leading to it. And I think the wooden seating area looks absolutely gorgeous. Then the red wall, I adore it, and the old brick-work. It stinks of history and I love it. But then there's the gantry that's horrific to look at in my opinion. The old dressing rooms are just ruins pretty much. It's a proper mish-mash of good and bad and from a working perspective, it's shíte for us. Pillars block your view. And our media seating is right behind the away directors box so you've to be on your best behaviour (not that I manage it often). So it's a weird one for me. Much of the time I feel a new stand is necessary. Deep down, I know it is. But it's the last remaining piece of history in situ isn't it? Saying that, the employee in me often dreams of a modern, purpose-built stadium that I can have a bit of involvement in. But the fan in me wants nothing of the sort. Pretty sure it will look very much the same the day I leave. Unless we somehow reach the Premier League.
Yeah, I think you’ve summed it up well. The bar/tea room for scouts etc refurbishment at the North end looked better, and boardroom has always looked well. As fans, it would be great to see photos of the old changing rooms. No one has seen them for years. Are they intact or just all ripped out? Used for storage or just left empty? You should document it’s internals with photos etc. Plenty of history in there that the average doesn’t see and may never see. Cheers.
Nope. No idea, it’s bound to make people speculate though when it’s been said that it is for a specific reason and we’re not told what that reason is.
Has the pink, orange and red "BARNSLEY FC" sign on the back of the Ponty been repainted in red yet? It's looked drab and run down for years. Very poor impression coming up through the car park. Surely a lick of paint wouldn't cost that much
Pure speculation but could it be to purposely phase out the use of Oakwell using "Grove Street" then no one will kick up a fuss when the stadium is renamed.
I think we know full well what the reason is. They may have mentioned Grove St in articles before but I very much doubt they’ve done in regularly in the headlines.
I’ve explained that the terminology has been used for the four years of my time here. In practically every preview piece I’ve ever typed up for a home game in particular. There’ll be another instance at lunch time. And yes, we’ve decided to use it slightly more often recently, for a reason that will become clear soon. There is no doomsday scenario. I often try to help inform you guys on here, help clear stuff up, but sometimes that would ruin things we have in the pipeline. I can assure you, it’s related to my area of work and nothing more. Oakwell is our stadium and is irrelevant to this.
