Interesting news...

[desertscouser]

I remember that original press conference and have watched it again since and Gillett's only reference to the stadium is an emphatic no to groundshare and the fact the we have to start digging in Stanley Park within 60 days (within 60 days of that press conference) to qualify for NWDA and EC grants - he didn't mention anything else.

[Xabi_is_God]

i can remember them saying somewhere that most changes wouldnt be very visible and that the capacity wouldnt be altered. maybe im wrong about that press conference - could have been an interview

[blacky]

Hicks also said at the press conference that his team would be looking at the stadium plans to improce where possible........he was only on board a month at that stage so was probably focused on the finance side of the deal and is now looking closely at the stadium itself!!

[rushscored4]

building started today on the new stadium. gillet said that there would be no changes to capacity and that most changes would not be visible in the main plans such as the underground hospitality suites and other initiatives that would improve the fans experience. they were fairly adament about this at the original press conference and this all seems like a load of bollocks that has been created out of thin air. the echo reported work had begun today and even included pictures. surely this is evidence that the original plans are going ahead. rumours schmoo-mers

yes but the fact that building started today, straight after Gilett and Hicks have gotten unconditional control of the club seems to point that everything is going as originally planned.

Im not ruling it out but it just sounds like it is highly unlikely considering what the club have been through in order to recieve planning permission and grants. Why would they start building something that they dont have planning permission for and that would probably take another year to get planning permission for. also the capacity of 61000 (didnt the club originally apply for 70000?)was agreed upon due to that being the highest capacity that the surrounding infrastructure would support. if they have decided to build better infrastructure than i would assume that many people in the surrounding areas would be affected which would delay the process further (planning permission would be needed for different things in different places)unless of course gilett and Hicks plan to parachute fans into the stadium.

It all sounds a bit far fetched and i am only posting up an opinion based on common sense. People seem to get carried away and conveniently ignore some important points

You're entltled to your opinion XIG but the information came directly from one of the original architects on the project who is a very good mate of mine. He's always given me reliable information in the past (check out my previous posts on here and KT for proof) and I've no reason to doubt him. Christ, I've even named his ex-boss if you look back through this thread FFS!

Why would my source or his-colleagues say AFL have been sacked? I am sure this information is 100% accurate. What I can't vouch for is whether the new architects will have any success increasing the capacity to 70,000 but the shortsightedness and unimaginative design appears to be why AFL have been replaced.

[Guest]

i can remember them saying somewhere that most changes wouldnt be very visible and that the capacity wouldnt be altered. maybe im wrong about that press conference - could have been an interview

We'll have to wait and see. In my opinion, something is brewing behind closed doors and we won't know for sure until all avenues have been explored and things are certain. I do think though that we'll be going ahead with the original plans, albeit modified and which will allow for further expansion in the future.

[Red_Al_77]

Hicks was bought in with the Stadium build in mind. He is the main man for that out of the pair. If he wants it changed for the better then so be it. If that means submitting new plans then so be it. The building work that has started is only excavation anyway. You can do a lot without committing to a set plan.

[rushscored4]

Hicks was bought in with the Stadium build in mind. He is the main man for that out of the pair. If he wants it changed for the better then so be it. If that means submitting new plans then so be it. The building work that have started is only excavation anyway. You can do a lot without committing to a set plan.

As I understand it it is Hicks who wanted to replace AFL with HKS, a Dallas based architect's practice that designed the American Airlines Arena. I've met many people from AFL in the past including the Director I mentioned previously and to be honest I think Hicks would have thought they were incompetent pricks.

[Assassin]

Hicks was bought in with the Stadium build in mind. He is the main man for that out of the pair. If he wants it changed for the better then so be it. If that means submitting new plans then so be it. The building work that have started is only excavation anyway. You can do a lot without committing to a set plan.

Agree, leveling a bit of land doesnt constitute building

[bazza76]

Thanks for the credit, 'Sir Bob'...

Did you really think that nobody on here would see you posting this and passing it off as your own information on KT? :whatever:

wow, got to hand it to Dunk.
He sure does have a way of getting genuine insiders to pay a £30 subscription so they can post inside info on his site. Pure genius.

[Xabi_is_God]

You're entltled to your opinion XIG but the information came directly from one of the original architects on the project who is a very good mate of mine. He's always given me reliable information in the past (check out my previous posts on here and KT for proof) and I've no reason to doubt him. Christ, I've even named his ex-boss if you look back through this thread FFS!

Why would my source or his-colleagues say AFL have been sacked? I am sure this information is 100% accurate. What I can't vouch for is whether the new architects will have any success increasing the capacity to 70,000 but the shortsightedness and unimaginative design appears to be why AFL have been replaced.

I believe you are an honest poster and have read your posts in the past. I believe you are posting in good faith, im not doubting that they may have been sacked. i just feel that it is unlikely that the capacity will be increased.

[Lucky]

I remember that original press conference and have watched it again since and Gillett's only reference to the stadium is an emphatic no to groundshare and the fact the we have to start digging in Stanley Park within 60 days (within 60 days of that press conference) to qualify for NWDA and EC grants - he didn't mention anything else.

That makes sense. we start digging and get the grants while behind the scenes the new architects tweek the plans to enable the stadium to be expandable at some later date.
What's stopping us making a planning application now and expand our stadium as it's being completed...in 2-3 years time...? Given that infrastructure is also taken care of.
Building a non-expandable 61,000 stadium was a bit of a cheyrou, and we all know it.

[Guest]

As I understand it it is Hicks who wanted to replace AFL with HKS, a Dallas based architect's practice that designed the American Airlines Arena. I've met many people from AFL in the past including the Director I mentioned previously and to be honest I think Hicks would have thought they were incompetent pricks.

I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of the new stadium (initial ones) on a certain website not so long ago but couldn't remember which site. That same site boasted the construction of our Melwood base and Manure's Carrington training ground ...

[rushscored4]

I believe you are an honest poster and have read your posts in the past. I believe you are posting in good faith, im not doubting that they may have been sacked. i just feel that it is unlikely that the capacity will be increased.

If you read my previous posts I've always said exactly the same because that's what I was constantly told by people at AFL. However, I think Hicks especially has decided he wants architects who will find solutions rather than talk about why they can't do something.

All I'm saying is "watch this space"...

[rushscored4]

I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of the new stadium (initial ones) on a certain website not so long ago but couldn't remember which site. That same site boasted the construction of our Melwood base and Manure's Carrington training ground ...

http://www.afl-uk.com/

These are the architects who have been sacked.

[Xabi_is_God]

That makes sense. we start digging and get the grants while behind the scenes the new architects tweek the plans to enable the stadium to be expandable at some later date.
What's stopping us making a planning application now and expand our stadium as it's being completed...in 2-3 years time...? Given that infrastructure is also taken care of.
Building a non-expandable 61,000 stadium was a bit of a cheyrou, and we all know it.

That sounds more likely alright. I could see it happening that way