Sheffield United have released details of the first phase of their Bramall Lane development plans which ultimately could see the club staging games in the 2018 World Cup bid if England were to make a successful bid.
The Blades aim to increase The Kop capacity by adding 3,200 seats and it will also mean the removal of the two support stanchions in the current stand thus offering a totally unobstructed view.
A planning application will be submitted later this month to seek planning approval for the development of the South Stand. The intention is to increase the stadium capacity to 36,000 and ultimately 40,000.
United say they have already engaged with local community groups, fans and shareholders over the re-development plans and today sees the start an extensive consultation programme with local residents, supporters, councillors and constituency MP Richard Caborn.
United Chief Executive Jason Rockett said: "Over recent years we have upgraded supporters' facilities, have increased the capacity to just under 33,000 and seen the club become the best supported in The Championship.
"We continue to plan for the medium to long-term, putting in place the infrastructure to support a growing fan base and with an intention of achieving our main objective, promotion and sustained Premier League Football.
"We have also taken a longer term view and identified the opportunities around the South Stand which would enable Sheffield and Bramall Lane to be a part of any 2018 bid."
The proposals for The Kop are:
An additional 3,200 seats.
New covered concourse with catering and toilet facilities.
Cantilevered roof with existing central pillars removed.
New office, community and education facilities.
An additional Blades Enterprise Centre, located in the corner of the stadium between The Kop and the Valad South Stand, will provide growth opportunities for businesses located in the original centre and further off-the-field revenue streams.
Media and corporate facilities
A multi-use games area to be managed by the United Initiative, the club's community charity which delivers highly regarded programmes across the city
A student accommodation block built on the corner of John Street and Shoreham Street.
KOP THAT: BLADES RAISE THE STAKES
see the Green'Un newspaper, available from Saturday night for the full storyWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categories The full article contains 420 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
