Not really surprised. The discussions with the architect have been quite protracted which could imply it's not as straightforward as originally implied.
Advertiser says Tony Stewart had a 4 hour meeting with the architects on Wednesday and reported good progress to increase the number of seats and enlarge the hospitality areas. More details are awaited on costings and a programme of work. An initial increase to 16000 is the favoured option by either adding a tier on top of each stand (presumably North and South) but there is a Plan B which involves using the existing structure to build a tier inside which seems to be more cost effective.
Development of the Family Stand is also on the agenda with the eventual aim of taking the capacity up to 20000.
Planning issues and protocols have to be sorted out but, if the programme fits and doesn't cause disruption, the aim would be to undertake the work in the season.
Hope this helps.
I thought the tier inside thing sounded a bit odd as well but that's exactly what it says in the Advertiser. I can only think it means adding more rows of seats above the existing ones by building outwards, maybe as a cantilever arrangement.
Or it could imply an athletic shape arrangement suspended high above the pitch with glass bottom, that along with Morgs departure goes in line with an expectation of losing the long ball game next season? Dunno what they'll do about Arni's shooting though?, maybe ban him altogether :)
Can't wait to see the plans for the proposed tiers. I hope it's not just an extra row of seats running from the players' dugouts and then all the way around the inside of the low perimeter wall.
-- Edited by Andy Monium on Sunday 21st of June 2015 10:49:33 AM