Notes from last night’s BIAS Stadium Action Group meeting held at the club (on 4th Feb 2013):
The major concern from the meeting was the expected opposition from local Kew, Chiswick and Strand on the Green residents to the plans laid out for the Lionel Road project.
With a wider view of the area, it’s sensible to argue that moving a football ground from a residential area to a non residential area would be a good thing. However well established groups will have concerns about Brentford FC’s plans.
Concerns were also raised about the height and power of the floodlights. One side will be incorporated into the roof of the stand, the other side will have to rely on pylons and be much more powerful than the current Griffin Park lights. Expect to hear about Sky’s “for TV” demands or Lux measurements at this point !
Capacity will be just over 20, 000 with possible but problematic expansion over the railway line. Built in will be a safe standing area of around 3-4000.
To enable shared use with a rugby team, there may be a distance of 7m between the pitch and stands behind the goals. There are also plans to incorporate a hotel on the new site. All of this is in the proposal stage of course.
Other concerns or talking points were focused on leg room and a possible footbridge over Capital Interchange Way.
Fantastic but daft question of the night was phrased thus… “can I see the M4 motorway from my seat ?” – Oh dear ! No sir, you will be busy watching the football we hope ..
Regulars from the current 4 pubs around Griffin Park will be able to claim cab fares to and from the new site. ( this is a joke) and there are no plans yet for a monorail – but we live in hope.
The BIAS website will bring you more information as it breaks, and there will also be regular updates here on Beesotted
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Smithy – I was at the meeting last night and the one comment I would make is that your point about “built in will be a safe standing area of around 3 -400” might give false hope to people wishing for a standing area in this new stadium. The architect was asked to incorporate a design that accommodated 100% seating with a view to being adapted to standing if the need occurred. I think the reality of standing at the new stadium is slim to negligible not least because it would require a change in legislation for Premier and Championship clubs. Incidentally, the one question I forgot to ask last night is (naming rights aside) what is the stadium going to be called? ‘The Beehive’ is my preference.
I was born in Brentford 1940 in a house on the Clayponds estate and started suporting the Bees from the age of 7, at the age of 12 i used to help my Uncle pick up the Straw basket on the Monday with all the dirty kits following Saturdays match, then take it to Pier House Laundry in the Strand on the Green to be washed ready for the next match.I think it will be good for the club to have a new venue i would call it :New Hive:for the Bees.