Not necessarily, you have to be wary of the utilisation score which for us could be very important. Build it too big too soon and it could have negative impacts on our score.

If we manage to pull around a 6k-6.5k average next season (which I think would be a realistic target then I can see the west being done with adding 500 or so during the works.

It’s not as simple as building it.

You have to also look at the demand within the stadium. Things I would consider are:

- The average 2025 attendence and how any increase in capacity would affect utilisation scoring for IMG grade.

- where the demand is within the stadium. For example if the east, north and south are continually sold out or close yet the west doesn’t sell out or close once then would you further develop the north to increase capacity for home fans where the demand is? If your filling the east most weeks then redeveloping adding facilities and new stand with added capacity and boxes could be worth it. You won’t for 500 or so fans.

- hospitality demand - if the MKM and south boxes sell out most weeks then you can justify a redevelopment including a number of boxes on 1F above the terrace as this should generate revenue match day.

- whether anything built could be utilised by the events team for outside match day. For example 5/6 x boxes on a sky terrace that house 10 persons each but have folding sectionable walls to open or close and increase between 10-60 person capacity would be ideal. You can then utilise 5/6 x boxes for match day and have another 50/60 (or more) events option for events/parties/business conferences.

- Ellis may want the new stand to house certain new facilities such as a gym or have a building/gym connected to the south west corner (the vacant space). Needs planning and consideration.

There are other considerations but that’s just a quick one.

BV is never going to be massive, its far too constrained. Best we could get on the current footprint is say 3k on the west, 4k in the north and 2.6k on the East. Maybe another 500 if some terracing was place in front of the flats. Circa 10k. Appreciate it's expensive and I'm spending some else's money, but we don't need to see what crowds we're going to get in SL to know what we need to do.

Agree that about 10k maybe but maybe 12k (if south is levelled and a new stand is built).

Things like this need careful planning though to maximise utilisation, facilities and payback especially.

I guess that's why he has a successful business and lots of money.

'Just build as big as you can' isn't really a good plan. As said above you need to know where to invest first.
He's always said he wants a bigger stadium to hold a regular 10k.

The North stand footprint is massive, and never has been used for its potential, along with the north east corner there is so much room for development

Agree with everything really, but given we've averaged 6k in the Championship (yes winning team), with virtually no away support, I think we must be aiming higher than that.

I think even more away fans will be looking forward to coming to BV now, rather than dreading it.

And you know they've missed us

If we're in the playoff chase til the very end I could see us averaging 7,500. There were 5,000 to see us beat Barrow, who brought five fans (not slagging them off), in a dead rubber. Agreed, a winning team is a huge factor, but no reason we can't be as competitive as Leigh have been over the last two years, and they averaged 2,779 in their promotion winning year.

Where have you seen that? Haven't seen anything about season tickets and based on all his behaviour so far I could see Ellis freezing adult prices to sell it out.

I'm not going to dig the posts out, but a lot of folk felt our crowds would plummet this year, too. A very few rightly pointed out we were down to our diehards already, and we have been since 2016. Our stadium was terrible, there was no sense we could ever challenge for silverware, and perhaps most powerfully, that never looked like changing.

The stadium is now a miles better experience. We'll be good to watch next season. And most importantly, there's hope 2026, 2027 and 2028 will be better. Away followings will also rise between 1,500 for Leeds and Hull, and 400 for Salford and Huddersfield.

I haven’t seen it anywhere, it’s my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. And Matt Ellis is a businessman, season tickets will be a minimum £225 minimum, you watch

I’ll stake my claim to be one of those few arguing against many that our crowds would plummet and we would see a sort of resurgence/return of fans. Glad I was proved right. I’d love to care enough to go hunting some past posts and quote them but don’t care enough to make that effort.

Season tickets will be raised but I don’t think they’ll be shot up to full price just yet.

I suspect if I had to guess it would be something like:

North - £150 > £180-£200. Child - Free > £20.

East - £250 > £270-£280. Child - Free > £30.

West - £100 > £130-£150. Child - Free > £15.



Some of those would go up a bit more in 2026. I can’t see he would just bolt them right up.

I think at the above prices we would see as many season tickets sold as this season.

Away fans won’t be £10 all season either but I do think he will keep them low to encourage away SL support to come in numbers - maybe raise from £10 > £15. Clubs like Leeds/Cas/Hull/KR would travel very well at £15 an adult ticket.

There has to be a step up in pricing but still with the ability to pull in numbers too.

Just a punt above but we shall see.

Are you saying you don't think Ellis is being positive? He's made loads of changes and spent a hell of a lot of money to encourage people to come.

I didn't say they were or should wait. They are just trying to make an intelligent decision on where to focus first.

They can't just magic up a 10k ready to go stadium.

Where did I say Ellis isn't positive , I’m speaking my mind on a forum that’s all , the man is very experienced in the world of kitchens sales and promotions, can that be brought over to an entertainment business , hopefully. Ellis is the best thing to happen to this club in possibly 50 years , but fortunately we all have our own opinions , even if that goes against the grain , after all poptart that is what a forum is all about ,peoples opinions