Dont think Matt will be looking at cheapest option, it doesn't seem to be his style , I imagine he will want quality.

My mistake, I should have said cost effective, no modern stands are cheap.

You're hopefully correct, and we get something really interesting. I used these as example of the kinds of configurations the space provides, rather than actual designs we should adopt.

I might be on my own but if we improve the West to this extent I'd make that home crowd and give North Stand to away fans.
I know people like the atmosphere but it could be transferred and the view will be much better.

Well if things go really well and the crowds do flock back, then we the home fans can have both the North and West sides of the ground, and we will have to build a new South stand for the away fans. We can live in hope.

Out of interest, my father in law always told me that in the sixties and seventies the South stand was the home end, and the North was for away fans. I don't know if this is correct, but if so it means there is no historical precedent that the home fans need to be in the North stand.

Ends always swapped . The south stand seemed more popular for home fans.
When it rained everybody make a quick run to get under cover.
Also the local boot boys liked it.

I seem to remember the south stand was where all the flags etc were

I like the look of Vastman 2nd option and with the terrace it seems to fit Matt Ellis’s description a bit better too

Yes back in the day, the home/away support was less evident as the fans tended to mingle far more. But you are correct ,swapping ends seemed to be the big factor and it happened at all grounds to some extent.
At Belle Vue it could take about the whole of half time to just get through the tunnel at the back of the old main stand.

The reason the South was so popular was that it was the only covered standing area.

Long line of Policemen down the middle, Fev fans one side, Wakey the other. Happy days.

Whelan gave Wigan the ground in Orrell when he booted the Union team out, in the last couple of years Wigan have moved into Robin Park Arena, next to the DW Stadium. Leneghan pumped a lot of money into doing the place up, and it now serves as the club's training facilities, pitch for the non 1st team games, club shop & fan village on match days.

I'm sure I read someone say Matt Ellis had been looking at the setup at Wigan as part of the dual registration negotiations, but I may have imagined that.

He would be daft not to, and he doesn't strike me as a fool. He's also been looking at Leeds' hospitality offerings too.

Maybe we can buy the cemetery behind the West Stand

Too many skeletons.

What I like about Ellis is he's focusing on the elite.
Wigan training and pathways programme is top notch as is the hospitality at Leeds.
Some would just go to one club for it all but he targets the best.

That would be a massive undertaking.......but for me it's a dead-end story