Brandywell Stadium Development

[attack!attack!attack]

Why do the speakers in the new stand not work or not turned on?

Couldn't hear music or substitutions.

Could be teething problems, but seriously.

[PauliAlonso]

Why do the speakers in the new stand not work or not turned on?

Couldn't hear music or substitutions.

Could be teething problems, but seriously.

All the lecky is getting wired into those light bulbs in the corners, nothing left over for speakers.

[marcoloco]

Why do the speakers in the new stand not work or not turned on?

Couldn't hear music or substitutions.

Could be teething problems, but seriously.

Frustrating alright but there was a mad rush to get it open so i'd maybe give them a bit of slack to get things up and running properly.

[brandyball]

Why do the speakers in the new stand not work or not turned on?

Couldn't hear music or substitutions.

Could be teething problems, but seriously.

Frustrating alright but there was a mad rush to get it open so i'd maybe give them a bit of slack to get things up and running properly.

Sound was breaking up in Southend Stand too.

[marcoloco]

Why do the speakers in the new stand not work or not turned on?

Couldn't hear music or substitutions.

Could be teething problems, but seriously.

Frustrating alright but there was a mad rush to get it open so i'd maybe give them a bit of slack to get things up and running properly.

Sound was breaking up in Southend Stand too.

I remember i used to dread half time or even a goal being scored because the speakers in the Southend Stand would blast out music and it would crackle, pop and break up.

[Keyser Soze]

The speakers in the Southend Stand haven't worked properly in a decade or more.
They always pop and crack and break up.
The sound is terrible.

[stevebradley]

It was very obvious from the Mark Farren Stand. I had said before that the Southend Stand is one of the worst views in the ground at night because of how dark it is.The lights needed updating when we moved back to Brandywell in 2018. There are certain corners of the pitch that may as well be blind spots.

100% Dee. The unnatural glare from that awful pitch doesn't help - it looked like a bright spotlight in some areas with the reflection off the plastic. Here's hoping the funding we get (optimistic) can reposition new floodlights and proper bulbs fit for modern standards.

Would we really have to wait for government funding to change the bulbs? What sort of money would it cost to change them?

Surely we could try that now? The viewing experience is terrible.

Isn't rhe problem that the floodlights are in the wrong place, rather than just bulb issues? They were put where they are back in the days when there was a dog track all the away around the pitch. That's gone and the pitch has been moved, but not the lights. Hence the bid for Stormont money to address that as part of the overall works to the place.

[attack!attack!attack]

100% Dee. The unnatural glare from that awful pitch doesn't help - it looked like a bright spotlight in some areas with the reflection off the plastic. Here's hoping the funding we get (optimistic) can reposition new floodlights and proper bulbs fit for modern standards.

Would we really have to wait for government funding to change the bulbs? What sort of money would it cost to change them?

Surely we could try that now? The viewing experience is terrible.

Isn't rhe problem that the floodlights are in the wrong place, rather than just bulb issues? They were put where they are back in the days when there was a dog track all the away around the pitch. That's gone and the pitch has been moved, but not the lights. Hence the bid for Stormont money to address that as part of the overall works to the place.

Exactly the problem, the current floodlights are not positioned correctly for the new position of the pitch since redevelopment.

Let's just say there is a lot of work to be done if the stadium is (ever) to reach Category 4 status (allowing us to play European Games with no limitations.

[roger diesel]

Would we really have to wait for government funding to change the bulbs? What sort of money would it cost to change them?

Surely we could try that now? The viewing experience is terrible.

Isn't rhe problem that the floodlights are in the wrong place, rather than just bulb issues? They were put where they are back in the days when there was a dog track all the away around the pitch. That's gone and the pitch has been moved, but not the lights. Hence the bid for Stormont money to address that as part of the overall works to the place.

Exactly the problem, the current floodlights are not positioned correctly for the new position of the pitch since redevelopment.

Let's just say there is a lot of work to be done if the stadium is (ever) to reach Category 4 status (allowing us to play European Games with no limitations.

This is a total misconception - the pitch has barely moved, looking at before and after drawings taken from the planning portal, prior to the Mark Farren stand construction, the pitch is shown in roughly the same location. In reality maybe the touchline on the Southend Park side has got a few metres closer to that stand, but the pitch half way line is the same. Also if you look at photos of the old grass pitch / greyhound track and the new articificial surface in relation to the Southend Park stand, the centre line is still roughly at the 'D' of the 'Brandywell' lettering on the seats. There was a problem with the lights before redevelopment, going back to the roof being added on to what was then a terrace at the Southend park side and the new lighting from the recent stands has further exacerbated the issue. You'd have thought there must be some way of adding or improving the direction and power of the lamps on the existing pylons, even in the shorter term.

[Keyser Soze]

Massive floodlights shining down on the pitch from all 4 corners.

There should not be the vast difference in lighting levels on the pitch. Simple as.

Either the alignment is off dramatically or else the bulbs need upgraded. It's like they are old tech compared to the lighting in the MF Stand and the new North Stand? These appear super bright and make the lighting hitting the pitch appear dull in comparison.

But either way, it's can't be rocket science. Normally if you are in any football stadium in the dark evenings, the pitch is super bright against the stands. At the Brandywell, it's the other way round.

[stevebradley]

Massive floodlights shining down on the pitch from all 4 corners.

There should not be the vast difference in lighting levels on the pitch. Simple as.

Either the alignment is off dramatically or else the bulbs need upgraded. It's like they are old tech compared to the lighting in the MF Stand and the new North Stand? These appear super bright and make the lighting hitting the pitch appear dull in comparison.

But either way, it's can't be rocket science. Normally if you are in any football stadium in the dark evenings, the pitch is super bright against the stands. At the Brandywell, it's the other way round.

The club has included a request for funding for the floodlights in its submission to the NI Football Fund, so is obviously aware that there is an issue.

If it was an easy thing to fix, presumably it would have been done by now.

I think that realistically we'll have to wait and see what comes from the NIFF process before anything can or will be done on the issue. Again - if it was an easy fix, presumably it would be done by now already or due to be fixed shortly - rather than looking to Stormont for funding.

[marcoloco]

Just looking at what Rover's are charging for LED displays during their up coming match v Bohs.

350 euro per minute...

Unsure if that's for an entire pitch or full.

That's 95 minutes x 350 euro = Circa 33k EURO for pitch side advertising. And probably closer to 50k euro if its half and half - assuming they get it sold.

Not bad money if you can get it...

[attack!attack!attack]

Just looking at what Rover's are charging for LED displays during their up coming match v Bohs.

350 euro per minute...

Unsure if that's for an entire pitch or full.

That's 95 minutes x 350 euro = Circa 33k EURO for pitch side advertising. And probably closer to 50k euro if its half and half - assuming they get it sold.

Not bad money if you can get it...

Yep. The LED around the pitch looks exceptional, and really strikes an elite football club tone.

All this stuff we should be implementing when the stadium is leased for 25 years.

Not least, more club branding & displays around the place.

[Keyser Soze]

Is there any sign of supporters being able to enter the ground quickly before kickoff?

On Friday night, in the pissing rain, we had to stand in queues as 2 staff tried to scan everyone's phones. It was very slow.

All the while, we have a new bank of turnstiles behind these people, which don't seem to operate like turnstiles are meant to. That is, I show the turnstiles scanner my ticket/phone, and I enter. Why are people still having to do it manually?

And ironically enough, the turnstiles aren't even locked, as many got fed up waiting in the rain and simply walked in through them without presenting a ticket at all.

[attack!attack!attack]

Is there any sign of supporters being able to enter the ground quickly before kickoff?

On Friday night, in the pissing rain, we had to stand in queues as 2 foll tried to scan everyone's phones. It was very slow.

All the while, we have a new bank of turnstiles behind these people, which don't seem to operate like turnstiles are meant to. That is, I show the turnstiles scanner my ticket/phone, and I enter. Why are people still having to do it manually?

And ironically enough, the turnstiles aren't even locked, as many got fed up waiting in the rain and simply walked in through them without presenting a ticket at all.

I noticed that myself, it is all just so poxy. Why is ticket scanning being manually done?

Even at the Lone Moor Road turnstiles, two people scanning everyone's tickets - it really lacks efficiency & cop on.

There are a number of things that need ironing out - not least that the speakers in the new stand don't even work!