Northampton Town have announced development plans for the East Stand at Sixfields, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
The current capacity of Sixfields is 7,798 and the renovation will take that to over 8,200.
Contents
🏟️East Stand plans and CGIs
🍴Pitch facing hospitality with executive boxes
🅿️ Over 100 new parking spaces with 8 EV points
🙌 Accessible platform for supporters who use wheelchairs
🍴 Two new large dining areas
📺 Concourse area with kiosks and screenshttps://t.co/5zJDZM2OfE… pic.twitter.com/lnpwzjltKY— Northampton Town (@ntfc) April 24, 2024
Northampton present East Stand plans with CGI images
Northampton presented the plans for the new East Stand with CGI images of the new stand and facilities as part of the wider redevelopment. The League One club outlined the new aspects of the East Stand on their website as follows (via Northampton Town FC):
- “Club's first ever pitch facing hospitality in its 127-year history with executive boxes
- “Introduction of over a hundred new parking spaces with 8 EV charging spaces
- “Return of the accessible viewing platform for supporters who use wheelchairs
- “Two new large dining areas
- “Full service commercial kitchen
- “New link road around the stadium
- “Concourse area with kiosks and screens
- “Stadium capacity will rise to just over 8,200”
The new stand is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. Construction group, GRS, have already completed preliminary paperwork and have begun “the construction of their site compound”. There will be three phases of redevelopment, which include an original construction phase, a testing phase and an operational ramp up phase, which is projected to be finished in the early months of next year.
You can read a detailed overview of the Northampton Town East Stand development plans using the following downloadable link.
Fan-led event to discuss Northampton Town East Stand development plans
Northampton also announced that a fan-led discussion will be held on Thursday, April 25, to discuss the plans. An event in the Tollers Solicitors 1987 Suite at Sixfields will take place between Chairman Kelvin Thomas, supporters elected representative Tom Cliffe and the ‘It’s All Cobblers To Me’ podcast.
All Northampton fans are invited to come, with free admission. For supporters that can’t make the event, it will be recorded and “played out as a podcast in the days following the meeting”.
Fans react to Northampton Town East Stand development plans
The ‘It's All Cobblers To Me' podcast replied to the Northampton Town East Stand development plans announcement on X.com with the following message, “East Stand plans are now out. What do you think of the CGI’s and plans?”
East Stand plans are now out.
What do you think of the CGI’s and plans? https://t.co/doWZ11AKpA
— It's All Cobblers To Me (@CobblersToMe) April 24, 2024
The fan reaction to the plans were mixed with some supporters critical of how long it has taken for the club to push forward with the redevelopment of the stadium. One fan said: “I'm gonna be massively in the minority here, and that's fine – I can't help but feel short changed that it's taken 20 years to only get this. The redevelopment was meant to take the club to another level financially, and I don't see how this plan does that.”
I'm gonna be massively in the minority here, and that's fine – I can't help but feel short changed that it's taken 20 years to only get this. The redevelopment was meant to take the club to another level financially, and I don't see how this plan does that
— Tyler Jason (@tylerjason_) April 24, 2024
Other fans were much more positive about the renovation of the East Stand. @OliPlays13 said: “Can see people disappointed. At the end of the day hospitality creates money and we need that, so looks really good. Also worth saying, moving the East stand entrance and having more catering inside really opens up expanding the North stand, especially filling the corner etc.”
Can see people disappointed. At the end of the day hospitality creates money and we need that, so looks really good.
Also worth saying, moving the East stand entrance and having more catering inside really opens up expanding the North stand, especially filling the corner etc
— Oli (@OliPlays13) April 24, 2024
Another fan added: “It's a step in the right direction I think. Let's try and sustain league 1 football moving forwards first and foremost. There's been much improved attendance this season. I feel mainly because we have done reasonably well. Let's face it most had us written off!”
It's a step in the right direction I think.
Let's try and sustain league 1 football moving forwards first and foremost.
There's been much improved attendance this season. I feel mainly because we have done reasonably well. Let's face it most had us written off!
— 𝕊𝕖𝕒𝕟 ℕ𝕋𝔽ℂ (@SeanNTFC) April 24, 2024