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Gateshead International Stadium
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Dates for your diary...
Tues 23/03/2010 (7:45pm): GFC v Wrexham @ Home - Gateshead International Stadium
Sat 27/03/2010 (3pm): Oxford United v Gateshead - Away @ Kassam Stadium
Tues 30/03/2010 (7:45pm): Eastbourne Borough v Gateshead - Away @ Priory Lane
Sat 03/04/2010 (3pm): GFC v Cambridge United @ Home - Gateshead International Stadium
Mon 05/04/2010 (3pm): Wrexham v Gateshead - Away @ Racecourse Ground
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Prince Consort Road Stadium
Date: Thursday 7th January 2010, by Tynesider
We started the 'Home of the Heed' site way back in May 2007 in order to document Gateshead FC's progress towards a new Football Stadium. It's certainly felt like a long wait for all Gateshead fans, but boy was it worth waiting for!
On October the 28th 2009, Gateshead FC unveiled the location and proposed design of that new stadium. It was the ultimate location of the three we looked at, that site being North Durham Cricket Ground.
Prince Consort Road Stadium (North Durham Cricket Ground)
Prince Consort Road Stadium. Latest rendering unveiled this week.
On an early Saturday morning some ten years ago, climbing onto the supporters coach (another long trek south) the bus passed North Durham Cricket Ground. Turning to a fellow supporter I commented: "That would make the perfect location for our club". It was rather a throwaway comment that can be attributed to any supporter who dreams of better for their club, but for it to become a reality (subject to planning permission) is nothing short of miraculous. Especially as it transpires the club have only had to pay £260,000 for the site subject to planning permission being granted, a great bit of business for such a prime location.
Establishing that it's always been the ultimate location to take the club, as fans we really have to take our hats off to Graham Wood and Brian Waites in bringing us tantilisingly close to realising the dream. In this article we'll look at where the stadium build is currently, thanks to a fanstastic indepth article appeared in the Journal Business Section this week.
What was outlined in October?
- 9,000 capacity, with 2,000 seated main stand. The remaining 7,000 in terracing.
- Facilities include reception and club offices, dressing rooms, a medical room, press and spectator facilities.
- Executive suites, boxes and multi-functional space for matchday hospitality and lettable business space.
- The pitch will be 105 * 68 meters and will be to FIFA standard.
- On non-matchdays the stadium will be available for exhibitions and conferences, with 600 free parking spaces in the adjacent civic centre.
- Conversion to all seating would put the capacity at approximately 6,000.
- 5 minutes walking distance from Gateshead town centre and the main transport interchange (Metro and Bus).
- Envisaged completion date for the start of the 2011/2012 season.
What's New then?
The major difference you'll notice from the initial design is that the Main Stand has switched sides onto Prince Consort Road. After consultation from the public meeting, Gateshead are getting close to being able to submit a planning application (expected to happen in February, with the hope to secure planning permission in late spring and work starting on the site in June 2010), so the reworked design is likely close to what will be submitted.
The Evolution of the Stadium Design can be seen above from the initial rendering. Note how the main stand is now the East Stand.
The major thing you'll notice about the new stadium is the number of what appear to be executive boxes behind the main stand. The stand itself has four storeys, with three of those looking out on the pitch through windows. In fact only one of those storeys the windows are executive boxes/lounges (2nd storey), the two above are lettable office space. The club are currently working hard in discussions to secure long term tenants for this office space. With potential leases from 25 to 50 years, and possible income of half a million pounds a year. The primary care trust have been mentioned as one of these possible tenants.
So, the main stand (now on Prince Consort Road) will house all the main facilities rather than being stretched across the two side stands in the initial design. With this stand moving to the east side (lower than the west, due to Gateshead's sloping nature) an extra storey has been added to accomodate this change. Subsequently, the ground and first-floor will be for footballing and leisure activities (social club, community facilities and a club shop). The second and third floors, along with the free-standing buildings (in the corners attached to the two ends of the main stand) will house the lettable space.
Comparing to the Stadium of Light build cost, an estimation of £3.5 million can be made but that will increase depending upon the specification and a more realistic £6million is likely, with the club looking to make use of available grants to offset part of the cost. The stadium will utilise materials from sustainable resources where possible.
What's that on the roof of the main stand, is it grass? Well Gateshead Chairman Graham Wood has kindly said he'll provide the answers to our questions, so keep checking back for that Stadium Q&A article.