Time to expand Loftus Road

[stainrodisalegend]

Loftus Rd must be worth an extra five or ten points a season, so many managers and players have talked of the intimidating atmosphere. It costs very little to shove in a planning application and commits you to nothing. Planning also takes forever so I agree with the original poster we might as well test the water with an application and see whether we would be allowed to put another tier or a higher bank of seats on at least one of the four sides of the ground. If so the ground could just about remain fit for purpose IF we gain promotion (don't like to take this for granted the way a few fans already seem to be doing).

[Gtleighsr3]

should build a new ground on sheperds bush green,handy for transport/pubs etc.lol

[80sCasual]

Whatever happens with our season, although we all love LR, we all have to face facts that it's inevitable we will move to a new stadium, where it is and what it will be like no one knows, we can only put forward our ideas, all I know is what I want and that is as close to W12 as poss, no resricted views, better leg room and good acoustics to help with the atmosphere. As everyone says, we do not want a bowl.

[Scarlet pimple]

Dont want a bowl, also dont want to stay at LR and remain a small club with small fanbase.

There is a need to grow.

[Nodge70]

It doesn't have to be a "soulless bowl"...

Look at the new plans for White Hart Lane, Eastlands or the Stadium of Light (Sunderland version), Allianz Arena or the new Juve ground - even the Madjeski. Great football grounds - it's about how's its designed and the amount of priority given to fan experience in terms of locating vocal supporters, acoustic capabilities and even the internal decoration of the concourses. Go up to Eastlands and see how City have decorated the internal concourses with fan experience pictures, historical pictures and even essays. It's great and all done BEFORE the Sheikh's money. Bricks and mortar don't make a stadium - fans do. Thousands of Rangers fans howled when Ibrox was pulled down - losing its roots blah, blah, blah. It's now probably the most intimidating atmospherse in British football.

If the Coventry and Saints fans who moan about being in a soulless bowl stood up and did something positive, it wouldn't be "soulless".

"Soulless bowl" is short hand for not caring, inertia and wanting your cake and eat without putting any effort in.

[PedalR]

Absolutely imperative we get some more capacity. If successful I think we can bank on around 20,000 Rs fans wanting to turn up regularly. Add to that 3-5000 away fans for prem games means we'd be more or less filling a 25,000 seater stadium regularly (a la FFC).
Currently, it's too bleeding hard to get decent late/last minute tickets and I think that puts people off. A bigger stadium with more home seating would allow people to rock up on spec'.

[BobHazell]

Absolutely imperative we get some more capacity. If successful I think we can bank on around 20,000 Rs fans wanting to turn up regularly. Add to that 3-5000 away fans for prem games means we'd be more or less filling a 25,000 seater stadium regularly (a la FFC).
Currently, it's too bleeding hard to get decent late/last minute tickets and I think that puts people off. A bigger stadium with more home seating would allow people to rock up on spec'.



Spot on mate

[Scarlet pimple]

Absolutely imperative we get some more capacity. If successful I think we can bank on around 20,000 Rs fans wanting to turn up regularly. Add to that 3-5000 away fans for prem games means we'd be more or less filling a 25,000 seater stadium regularly (a la FFC).
Currently, it's too bleeding hard to get decent late/last minute tickets and I think that puts people off. A bigger stadium with more home seating would allow people to rock up on spec'.

Agree.
But you still get the, we cant fill LR now blah blah blah.

[stanistheman]

No need can't fill this stadium.

Perhaps QPR can't fill LR for good reasons.

LR's capacity is around 18,000
The school end holds more than 3,000 and is often given up for away support, yet most clubs do not bring 3,000+ to QPR.

That leaves around 15,000 seats left for QPR fans and about 400 of these offer very poor views that are not worth more than £5, yet cost around £20.

So at present, if QPR sell 14,000 to home fans, that equates to almost a full house.

As for expanding LR. Where will the expansion take place. they cant go any higher due to planning permission and a lack of space leaves very little room for bigger stands.

The only realistic solutions for bigger crowds, is to make the school end lower tier availble to QPR fnas only, for every game and restrict visiting fans to the 2000+ seats in the upper tier.

Or build a new stadium.

[stanistheman]

Question is how do you build a fan base from existing levels? Prem footie will add some. Fans tend to be loyal so they're not going to swap allegiance. Value for money comes into it. A comfortable viewing experience needs to be built in. Attractive football played. Some cache gained from wearing your colours. Incentives for first time season ticket buyers. Introduce a friend schemes.

Charlton tried ever so hard a few years back and where did it get them? There needs to be a strategy like at Lens. , then you stand a chance of filling a 30k stadium.

Q - Did Chelsea attract 40,000+ sellouts every week before RA's takeover?

A - No.
Success on the pitch attracted bigger crowds and new fans.

If QPR go up, build a new stadium and are successful, gates will increase.

Football fans who move to London, from other cities or abroad, may want to choose a club to support.

Also, young kids often switch their team. My neighbour's kid changed from Arsenal to Chelsea about 4-6 seasons ago when he was between 7-9. Why? Probably because they were Champions.

[W6hoops]

Bring back terracing in the Loft and paddocks. atmosphere would be a lot better

[80sCasual]

Bring back terracing in the Loft and paddocks. atmosphere would be a lot better

Would love it, but they wouldn't allow it in the Prem.

[Hertford Hoop]

Bring back terracing in the Loft and paddocks. atmosphere would be a lot better

I agree but it'll never happen

[C-Dizzle]

A 30,000 seat stadium right now I can see 20 - 21,000 in (this league). LR has too many restricted view seats and the old fashioned ground put away support off.

[Gtleighsr3]

Would love it, but they wouldn't allow it in the Prem.

clipped a lovely one on a gooner in the paddock one season,i mean said hello fella and shook his hand.