By Ian Todd
August 7 2014

So, a brief tour round Ashton Gate as it looks now and how it will be refurbished while we are there.  Indeed, how it will change in the first few months.

 

What’s this, you ask?  It’s more interesting than you may think, on the left is the irrigation tank for the pitch, it is actually larger than its predecessor.  The two cabins house the high voltage supply and switchgear for the stadium.  Why interesting?  Because the electricity supply has had to be completely changed from one end of the stadium (the Wedlock Stand) to this location behind the Atyeo Stand.  One of the trenches actually runs through a turnstile entrance which will have to be reinstated pretty soon for the start of the new season in, amazingly, August (that’s the association football season, not the proper one).  It just goes to show how difficult it is to redevelop a ground whilst it remains in use.  The demolition of the Wedlock stand haas now started, so this is what you probably won’t see at the start of the season.

 

 Inside the stadium we are looking here at the Dolman Stand Looking across the pitch from the Williams Stand.

The area in the right hand corner will be affected by the demolition work to the Wedlock Stand which is, at the moment, to the right of the picture.  However the demolition work there is due to start soon and will be taking place when we start our time at Ashton Gate.  There will be some alterations to the seating in that corner but the details haven’t been finalised.  This does mean that the lavatories and the kiosk down in that corner will not be there whilst we are.  This next picture highlights the Lower Dolman Stand.

You’ll see that I’ve highlighted it in green.  One thing those of you who’ve chosen this area to sit in (let’s not start on that debate) should be aware of is that this area is scheduled for demolition during the course of this season.  Which means, obviously, that you will have to relocate.  The area at the top of the green highlighting is where the ‘safe standing’ area will be constructed if it gets approved.  The Lower Dolman is to be replaced by a new seating area with a much shallower rake.  As a consequence the pitch has already been shifted away from this stand towards the Williams Stand, and will move more before the redevelopment is completed.  This does mean that the camber of the pitch is not currently aligned correctly, but it will be when fully completed.

The marquee-like structure on the pitch is, in fact, the Desso people weaving the synthetic fibres into the turf.  The ‘in-goal’ areas are double stitched to allow players to warm up without causing damage or excessive wear.

This guy is taking rolls of the fibres to the machine which is working in front of the Wedlock Stand.

Now, at the far left of the Dolman, as we were looking at it, is this space:

As part of the redevelopment the stairs and most of the ancillary structures, like the turnstiles, will be being demolished.  You may recall that the Lower Dolman will also be going.  So how will people be able to get into the Upper Dolman?  A zip slide is being constructed from the Williams to the Upper Dolman.  No, in fact, there will be temporary stairways to give access to the Upper Dolman (probably as early as January).  The current roof of the Dolman stand will also be replaced.  So the first two phases are the demolition and replacement of the Wedlock stand, followed by the redevelopment of the Dolman Stand.

The third phase is the demolition and total replacement of Williams Stand.  These two photographs may give you more of an idea of how extensive this is than looking at the computer generated images of the new ground.  This rather dull view of the side of the Wedlock stand shows a bit of tape inside what will soon be the builders’ compound.  Coincidently the tape just about shows where the new stand will extend to.

 

This image of the exterior of the Williams Stand shows the same bit of tape running along the centre of the car park area.  That is how far out the new Williams Stand will extend and gives a real idea of how much larger the new stadium will be than the current one.

The poor old Atyeo Stand isn’t scheduled for any major work but will look pretty small compared with its neighbours.  Where I stood to take that photo is pretty much where the corner of the refurbished stadium with the outside screen will be.  What I hadn’t really understood is quite how much work would be taking place throughout the playing season and how it will affect spectators.  I certainly hadn’t realised that the Lower Dolman might be gone by January of next year.

A whistle-stop tour of Ashton Gate before its transformation really begins.  And now Butcombe and Thatchers announced as supplying refreshments.