Main Stand redevelopment thread

[Timtwowheels]

So two of the affordable houses have now gone. There is a bare patch of land where they were. No signs of much else. I will be amazed if there is any movement this year. Looks like our board have little to no plans to invest in anything of any great significance.

Pictures and build schedule are all here on the club website: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announc...ium-training-ground-improvements-this-summer/

Or on the Athletic by Matt Woosnam (needs a subscription to view I think?) but explains the schedules of works and some of the barriers to delay excluding covid: The changes Crystal Palace fans will spy at Selhurst Park as redevelopment begins

"No signs of much else" - All six house were demolished giving a clear line of sight. The main stand has been partly demolished and covered up with the offices moving to the Old Crystals and hospitality moved to the newly built 1861 suite which literally takes up half the car park. The new away changing rooms in the Holmesdale are now in operation in the previously flooded area. I believe that the fanzine has or wlll move to Park road side of The Holmesdale. Sorry I'm in the Whitehorse and couldn't be arsed to walk round 😄

Above ground building work on the new stand is scheduled for September 2026 - so the initial phases of ground works for the new stand structure, commence shortly. The stand will take shape during 2027 although will not be fully completed until 2029. The club project an extra £20million revenue per season.

They've done loads of work imho, but it is following five scheduled phases of work due to regulations and funding.
If you can read the article in the Athletic, you'll read that the club are now fully committed to this build - both financially and with the authorities and us fans should actually see the ground works commencing next month.

 

[Norbury Old Git]

Pictures and build schedule are all here on the club website: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announc...ium-training-ground-improvements-this-summer/

Or on the Athletic by Matt Woosnam (needs a subscription to view I think?) but explains the schedules of works and some of the barriers to delay excluding covid: The changes Crystal Palace fans will spy at Selhurst Park as redevelopment begins

"No signs of much else" - All six house were demolished giving a clear line of sight. The main stand has been partly demolished and covered up with the offices moving to the Old Crystals and hospitality moved to the newly built 1861 suite which literally takes up half the car park. The new away changing rooms in the Holmesdale are now in operation in the previously flooded area. I believe that the fanzine has or wlll move to Park road side of The Holmesdale. Sorry I'm in the Whitehorse and couldn't be arsed to walk round 😄

Above ground building work on the new stand is scheduled for September 2026 - so the initial phases of ground works for the new stand structure, commence shortly. The stand will take shape during 2027 although will not be fully completed until 2029. The club project an extra £20million revenue per season.

They've done loads of work imho, but it is following five scheduled phases of work due to regulations and funding.
If you can read the article in the Athletic, you'll read that the club are now fully committed to this build - both financially and with the authorities and us fans should actually see the ground works commencing next month.

The hospitality suite has taken up half of Sainsbury’s car park as not many people actually shop there. There are loads of groundworks which need to be done before construction of the superstructure can commence. This can take time as it involves electrics and plumbing and sewerage. The superstructure will be quickly erected but fitting out will take a long time before safety certificates are issued. Fulham’s new stand took nearly a year from completion to full use so it won’t be quickly erected be quick.

 

[Timtwowheels]

The hospitality suite has taken up half of Sainsbury’s car park as not many people actually shop there. There are loads of groundworks which need to be done before construction of the superstructure can commence. This can take time as it involves electrics and plumbing and sewerage. The superstructure will be quickly erected but fitting out will take a long time before safety certificates are issued. Fulham’s new stand took nearly a year from completion to full use so it won’t be quickly erected be quick.

Yes, agreed, there are five stages, each tied to funding drawdowns, and the stand is still scheduled for completion in 2029.

We’re effectively in the start of the demolition phase now. The more modern extensions to the Main Stand — including the club’s main reception — have already been taken down. The Stanley Stephenson lounge, Speroni’s, the Vice Presidents’ lounge and the boardroom have also gone.

The one thing I’m still unsure about is what the final stand will actually look like. There have been several ‘impressions’ released over the years, and since then a few minor planning revisions due to spiralling costs, the war in Ukraine, and other factors, so it’s hard to know which version reflects the current design.

And, to be honest, I’m not looking forward to losing my seat in the Whitehorse when they extend the pitch and reposition the floodlights. This will reduce the capacity behind the goal by roughly eight rows which isn't great, but at least I’ve got a few years before that becomes reality.

 

[Norbury Old Git]

Yes, agreed, there are five stages, each tied to funding drawdowns, and the stand is still scheduled for completion in 2029.

We’re effectively in the start of the demolition phase now. The more modern extensions to the Main Stand — including the club’s main reception — have already been taken down. The Stanley Stephenson lounge, Speroni’s, the Vice Presidents’ lounge and the boardroom have also gone.

The one thing I’m still unsure about is what the final stand will actually look like. There have been several ‘impressions’ released over the years, and since then a few minor planning revisions due to spiralling costs, the war in Ukraine, and other factors, so it’s hard to know which version reflects the current design.

And, to be honest, I’m not looking forward to losing my seat in the Whitehorse when they extend the pitch and reposition the floodlights. This will reduce the capacity behind the goal by roughly eight rows which isn't great, but at least I’ve got a few years before that becomes reality.

I can barely see the goal line as it is. Even taking two rows out would mean seeing half the goal. Kids in the Whitehorse “Family Stand” would have no chance. A complete revamp of the whole stand will be necessary.

As explained the store is underused. On my infrequent visits while buying petrol or visiting the ticket office I will pop into the store. It’s amazing how empty it is during the day. It’s possibly a bit busier in the evening and weekends but I suspect it is at best breaking even and Sainsbury’s are waiting for Palace to come up with a plan for a new stand there so it can recoup its losses. Perhaps a ‘Sainsburys Local’ would be included. That is all in the future after Woody Johnson’s Donald Trump Stand is finished!

 

[Timtwowheels]

I can barely see the goal line as it is. Even taking two rows out would mean seeing half the goal. Kids in the Whitehorse “Family Stand” would have no chance. A complete revamp of the whole stand will be necessary.

As explained the store is underused. On my infrequent visits while buying petrol or visiting the ticket office I will pop into the store. It’s amazing how empty it is during the day. It’s possibly a bit busier in the evening and weekends but I suspect it is at best breaking even and Sainsbury’s are waiting for Palace to come up with a plan for a new stand there so it can recoup its losses. Perhaps a ‘Sainsburys Local’ would be included. That is all in the future after Woody Johnson’s Donald Trump Stand is finished!

I've only been in there once recently and it wasn't that busy - you'd think they get more footfall these days out of a Sainsburys' Local attached to the petrol station. Yes, it would be amazing to have the land back but I suspect that those larger private houses built behind the Sainsbury's which would have a say if their light was restricted.
Palace were apparently in a bit of a 'financial mess' 😉 when Ray Bloye sold it off for c.£2m in 1980 and took an £800,00 consultancy fee 😉. I can never forgive that as it was always rumoured that not much if any found its way back to the club and he 'retired' very soon after,

B

Post in topic 'Sale of the Whitehorse Lane end to Sainsbury's in 1980'

Jul 28, 2025

All I have read is that Sainsbury's paid £2 million for the land and that, allegedly, not much (if any) of that found its way into the club's bank account.

As far as anyone here knows, is that correct?

And can anyone provide some more information for me?

Thank in advance.

From memory previous owner Ray Bloye sold the land for about £1m and took an £800, 000 consultancy fee. Incoming owner Ron Noades sued but lost.

• Badger11

• 

 

[Timtwowheels]

I can barely see the goal line as it is. Even taking two rows out would mean seeing half the goal. Kids in the Whitehorse “Family Stand” would have no chance. A complete revamp of the whole stand will be necessary.

As explained the store is underused. On my infrequent visits while buying petrol or visiting the ticket office I will pop into the store. It’s amazing how empty it is during the day. It’s possibly a bit busier in the evening and weekends but I suspect it is at best breaking even and Sainsbury’s are waiting for Palace to come up with a plan for a new stand there so it can recoup its losses. Perhaps a ‘Sainsburys Local’ would be included. That is all in the future after Woody Johnson’s Donald Trump Stand is finished!

You are correct. The pitch is to be extended by I believe, 4 metres (they've already extended it at the Holmesdale end. It means moving the floodlights and losing 8 to 10 rows which is up to where the exits are. This would impose on the toilets, the medical room, storage and the 'serving/Bar' areas so no idea how it will work? I can envisage there being a 'wall' behind the goal like you see in American Football grounds but where would the infrastructure go, who knows?

 

[HeathMan]

You are correct. The pitch is to be extended by I believe, 4 metres (they've already extended it at the Holmesdale end. It means moving the floodlights and losing 8 to 10 rows which is up to where the exits are. This would impose on the toilets, the medical room, storage and the 'serving/Bar' areas so no idea how it will work? I can envisage there being a 'wall' behind the goal like you see in American Football grounds but where would the infrastructure go, who knows?

I looks like an earlier post predicting the Sainsbury's "Extra" becoming a Local accommodated withing a building back of the WHL Stand might happen before much enhancement of the Arthur.

 

[Norbury Old Git]

I've only been in there once recently and it wasn't that busy - you'd think they get more footfall these days out of a Sainsburys' Local attached to the petrol station. Yes, it would be amazing to have the land back but I suspect that those larger private houses built behind the Sainsbury's which would have a say if their light was restricted.
Palace were apparently in a bit of a 'financial mess' 😉 when Ray Bloye sold it off for c.£2m in 1980 and took an £800,00 consultancy fee 😉. I can never forgive that as it was always rumoured that not much if any found its way back to the club and he 'retired' very soon after,

B

Post in topic 'Sale of the Whitehorse Lane end to Sainsbury's in 1980'

Jul 28, 2025

All I have read is that Sainsbury's paid £2 million for the land and that, allegedly, not much (if any) of that found its way into the club's bank account.

As far as anyone here knows, is that correct?

And can anyone provide some more information for me?

Thank in advance.

From memory previous owner Ray Bloye sold the land for about £1m and took an £800, 000 consultancy fee. Incoming owner Ron Noades sued but lost.

• Badger11

• 

The properties behind Sainsbury’s are one bedroom flats. There is only one tiny window facing the ground as it was always intended to extend the Whitehorse Lane into a double decker stand. The large pillars inside the store were designed to take the weight of this stand. I think we are a long way off the redevelopment of the Whitehorse.

 

[Phil’s Barber]

I hope not, it sounds as though it will be desperately needed once the main stand is done and we lose the front 8 rows of the WHL.

 

[dreamwaverider]

So overall it sounds like some serious disruption over the foreseeable future. I suppose one could say, 'What's new?'