Blackpool's New East Stand - The Facts

The new East stand at Bloomfield Road should start to take shape in the next few days, say builders on site.

Forum member bispham_tangerine has today been down to the ground to take pictures of how everything is developing and found that all steel work should be finished in the next fortnight.

That should see the outline of the stand complete for the new season. As it`s a temporary structure, the steel work shouldn't take too long to construct. However, the interior and the insertion of seats will take some time. The ground will should be fit for use well before the Fulham game on August 28.

Steel arrived into Blackpool later than expected today (half-past one) instead of early this morning as wished, as it had to be re-galvanised after problems with the initial galvanising.

Karl Oyston is currently away on holiday and therefore couldn't oversee the steel problems.

Work can't commence on the construction until the four main pieces for the North East end of the stand arrive. The workmen are currently waiting for two of the four to arrive, which should be tomorrow.

Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the East will have seven or eight stanchions at the front. Mike Mouzourides, Technical Engineer for the project, told Slick Systems' website: 'Our brief was to design and erect a simple stand over a 5 week period in order to avoid the roof support legs we would have had to introduce a lattice framework construction method which could not have been built given the time restrictions therefore the only option was to have front supports.'

There are also talks of the Seasiders investing in a inflatable heated pitch tent for covering the playing area in winter, as well as astro-turfing the stretch of pitch where substitutes warm up in front of the West.

To look at updated pictures of the new stand, click here >>>

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.