As the football season heads into its final month, the club can give an update on developments off-the field as projects gather pace ready for the close season.
East Stand
The internals of the first, second and top floor all remain as they were built in 1996 when the stand was opened. They have been frozen in time ever since.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, work has now begun inside the stand with “boots on the ground” on the upper floors.
The first stage is to fire-proof the entire stand. This is to allow unrestricted access and internal occupation on matchdays. This will take a month to complete but it has already started. A large section of the roof also needs to be replaced and insulated (never done), along with new guttering to make the stand water-tight, before any fitting out can begin. New lifts are in manufacture ready to be installed in June.
These significant enabling works are required to be completed before anything else can be done inside on the main contract.
Watch the short video HERE to see a sample of the inside of the stand and the initial fire-proofing work.
Contractors have just returned their tender proposal bids and we are now working to select the preferred bidder to carry out the main contract works. This is a multi-million contract and the biggest investment since the stand was originally built.
Once complete, we plan to have around 150 new hospitality places and eight boxes with space for 80 guests in total which will more than double our current capacity. The additional income generating capability this will being is important to the future sustainability of the club.
There are of course some inevitable consequences of this investment. The EFL camera point will move to the West Stand, as will the press box. We are looking at the effect on seating in the East stand in order to minimise the impact on fans.
The boxes will mean the back row of the East Stand will no longer be available for use. Other seats may be affected in section 5. We will contact any season ticket holders when the impact is confirmed.
Warwick Road End
Corner development
Planning approval has been received meaning work can proceed in the close season. The redundant pylon will be removed, and new fan facilities installed, including more food and drink concessions to the side and rear, disabled spaces under-cover in the stand and new toilets along with new turnstiles. This is intended to be open for the start of next season.
Rear Fan Zone
Plans are well advanced to have new a Fan Zone to the rear of the WRE stand behind the study centre. A new liquor licence application is being considered by the Council. Two new food and drink containers are ordered, and this will improve experience for fans pre-match and half time.
Again, this is intended to be open for the start of next season.
West Stand
Fan Zone
The existing temporary big screen will be replaced by a new permanent screen. The aim is to have this in place ready for Euro 2024 from mid-June.
Training facility
It is well known that the existing single training pitch at Brunton Park is very vulnerable to waterlogging. This affects training and preparation. The Academy is spread far and wide too. Neither is conducive to success. We are lagging well behind.
We now want to and can move quickly to catch-up. We need to, as every day that passes, impacts on our future on-the-field success.
Having spent over a decade waiting for the opportunity to have equity to invest, now is the time to push on.
The finance is in place from the Ownership group.
Our vision is clear.
- We intend to create a flag-ship facility to make the fans, community and citizens proud.
- We aim to see the first team and Academy from U9-U18 all together working closely on the same site, at an inspirational facility to play, train and for young players to learn and develop.
- We will provide access to public, schools and community teams to fantastic facilities.
- Aspiration to have the Carlisle United Community Trust be located and operating outreach community programmes from the site.
We already have a masterplan design including an outdoor floodlit 3G pitch, indoor 60x40 yard 3G dome and three other full-size pitches and indicative building designs.
The relocation of the club to the new training site will not only furnish our players and staff with enhanced facilities but will also establish a seven-day-a-week operation, thereby fostering increased opportunities for young players in the community to be stars of the future, without needing to move outside Cumbria.
We firmly believe that this project holds immense potential to not only benefit Carlisle United, but also to make a significant positive impact on the broader community.
We strongly believe it can meet both our own immediate and longer-term needs and at the same time provide significant “betterment” for the wider community.
There is of course a real desire to move quickly and get the project moving with “spades in the ground”. Having waited so long for an opportunity to create a training ground and knowing the importance for the future of the club, we are naturally impatient.
We can’t wait to share the visuals and details and hope to do it soon, but the timing isn’t right just yet. The plans need to be more developed.
We are working flat out on this though – with designs and proposals being fine-tuned and contractors all being spoken to.
Whilst a fully functioning site will be will not happen overnight, our urgent priority is to have a new first-class training pitch up and running for the first team for the start of pre-season in late June 2024, if we can.
We believe this is achievable and we are doing all we can to make it happen. We have a contractor on stand-by ready to go if given the go-ahead.
This is a major project and will be a multi-million investment.
Alongside the East Stand, it is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the club. Under the new ownership we are resolutely committed to our vision of enhancing Carlisle United's stature and strengthening our bonds with the local community.
We will need assistance getting facilities up and running and welcome offers of support.
Other projects
We have drawn up plans to refresh the changing rooms and redecorate the playing areas and refurbish the office space in the Neil Centre.
We have purchased electronic pitch-side LED perimeter advertising boards ready for the start of next season.
We appreciate the assistance many local businesses are providing to the club on all these projects. Many thanks to:
- McKnight Builders – Boardroom, 1904 Room, player residences, Neil Centre refurbishment.
- PMS Fabrications - Roofing and structural assistance throughout the grounds.
- Unwin Jones – Architectural services and support – East Stand, Warwick End and Training Facility.
- EEC Electrical - Boardroom, 1904 Room, player residences, electrics throughout the grounds.
- Donleys – East Stand and Training Facility Chartered Quantity Surveyors.
We would also welcome any other help from the business community - it would be really appreciated. Just get in touch via email on enquiries@carlisleunited.co.uk
We want businesses to be involved and be proud to play their part for the good of the club and City.