Cardiff City news 12/01/01

Friday 12th Jan 2001 - Bob Bank plans

Sam Hammam is looking into the possibility of re opening the front of the Bob Bank at Ninian Park. Last Saturday saw the first sell out crowd of the season, a feat which will be repeated for sure as the season goes on. To add seats and a new roof would take the cost over a million pounds but there is a possibility of re concreteing the area to make it suitable for standing. New exits and barriers will also have to be in place to ensure the safety groups pass the project.

This could potentially increase the capacity at Ninian Park to around 16,000.

Sam is still committed to a new stadium but that will take a couple of years at least so this measure will ensure maximum usage of Ninian Park and give as many fans as possible the chance to get tickets until the new ground is built.

Report from TotalWales.
SAM Hammam is ready to bring the Bob Bank terracing at Ninian Park back into use next season - if Bluebirds fans turn out in force regularly.

City owner Hammam has been heartened by attendances which culminated in a crowd of 13,403 for the FA Cup third round tie against Crewe Alexandra last Saturday.

Cardiff are chasing hard for promotion this season and if they go up to Division Two then Hammam will give the go-ahead for work to start if he believes the extra capacity is needed.

One of Hammam’s top priorities is to build a new all-seater stadium for Cardiff City, but he is considering opening the Bob Bank terracing while plans for the Bluebirds’ new home press ahead.

City would have to renew concrete on the terracing, improve barriers and exits and obtain the blessing of the safety group.

The current capacity at Ninian Park is around 14,000, but they could add another couple of thousand spectators if the Bob Bank terracing was brought back into use.

“If a new stadium is three or four years down the road then it may be worth doing something about the terracing,” said Hammam. “That is a way of taking the crowds up a bit.

“The main aim, of course, is the new stadium. But if we feel we are doing well enough we will look at bringing the terracing back into use - and I’ll ask the fans to help with the work.

“You feel the Bob Bank, more than anywhere else at Ninian Park, belongs to the fans.”

There have been up to 30,000 spectators on the Bob Bank side of Ninian Park in the days when it was all terracing, but the area in front of the seats was taken out of use a few years ago because the concrete was crumbling. That problem would have to be rectified and other problems addressed to satisfy the safety group.