Luton Town v Millwall – 2 April 2022
Some information re safe standing at Power Court from Gary. If he’d known then what we know now!
… we launched our Safe Standing Survey Part 2. The results of which will be summarised to you once we’ve fully cleaned and analysed them. It attracted a huge 2,800 responders – certainly sufficient to be meaningful and to base some decisions on. What I can tell you is that we have an overwhelming support in favour of Safe Standing at Power Court, and an overwhelming number of supporters, of all kinds, who would prefer to stand.
I can confirm that we will be planning to implement a sufficient quantum of Safe Standing positions at our new stadium, but we also heard the voices of those supporters who expressed some concern and their personal preferences to remain seated, too. Further news on the detail of this will be included within the detailed application. I know I sound as repetitive as a Mick Harford joke when I tell you that Power Court plans are coming along nicely – which they indeed are.
We have had many bumps in the road. As if dealing with economic crunches, Brexit, judicial reviews and significant changes to stadia compliance weren’t enough, since planning consent we’ve had to endure a seismic crash in retail, a time-halting global pandemic, a major energy crisis and now a global political conflict in Eastern Europe. All of these events have taken a material toll on our plans and progress, particularly on the cost impact of the new stadium.
Many of you, especially those in the building trade, will completely understand the scale and impact of the never-ending increase in the cost of materials and the difficulty with supplies. Along with the Brexit and HS2 effect of the labour market, which has squeezed our margins massively on Power Court, we have needed to run a not insignificant remodelling process over recent months with our design team. This, however, we have done without meaningful compromise to the capacity or inherent design. It has naturally meant we’ve needed to defer certain aspects to a latter phase of development, but we’re determined that this will occur in a seamless way when we’re ready.
Regardless, our detailed plans – which I can confirm that we are now delighted with – are drawing closer to a submission of detailed design this summer, at which point they will be made public. A single Promotion via the Play-offs to the Premier League will, of course, solve all those challenges in one fell swoop. There! I’ve said all those ‘P-words’! Way too many supporters have gently whispered one of those ‘P-words’ nervously, almost too afraid to mention it or because it somehow causes some kind of ill-fated catastrophe upon us if mentioned more conspicuously. I can positively assure you that, to us, fate just doesn’t work in this way. As a team, a staff, a board and a Club, we’re immensely proud of our achievements and are more than comfortable to talk about our progress proudly. Potential success needs to be confronted and committed to if it’s to be achieved!
Despite our #teamslikeluton social handle or the numerous images posted online of back gardens along Oak Road, we must absolutely embrace our success and discuss the eventualities and plan for both Championship and Premier League football being played at Kenilworth Road next season or perhaps beyond. This isn’t pronounced with an ounce of overconfidence or arrogance but, as a business, we simply must plan for both scenarios – and indeed we are.
Whatever the outcome, we will be ready! As a stark reminder, we are currently surveying our facilities for Premier League compliance and to even prepare to make our old girl fit for purpose for the top table is not an insignificant task, especially for the demanding broadcast and media requirements. Significant work will have to be planned for, ready to pull the trigger (should we be the lucky ones), to then be completed in record-time during the close season.
Quite simply if ignored now, Kenilworth Road would be incompliant and substandard, not just ‘quaint’. We simply will not allow for Luton Town or Luton to be seen as sub-standard, and if we can achieve a satisfactory level of compliance in the eyes of the Premier League with minimal dispensations, there is no reason why our charming environment shouldn’t be embraced by those other member clubs as an enhancement and broadening of the rich tapestry of venues to visit.”