Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton has revealed a comprehensive plan to enhance both Portman Road and the training facilities at Playford Road.
The club, which experienced a dip in home crowds in 2018, has seen a resurgence in support following promotion and a strong start in the second tier.
Portman Road, officially with a capacity of 29,673, has witnessed consistently high attendance, even attracting over 28,000 for a recent midweek Carabao Cup tie.
Ashton expressed confidence in the fanbase, citing impressive shirt sales, season ticket numbers, and community engagement through their Foundation.
Addressing the potential for increased capacity, Ashton emphasized the uniqueness of Ipswich Town as a town center club. While acknowledging the limitation imposed by land size, he suggested that a successful team could fill a stadium of 35,000 to 40,000.
Discussing the development of Portman Road, Ashton outlined a masterplan, stressing the importance of a holistic approach rather than isolated stand improvements. Collaboration with partners and the local authority is underway to address land usage, access, and transport plans.
Ashton revealed plans for continual development, including completing the West Stand boxes, upgrading various areas, and replacing the Cobbold Stand.
The focus extends to the Playford Road training ground, with a multi-million-pound redevelopment in progress. The aim is to provide world-class facilities for the first team, academy, and women’s team.
Architects have been appointed, and the club is working on upgrading existing facilities while constructing new state-of-the-art training facilities. Ashton highlighted the significance of elite facilities for player recruitment, retention, and development.
In terms of timeline, the club anticipates sharing initial drawings in the coming weeks, with input from manager Kieran McKenna. Ashton expressed the desire to break ground before summer, aiming for a 10-12 month construction period.
Inspiration for the training ground has been drawn from various clubs, and Ashton emphasized the importance of incorporating the best practices from different sources. The club plans to engage with fans in the coming months to keep them informed about the developments.
Leave a Reply