English Championship football club Derby County has submitted plans to expand its Pride Park home stadium.
According to the Derby Telegraph newspaper, planning application to extend the East Stand at the venue is now with Derby City Council and awaiting approval. Matthew Montague Architects submitted plans to the council on behalf of the club.
The club said the two-storey development would house independent restaurants and bars, with the development to take up part of the existing concourse at the stadium and an area currently used as a car park and pedestrian walkway.
Plans also include using space currently reserved for parking for disabled fans, although the club said these spaces would be moved to another, existing car park adjacent to the ground.
The application said: “The aim is to provide a pre-match and after-match offer, which enhances the overall Derby County experience. The proposal is to give fans an opportunity to arrive early at the ground, walk into a warm and comfortable atmosphere suitable for families, groups and all ages.
“The venue will offer a variety of food and drink in a well-lit and spacious setting with large screens showing match build-up and other events. After the game has finished, fans would be welcome stay in the new complex, they may wish to dine in one of the restaurants, debate the game over a drink or see other results come in.”
The plans also said: “This facility will have large screens throughout the open plan space showing the build-up to the match, post-match analysis and other sporting events.
“This assembly area will be spacious, light and inviting offering a superb destination for all fans, therefore the design expands the original concourse of the stadium and pushes the new restaurants to the pavement edge to create the largest internal space possible.
“Externally the architectural concept for the proposed building’s appearance derives from the exposed structure of the existing stadium and the football club’s badge.”
