New stadium update – February 2019

The Dons Trust board and the football club board held a joint meeting last week (13 February) so that Trust board members could be shown the latest core plans for the main west stand of the new stadium.

As well as the changing rooms, club office spaces and media facilities, the current plans envisage the main stand housing the new stadium’s main hospitality areas including a large corner bar, sit-down catering areas and executive boxes, plus a large fans’ zone. These facilities will be available for hire on non-matchdays. The main stand is also proposed to house the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, the club shop and a club museum.

“I’m not sure how many fans are aware that initially, we’ll be focusing on building the main west stand, with semi-permanent stands in place on the other sides of the pitch,” commented Dons Trust vice chair Rob Crane. “The extra hospitality facilities that we’ll have in that main stand, compared with what we can offer at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, are what will help transform the club’s finances.

“The plans for the stand have gone through various updates since the last time we showed them to Trust members as we look to build the best stand possible, taking into account the funding available and the best possible use of those finances.

“We want to show supporters the latest core plans and outline some options that we have as soon as possible, but we haven’t yet received the visuals for the semi-permanent stands that will initially be on the other three sides of the ground. We’re conscious of the fact that many fans will sit in those stands and that it’s those areas that they will most want to hear about and see.

“We’re waiting to hear when those visuals will be available. As soon as we can after getting them, we’ll announce an open meeting so that we can show you everything together, explain the current state of play, and sketch out the latest timelines.

“Rest assured that a lot has been happening behind the scenes and continues to happen. Going forward, we’ll try to keep you as well informed about progress as we can.”