gotta be the main first , two tiers for 40 k capacity!

40k? Yes, it would be nice if we were a permanent fixture in the top flight. However, that we would only fill the ground to capacity for the London derbies, big teams, major cup games and, who knows, the odd tryst in Europe [?] is not the issue.

Planning is central. When Noades tried to increase capacity to 42k, the Council considered our application and approved a major rebuild which would have added a whopping 600 [SIX HUNDRED] seats to the current capacity. Obviously, Noades baulked at the idea of rebuilding the ground for just six hundred measly seats and the plan was shelved.

Access for such large numbers, parking, policing, public transport etc were, I suspect, foremost on the minds of the planners. Yeah, I know, there are 40k + grounds in other parts of the country set in equally densely poulated urban areas. However, what they decide in Merseyside etc. is what they decide there. Croydon have their own criteria and, I suspect, the desires of a football club and their fans may not feature highly. Or else, that was their position back then.

With the development of Croydon still politically hot, perhaps the political landscape has changed? However, the Club will, I suspect, still need to sweeten any deal that enables a sizeable expansion of capacity with a heavily weighted "section 106 Agreement". This is the deal with the Council whereby the Club developes the ground; but, in return, it also builds a school, improves the local transport infrastructure to accomodate the larger numbers, invests in community projects, undertakes landscaping to improve the public realm, builds underground parking facilities, pays to re-house any residents whose properties may need to be demolished and any other capital expense that would address the changes from a larger improved ground. Obviously, that may collossally add to the cost and delay the completion date of any project. Also, the larger the size of the ground, I suspect the more the add-ons the Council would demand as a quid pro quo for granting consent.

The point is, once we get a plan to expand the ground approved by the Club, that is when the difficult bit begins. We could then be locked in discussions with the Council for some time [possibly years] before a mutually acceptable section 106 deal is struck. Obviously, if the Club bring the Council into their plans from the earliest moment and use decent planning consultants and associated professionals, this may reduce the time and cost of getting an approved plan up and running.

As an aside, these conditions are normal and not some form of illicit back-hander. Every time you see a new housing development or supermarket built, it is Crest Homes or Sainsbury's who had to pay for all that landscaping, the children's play park and the new access roads.

We need to persuade Network Rail to vacate Selhurst Depot. Perfect spot that could be linked direct to Selhurst Station.

Agree,
Derby County are a perfect example of 'If you build it, they will come'. Their gates were only around 15/18k at the time they left the baseball ground. That gate shot up (admittedly temporarily) to nearly the 40k capacity on a regular bases. Top flight football kept it there for a while too. isn't that part of our owners plans? Inevitably their gates have dwindled due to poor football, relegation, poor management, etc but they have still stabilised at a higher average than before they moved.
I believe (if Palace remained in the top flight and established itself in the top division as a mid table team, couple that with a better matchday experience because of better facilities (no cues for the toilet, better food outlets, bars, seating, better view, etc, etc) I don't see any reason at all with the catchment area Palace has why we cant realistically double our average gate.

Palace did once average gates in excess of 35,000, and often more for a short time. Croydon is the biggest borough in London, and therefore UK. So we need to be confident Palace will fill a 40,000 stadium. Unless we accept Palace will never be a really top club. Not sure I want to do that!