STALYBRIDGE Celtic will have an impressive-looking new fan zone if plans to redevelop one corner of their Bower Fold ground are proved.
The club, under the ownership of Nigel Jones and Paul Bowden, has made no secret of its desire to improve the matchday experience.
Now it has applied to Tameside Council to put the area comprising of two bars, a café and a play area in an area close to the north east entrance and where the old social club once stood.
A sponsors and VIP lounge would also be placed above the shipping containers that would be used to house them, again using a container, with a balcony overlooking the pitch.
And Celtic believe the additions could boost attendances and increase revenue.
They say: “The stadium shows plenty of potential for redevelopment and intensification for its business use.
“Games are currently under attended, the club would like to improve attendance and improve its business plan and hopefully plan for the legacy moving forwards of the team and its success.
“Clubs such as this can be an absolutely crucial and pivotal focus to a local community.
“The main turnstiles and fan entrance to the site is on the northeast corner. This area has been undergoing demolition and refurbishments for some time and the club feels that it’s now time to incorporate a holistic approach to the improvement of the fan experience in this area.”
Celtic have seen an upturn in the matchday experience since the takeover and this is the next step as The Venues at Celtic, a new collection of four event spaces, is launched.
As well as the new scheme, existing facilities will be improved but this proposed one could even be moved at a later date.
Celtic add: “The proposed design Solution for Bower fold is to create a focus for hospitality in a fan zone area on a currently underutilised stretch of concrete just behind the turnstiles on the north east entrance.
“This has to be sustainable and affordable, possibly even recyclable and relocatable for the club.
“Naturally it was decided very early on that a simple and small structure crafted from recycled shipping containers and finished in team colours with hospitality incorporated would be a fantastic opportunity.”
Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.