Watford to extend East Stand & increase capacity

The new East Stand will be extended to run the entire length of the east side and will hold an extra 800 supporters, The Watford Observer reports.

Originally the plan had been for the structure to end in line with the penalty spot in front of the Vicarage Road End, but the decision has now been taken to extend the structure the full length of the east side of the ground.

The extension of the new structure will see the capacity of the East Stand rise from approximately 2600 seats, to just under 3500, with another 800 seats anticipated.

Due to the change in plans, the stand will now not be open before the current season ends, but it is anticipated that the new East Stand will be ready to house supporters for the start of the 2014/15 campaign instead.

Watford have contacted the Council about changing the details of their planning application, which is understood to raise the cost of the project from £3m to £3.5m.

Once the stand has been built, it will raise the capacity of Vicarage Road to approximately 20,500 seats with an unrestricted view of the pitch.

The players’ and officials’ changing areas, along with the manager’s office and a medical room will be located underneath the new East Stand, with the tunnel, press box and broadcast gantry on the halfway line.