UHT Vana Nava Hua Hin City FC 2015

[Davy B]

I must say when the computer generated pictures appeared I was wondering where we are all going to sit. If they expect 2500 supporters to sit in the blazing sun they will be sadly mistaken. The covered stand is barely big enough to house all the St Johnstone fans never mind the rest of us. By the way I am a Jambo and used to much bigger crowds!! The Thai supporters are usually diving for any available shade and there doesn`t appear to be any unless they count the local beer gardens. Surely they have to build a stadium that can accommodate approximately 4000 with a stand that covers at least one side of the stadium and have covered terracing enclosing the ground similar to Fort Thanarat to eradicate the people who watch for free. I echo Big Boy`s comments and fear we will be a laughing stock if these plans are exact. I would like to think that if we have big ambitions we have to show the rest of the teams in Thailand that we really do mean business and that means having a stadium to be proud of. I visited Buriram`s Thunder Castle recently and they have a stunning stadium which no doubt they are extremely proud of and fitting for a top team in Thailand and I feel that we have to think along similar lines. Only saying.......

[Big Boy]

I've posted them before, but here are the drawings for the new ground - is there any provision for cover shown?

Ground_Plans.jpg (56.18 KiB) Viewed 759 times

[Big Boy]

The league campaign begins.

NB: Due to the indiscretions of Prachuab management and supporters at the end of last season, Hua Hin's first 2 league home games will be played at Tha Yang.

Basically, this the football stadium you see on your left, just before Tha Yang as you travel North towards Petchaburi. I've never been there, but it looks easy to find.

[Edit] SatNav coordinates 12 degrees 57' 42.29 N; 99 degrees 53'53.72 E

[dundrillin]

I must say when the computer generated pictures appeared I was wondering where we are all going to sit. If they expect 2500 supporters to sit in the blazing sun they will be sadly mistaken. The covered stand is barely big enough to house all the St Johnstone fans never mind the rest of us. By the way I am a Jambo and used to much bigger crowds!! The Thai supporters are usually diving for any available shade and there doesn`t appear to be any unless they count the local beer gardens. Surely they have to build a stadium that can accommodate approximately 4000 with a stand that covers at least one side of the stadium and have covered terracing enclosing the ground similar to Fort Thanarat to eradicate the people who watch for free. I echo Big Boy`s comments and fear we will be a laughing stock if these plans are exact. I would like to think that if we have big ambitions we have to show the rest of the teams in Thailand that we really do mean business and that means having a stadium to be proud of. I visited Buriram`s Thunder Castle recently and they have a stunning stadium which no doubt they are extremely proud of and fitting for a top team in Thailand and I feel that we have to think along similar lines. Only saying.......

let me think JAMBO ? ----- its coming back, Jambos =jam tarts =Hearts of Midlothian, reputedly once a top flight Scottish football now languishing in the lower leagues somewhere, along side other allegedly big teams such as the Teddy Bears and the Hibbies. Come on ye SAINTS. Scottish Cup holders. (don't mention queen o the South)

[Davy B]

I wondered how long it would take for you to rise to the bait, Dundrillin!! Don`t worry we will be back and we will be better than ever. Our support, unlike yours, have ALWAYS been there even in the darkest hours. We will be back beating you lot again next year so beware!! I had the dubious pleasure of visiting the stadium at Tha Yang recently while hunting for the recent kick about with Phetburi and I have to say it looks very similar to the plans for our new stadium - a small covered seating area and not much else, which would be totally inadequate for a club that has BIG ambitions like Hua Hin FC. The lifeblood of most clubs are the supporters, unless you support St Johnstone that is, and suitable facilities has surely got to be a priority for them. 5 days to go!!

[Davy B]

Just been looking at the computer images again and it appears to me that the stadium is only fit for the sole use as a football stadium. There are no facilities available for other sports (a running track or gymnasium) or a club house or conference centre to host other events therefore limiting the revenue that this facility could generate. Is this an oversight or am I just being over critical?

[Big Boy]

I don't think you're being over-critical, although I believe there will be an opening concert there.

I am genuinely concerned at the lack of cover - rain is one thing (we don't get much in Hua Hin anyway), but sunshine will be a serious deterrent to Thais (who make up the majority of our support), and sat in 2 hours of tropical sunshine will be a serious health hazard.

I was hoping for a facility similar to Phichit's stadium - that would have been a great design to follow. It really is a facility for the people of Phichit - not just football. The drawings I see will give us the worse facilities in the league, and I wonder if they will meet Div 1 standards.

[Davy B]

According to Phichit`s website their stadium has a 20,000 capacity, which is way above our expectations at the moment. I take your point and agree with you 100% and I posted yesterday that the Thai support would dive for shade at the earliest opportunity and they provide about 95% of our support. We cannot just think basic and have to look to the long term. As you rightly told me yesterday, we are building a stadium on prime real estate in Hua Hin and surely we have to make best use of it and provide facilities that everyone in the city can use. I remember, and I am sure Dundrillin will also, when Asda bought the stadium at Muirton Park and they built the first all seated stadium that held 10,000 at McDiarmid Park, donated to them thanks to a local land owner, that they set new standards in stadium design and use. It is just a shame that most of the seats have never been sat in. Only joking, mate. We should now be doing the same for Hua Hin FC. Come on guys and get it right for the supporters now, because if you ain`t got us, you ain`t got nothin`!!!

[Big Boy]

We cannot just think basic and have to look to the long term. As you rightly told me yesterday, we are building a stadium on prime real estate in Hua Hin and surely we have to make best use of it and provide facilities that everyone in the city can use.

Hence my reference to the Phichit Stadium.

Phichit is a 2 bit town, with very little else going for it. However, in their stadium there is something for everybody - not just the football. The football is likely to go into extinction this year, but the facility will continue to be used for many events into the future. Hua Hin could use a facility like that, even if scaled down a bit.

[dundrillin]

Could someone approach the club management and ask what facilities will be available to end this speculation? A far sighted club will always appreciate input from the fans.

[Davy B]

I know that the powers that be at the football club are investing heavily in it and we have known about the plans for some time, but I am unaware of any meetings that have been held involving the a supporters group or other investors as to what they could provide. A point in question is the siting of the new stadium. If we had known where it was going to be we would have known about it 6 months ago and not just 2 days ago!! Are they just going to build what they THINK we are going to need? It is like everything else that is going on at the moment and "we will just have to wait and see what happens". I agree with Big Boy, when he compares the stadium at Phichit with what we should expect at Hua Hin. We are a CITY and not a two-bit town, yet the plans appear to be for a small village football field NOT a state of the art stadium!! Is there a fans forum or supporters group - apart from on here - or are our ramblings going to fall on deaf ears!!

[Big Boy]

Could someone approach the club management and ask what facilities will be available to end this speculation? A far sighted club will always appreciate input from the fans.

Maybe there'll be an opportunity at Friday's Market Village event.

[Big Boy]

I know that the powers that be at the football club are investing heavily in it and we have known about the plans for some time, but I am unaware of any meetings that have been held involving the a supporters group or other investors as to what they could provide. A point in question is the siting of the new stadium. If we had known where it was going to be we would have known about it 6 months ago and not just 2 days ago!! Are they just going to build what they THINK we are going to need? It is like everything else that is going on at the moment and "we will just have to wait and see what happens". I agree with Big Boy, when he compares the stadium at Phichit with what we should expect at Hua Hin. We are a CITY and not a two-bit town, yet the plans appear to be for a small village football field NOT a state of the art stadium!! Is there a fans forum or supporters group - apart from on here - or are our ramblings going to fall on deaf ears!!

I think we have to remember TIT - what Farangs think or feel doesn't mean much. maybe Ricardo as a joint owner will be able to change things.

In fairness to the club, the plans were published in the public domain about 12 months ago. Comparing them to what we are getting, nothing has changed. Unfortunately, I personally couldn't place the drawings to an actual site; and who would think somebody could consider building a stadium in the tropics without protection from the sun? It's all been in the public domain for a while, but we're only just taking notice because its really happening.

[Big Boy]

I've asked the club the question about a covered area for spectators. I will advise if I receive a response.

[Davy B]

Which website did you send your message, Big Boy? I sent a post yesterday to HuaHin City FC Official page and have not had any response!! I think we might have to approach it via sabai sabai!!