Nottingham Forest are contemplating a unique expansion plan for the City Ground, aiming to boost its capacity beyond 30,000.
According to The Athletic, the proposal involves the creation of a temporary seating area, inspired by the innovative Stadium 974 in Qatar during the World Cup, constructed on recycled shipping containers.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been seeking ways to address the overwhelming demand for tickets, as estimates suggest they could have sold up to 50,000 tickets for some of their high-profile matches since their return to the Premier League.
One of the potential strategies involves filling in the corners at the Trent End with a new structure modelled after the World Cup stadium in Doha, which was crafted from 974 recycled shipping containers.
The plans are still in their infancy, but there is no need for planning permission, which means they can start the project before Christmas.
Forest have wanted to increase their capacity beyond 30,000 since the start of last season. They considered modifications and additional seats.
However, it was only when Tom Cartledge assumed the role of chairman that the Qatar-inspired idea emerged.
Forest could become a potential trailblazer in English football by drawing inspiration from the Stadium 974 project, potentially adding around 500 more seats for eager fans.
Cartledge, who took over from Nicholas Randall in August, will bring momentum to Forest’s broader modernisation plans for the City Ground.
These plans include the demolition of the Peter Taylor stand. It will be replaced by a larger and more contemporary structure. This plan was announced in February 2019, but delays have hampered it.
Cartledge, a devoted Forest supporter and CEO of Handley House Group, is spearheading the initiative, collaborating with Benoy, the architectural firm behind the proposed new stand.
Forest’s commitment to enhancing the fan experience is evident. They recently made cosmetic changes to improve the overall appearance of the stadium.
