We're 6 weeks ahead - Tony

18 August 2011 22:42
Speaking on Radio Sheffield today, chairman Tony Stewart gives the latest on the new ground construction. The land on the site has been raised by 2 meters and fans can watch the events on the live webcam that has been set up. (you can view from the menu above!) "In the last ten weeks the ground levels have been raised 2 meters across the vast amount of the site 17 acre site. The y have also truncated that level over to the second access road which has got to go in." "I've been told its on schedule and I've been given the date of July 11th 2012 from the contractor of my management group - Gleeds, and they're confident of delivering the stadium complete by that date." Tony added. "As we speak today they are putting in the steel stantions and that will take a few weeks, that will be followed in September by the steelwork and the concrete and I'm told you'll be able to see inside the stadium by Christmas." "We've already got a webcam so people can see the progress day by day and it is incredible at the speed that things change with regard to the view that you get as you come over Centenary Way. The people of Rotherham will see it, the fans will see it and its exciting." "It will be a fully enclosed stadium, I think we've learnt a lot from Don Valley, the acoustics were'nt there, the 'nearness' to the pitch was'nt there. We're going to have features and benefits that we dont have at Don Valley, so people will see an iconic building on a peice of land in Rotherham that was degregated for so long, it will lift Rotherham." "It will also create jobs, as well as the stadium theres lot of land to create other things, probably a hotel and pubs." "People are now coming to us with ideas, thoughts and asperations of putting retail outlets around the Stadium, we're going to have some fun." Meanwhile Stewart also confirmed that the club has not needed to dip into the £5million loan from RMBC.

Source: FOOTYMAD