Legends Lounge refurbishment and other County Ground updates

Swindon Town are to begin work on refurbishing the Legends Lounge at the County Ground this summer, according to the Advisory Board minutes.

The minutes for the May Advisory Board meeting were published on May 9, the meeting between the Swindon hierarchy and fan groups to discuss the current progress of projects across the club.

Plenty of issues were discussed around the development of the County Ground during the meeting after the Joint Venture board had met prior to the meeting.

It was revealed that the Legends Lounge in the John Trollope Arkell's Stand will be refurbished prior to the beginning of next season, with new TVs, furniture, and flooring being added to make it a better space for fans.

The work will be initially funded by the club, but the JV and Nigel Eady Trust will contribute a portion of the costs upon completion.

There was also an update given to the proposed fan zone and Don Rogers statue, which the club submitted planning permission for in April to backlash, with fans and the council’s environmental team both objecting to the initial plans.

Following the JV meeting, it has been decided that the fencing around the fan zone will be removed from the plans and new plans have been submitted, with work expected to begin during the summer.

It was also clarified in the fans' questions section that there would be no entry fee for the fan zone when it opens.

There was also a discussion of the larger development work going on at the County Ground from the JV meeting.

The current plans are yet to be totally finalised as the club continues to work with KSS, architects who have worked with Leicester City, Liverpool, and many others, to draw up plans for their developments.

Those plans are currently working towards being brought to fan consultancy by the JV, but it was said that adding hospitality facilities to the Don Rogers Stand is among them, with the club stating that they felt this was an important revenue stream that could be added.

There was also some discussion about work that could be done to the pitch, with the possibility of stitching the pitch having been investigated, but at a cost of £150,000, it was decided that that money could be better spent on the playing squad. However, the pitch will be replaced over the summer once the concerts are finished, which will take eight weeks.