However, given that the feasibility assessment for the Fratton Station bridge is not anticipated to be finished until the end of 2025, he has cautioned that it might be a “year or two” later.
Increasing capacity is a problem once more, as Pompey is on course to set their greatest average home attendance throughout a league season in 57 years.
The Blues can now accommodate 20,927 fans on a matchday after Tornante’s £20 million Fratton Park extension project was completed. However, when segregation is included, that number inevitably declines.
Pompey have once again capped season tickets at 15,000 for the 2024-25 campaign, while an additional 2,200 fans are on a waiting list.
Additionally, Cullen has reaffirmed that the only way to satisfy growing demand is through a possible North Stand construction.
“We would have to extend the North Stand in order to get the volume of seats we need,” the Blues CEO told The News. That’s how capacity can be increased.
We can’t do anything with the South Stand, because you are landlocked by houses behind. You can’t do anything behind the Milton End because you are again landlocked by houses and there are other issues with infrastructure and residents.
The North Stand needs space behind it. It’s an area you can build up and build back, which would give you extra capacity and is the obvious area to do.
‘The Fratton End is difficult because there isn’t enough land behind it, while you need to ensure you still have space and an access route for emergency vehicles.
‘Then there are the corners – and there is certainly scope to do something there. But it has to be cost effective because of the amount of debt versus the investment required. It’s also not as strong as doing something properly in the North Stand.
To make the North Stand work, however, it needs to be an enabling development, which is why the overall site is of such importance to this project.’
The entire Pompey Centre area’s development ambitions are outlined in Portsmouth City Council’s pre-submission Local Plan, which was released last year.
According to the article, Pompey’s capacity would rise to between 26,000 and 30,000 with an addition of the North Stand. Owners Tornante would contribute to this by building 460 residences and a 145-room hotel.
However, a possible new footbridge in Fratton Park is still a persistent problem. However, a feasibility study is currently in progress, having been commissioned by the owners of Pompey Center, M7 Real Estate, Portsmouth City Council, Network Rail, and South Western Railway.
Cullen added: ‘You have to bring everything into place and develop the whole site, so it’s not something which is going to happen in a year or two. The local plan allows that to develop at some point over the next 10 years – I would love for it to be sooner.
‘It’s about making sure we can resolve all these different factors, some of which are outside our control. For instance, the feasibility study on the footbridge is progressing.
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