Hua Hin City FC

[Davy B]

They have to be kidding themselves. Maybe January 2016, but absolutely no chance of it being ready in 2 or even 4 months. Where exactly is this stadium going to be? Nobody seems to have mentioned it before. It sounds as if it is not going to be that much better than where we are just now at Fort Thanarat - and we cannot fill that and that stadium holds about 3000. At present, and I say this reservedly, it looks like we are going to struggle to get out of Division 2 and if that is the case next season will be even tougher as we are likely to be playing better teams in the South League of Division 2, if what Big Boy has told me is a fact. I know the club have to look to the future but...............

[Big Boy]

Davy, I was at a Premier League ground last Sunday, home to BEC Tero, this year's cup winners. I doubt their stadium could hold more than 6,000. We're in Thailand now, crowds don't need Old Trafford.

I did post the stadium plans on this thread about this time last year, when the new ground was going to be delivered by April 2014 - there were huge plans for the opening ceremony, but as I said, TIT.

What we will get is a stadium that will be purpose built, and more importantly, it will be owned by Hua Hin City. No more wondering if somebody is going to cough up 10 Baht for the electric bill.

Where will the stadium be? I suspect it might be in the vicinity of the new water park, but I have seen nothing to confirm that.

Maybe if I dig out the plans again, it might make more sense now that the new road system is in place. Watch this space.

[Davy B]

I understand what you are saying, Big Boy. What I was trying to say is that Fort Thanarat is more than adequate for the time being. The away grounds that I have visited and the others that you have shown pictures of, all seem to look the same with covered areas and open areas with the running track surrounding the pitch. I have to say I am more than happy to going to Pranburi for the games. I know it is on the Army base but has there been any communication with them to purchase the stadium as an option. I have to say also, it is a bit ridiculous comparing Hua Hin City to Manchester United in any shape or form although Lamptey could walk straight into the United defence!! The only other time I have seen a club invest this heavily in a stadium and for it to work properly was at Celtic Park. I used to go to the old ground to see them play Hearts and they had crowds of 5000 and now they get 60,000.

[Big Boy]

I could probably walk straight into the United defence at the moment . Most teams walk through it with little resistance at the moment.

The Old Trafford reference was trying to point out that stadiums in Thailand don't need to be as large. A Premier League, cup winning side manages on a capacity of 6,000. Hopefully, the design of the new stadium will allow for expansion if it's ever needed. That is the way Home Park has been designed.

Yes, I don't disagree that Fort Thanarat is fit for purpose, but it's in a different town, it is rented and probably most importantly, we have a landlord who doesn't give a sh*t. If you rented a house, but the lights didn't work, what would you do? You were complaining the other day that they were having to re-arrange fixtures because of the landlord's unwillingness to keep the stadium fit for purpose.

Anyway, I've dug into the archives, and here are the plans:

I still can't work out where it is, can you?

[Sabai Sabai]

Good news! He is indicating that it will completed for sure, sometime in January and we'll start using it when the new season starts in March. Doesn't specifically say but way he's talking, it sounds like it's already underway. Also mentions it will be within the budget of 37m+ Baht.
It would appear to be Khao Takiab direction, as the name of the road in the plans is NongKae Takiab Road

[Big Boy]

Interesting, I've Googled NongKae Takiab Road, and the address of the Amari is 117/74 Takiab Road, Nongkae, Hua Hin.

[zeitgeist]

I think (and its only rumour and guessing) that this might be in the land next to the big new condo at the end of 112.
I think this makes sense as it's 'Vana Nava' Hua Hin and Vana Nava is nearby, although it could just as easily be within the grounds they bought for the water-park and condo/hotel.

I know there is another rumour about this land being Central Mall.

[Big Boy]

A venture into Google Earth, and maybe my original thoughts on location weren't far off:

Top left is the water park, and centre right is the Amari. I'm guessing it's going on a bit of spare land left over from the water park. As such, any construction going on would be deemed part of the water park, and not easily noticed.

Or am I putting 2 and 2 together and getting 57?

[zeitgeist]

Don't forget there is a condominium and hotel going on that site somewhere

[Big Boy]

I think (and its only rumour and guessing) that this might be in the land next to the big new condo at the end of 112.

I hope that's wrong.

We drive past there regularly, and it looks more like house construction to us. Then again, I know very little about building.

Don't forget there is a condominium and hotel going on that site somewhere

It's a big piece of land.

[Sabai Sabai]

Interesting, I've Googled NongKae Takiab Road, and the address of the Amari is 117/74 Takiab Road, Nongkae, Hua Hin.

I believe NongKae is the area between Hua Hin and Takiab, NongKae Takiab road is the main road linking the 2, I think.

[Sabai Sabai]

I'm not even sure if the Bluport Mall they're constructing may be considered NongKae, could they be sneaking a stadium in there as well?!

[zeitgeist]

It could be SS, I know that the MahaSamutr development is the end of Nongkae going up soi 112 and soi's 114 and 116 are also Nongkhae

[Sabai Sabai]

It seems strange they never mentioned the exact location in the announcement!

[Big Boy]

Out of curiosity, I brought forward a trip in that direction, and have been down to look at both potential sites.

I think (and its only rumour and guessing) that this might be in the land next to the big new condo at the end of 112.

I hope that's wrong.

We drive past there regularly, and it looks more like house construction to us. Then again, I know very little about building.

I've changed my mind. It no longer looks like a housing development, and could well be the groundwork for a new stadium. The size is about right, and I would think less prone to flooding than the other site.

I looked beyond the water park, and there is a very long wall there, which when finished, could be a stadium wall. Unfortunately, it is a building site, so I couldn't get a close look.

I'm still no wiser, but my preference would be the site next to the monstrous condo - could be a selling point - watch Hua Hin City for free . On the other hand, who wants to live next to a football ground?