City Ground renovations begin as Nottingham Forest responds to ‘incredible demand’.

Nottingham Forest is installing two new hospitality spaces made from modified shipping containers at the corners of the Trent End.

Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is undergoing changes to address the high demand for stadium hospitality. As part of a temporary solution, two new hospitality areas are being constructed using modified shipping containers at the corners of the Trent End.

These hospitality areas will fill the gaps between the Trent End, which backs onto the River Trent, and the Brian Clough and Peter Taylor stands. The project involves installing 20 private hospitality pods, each accommodating 18 fans, adding an extra capacity of 360 seats. The pods will feature dedicated hospitality areas, including kitchenettes, and offer “unobstructed views” of the pitch, as outlined in planning documents. To make room for these temporary structures, the Lower Brian Clough turnstiles and an irrigation tank have been demolished, and the Trent End screen has been relocated.

Chairman Tom Cartledge previously stated that the club would use container stands to temporarily boost attendance while work continues on the City Ground’s major redevelopment project. If the club secures a deal to buy the Nottingham City Council-owned land on which the stadium sits, owner Evangelos Marinakis plans to rebuild the Peter Taylor stand to further increase capacity.

Newark-based architects BENOY, in their planning submission for the new hospitality zones, mentioned that the development would enhance matchday facilities and meet the Premier League standards for hospitality and media facilities. This is especially crucial during the ongoing redevelopment and potential closures of the Peter Taylor Stand. While the wider City Ground redevelopment was approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council in 2022, work is still pending as several conditions, such as the demolition and relocation of boathouses by the River Trent, need to be fulfilled.