Gillingham have a date in mind for the opening of their much-anticipated fanzone.
The demolition work was completed before the end of the year at the back of the Medway Stand to make way for the new facility at Priestfield Stadium.
Gillingham Football Club put plans in over a year ago for a 900-capacity area that will provide additional facilities for supporters on matchdays and an entertainment space for other events.
The club plans to have the new area ready for the start of next season, but hopes are that they can open earlier, in time for the World Cup this summer.
England’s group-stage games begin on Wednesday, June 17, when they play Croatia, before facing Ghana the following Tuesday, both kicking off at 9pm. They meet Panama on Saturday, June 27 with a 10pm kick-off.
Licensing hours for screening matches outdoors would be subject to agreement with Medway Council as original proposals at the planning stage were for between 8pm and 10pm.
The fanzone will include entertainment/food and beverage kiosks, seating area, toilet facilities and parking.
“We’re hoping (to have it open) for the summer,” said the club’s managing director Joe Comper.
“We’re trying to get it open for the World Cup if we can.
“I would expect by next season it will be up and functioning. That’s as we planned.
“We’re working with GPS, they’re our contractor, so the demolition was done really quickly, in a clean way.
“They’ve been great and they’re now going to be the contractor for the build.
“We think we’re on track and we’re excited about that, it’s going to be a cool space.”
The fanzone, constructed from shipping containers, comes as part of the club’s ongoing efforts to improve facilities for supporters, specifically for those in the Rainham End and Gordon Road Stand.
“We’re trying to make the fan experience better,” said the club’s MD.
“We’ll continue to do that, and I think we are still achieving that off the pitch.”
The club’s attendances have gone up since the takeover by the Galinson family three years ago – with average attendance up to 6,300 – back to the numbers from a decade ago when the Gills were playing in a higher division.
Matchday hospitality has also grown, with double the uptake from just a few years ago, with corporate boxes in the Medway Stand sold out for the season.
Mr Comper said: “Those things continue to be good and they’re great, but we need to focus on the football.
“The only way that will go up another notch is if the on-pitch performance is good, and that’s what we’re working on.”
The recently released yearly accounts stated that the fanzone would “be a transformative addition to the matchday experience” with a “dedicated performance stage (that) will host live music and pre-match entertainment, mirroring successful models seen elsewhere in the EFL.”
They add that “the club aims for the space to be usable throughout the year, potentially hosting non-matchday community events.”
Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium, meanwhile, is also set to become home to a museum, a project being led by the GFC Supporters’ Club.
Fans are being encouraged to dig out any old memorabilia to possibly become part of the collection, with plans to open the museum in time for the 2027/28 season.
David Garth, spokesperson for the supporters’ club said they hope to make the museum “one of the biggest – and best – outside of the Premier League and will certainly be even better than many in the top flight!”
The museum – which will be incorporated into the Medway Stand on Redfern Avenue, next to the club shop/ticket office where the old megastore was based – will go right back to the start of the football club in 1893 when New Brompton were formed.
Funds are being raised to make it happen. The supporters’ club are asking for individuals, groups and sponsors to help with the fundraising, with hopes of raising £40,000.
The GFCSC stated that: “All monies raised through donations will go direct to a fund managed and audited by the Gillingham FC Supporters’ Club and the money raised will only be used for the specific purpose of creating this wonderful museum.”
Mr Comper said: “That’s very much led by the supporters, being run by the supporters, being funded by the supporters and the club are supporting it and helping it.
“It will be brilliant for the club, but I also think it’s great for the supporters. It’s going to continue to be a really cool project.”
