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The celebration Champagne didn’t have time to go flat before the builders and contractors moved in at the Riverside in the aftermath of Boro’s promotion-clinching draw with Brighton.

After seven years in the Championship, the requirements to host Premier League football have changed enormously.

On the behalf of the national and global broadcasters, the Premier League have a list of facility requirements that must be fulfilled by all top flight clubs.

A rough estimate of the cost is £5m but, as The Gazette's Boro editor Philip Tallentire reports, the improvements mean Boro will get the all-clear to host Premier League football at the Riverside next season.

ORDER OF PRIORITY FOR RIVERSIDE RE-FIT

1. Safety and security

All stadiums require an annual safety certificate.

Every summer Boro must ensure the Riverside complies with the relevant rules and regulations.

To that end, the most pressing priority is to make sure any repairs/improvements are made so that the stadium can be signed off by the inspectors.

2. Maintenance

A stadium is like any other building. Without regular maintenance it soon becomes both unfit for purpose and unsafe.

This isn’t to do with the cosmetic appearance of the paint work etcetera, it’s the condition of the steelwork, cladding and general fabric of the stadium.

This enhanced maintenance must be completed and signed off.

3. Premier League compliance

Promotion to the Premier League comes with certain obligations attached.

On behalf of the national and international broadcasters as well as other members of the media industry, the Premier League have a set of minimum requirements for top flight stadiums in terms of bespoke facilities.

Failure to comply results in the withholding of the first tranche of Premier League cash.

4. Stadium enhancement

Once the three above boxes have been ticked, the club can begin any cosmetic enhancements to the stadium and the possible improvement, if required, of spectator facilities.

Recent examples would include the Twe12th Man Bar and the Generation Red Family Zone.

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IMPLICATIONS

Tight time frame

Boro won promotion on May 7. The new Premier League season is scheduled to start on August 13 and the club traditionally complete their pre-season campaign with a home friendly a week before the season starts.

Therefore, Boro’s window of opportunity for completing all required improvements and alterations to the Riverside is just 90 days – or 13 working weeks.

Investment

The typical bill for the kind of work Boro have to complete this summer amounts to just shy of £5m.

Steve Gibson is determined, where possible, to use local firms and workers to carry out the work so a great deal of the money spent will be pumped back into the Teesside economy.

Fail to prepare – prepare to fail

Boro were wary of counting their chickens as far as promotion was concerned but they did make enquiries about what alterations to the Riverside would be required if they did escape the Championship and spoke to clubs who had been in a similar position.

That research enabled chief operating officer Mark Ellis and his team to hit the ground running on May 8.

Planning for the future

Boro aren’t just thinking about next season, they are also endeavouring to make sure any alterations/improvements are future proofed.

The most immediate changes will happen before the season starts but the club are planning further improvements over the next two-to-three years.

Chairman Steve Gibson is determined to involve the supporters in as many decisions as possible, like he did when the away supporters’ section was moved to the South-East Corner, opening up the South Stand to home fans.

THE MAIN SUMMER STADIUM CHANGES

Media

From the start of next season, Boro must provide in the region of 150 spaces for the media at various locations in the stadium to cover each home match.

Away from the live action, the old media room on the concourse of the West Stand Upper isn’t large enough for the demands of the Premier League, so an alternative is required.

To that end, major alterations are taking place behind the reception area of the West Stand with the commercial and finance departments being moved to a new location in the stadium.

That frees up space for a 70-seat press conference room, a media working area, a mixed zone and no less than five interview rooms.

Floodlights

Let there be light!

For those who understand such things, Boro's floodlights in the Football League were 800lux.

From next season they need to be 1600lux. So, basically, twice as bright.

But, wait, because of the way they have to be measured under the Premier League specification, they will be effectively four times as bright.

They also need to be ‘zero flicker’.

What that means is that when the TV companies broadcast a super slow-motion replay, the picture doesn’t ‘flicker’ because the lights aren’t up to spec.

So, next season, fans watching from home can enjoy a super slo-mo replay of Jordan Rhodes chipping David de Gea in pin-sharp detail.

Boro have opted to install LED lights because they are more versatile and don’t require time to warm-up.

So if Boro want a jazzy lightshow for some reason, they can do that with their new floodlights.

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Entrances

The West Stand will have three separate entrances into or near the reception area.

The media will enter through a door on the left side of the (north) red tower to the left of reception.

The players will enter through a door to the right of the (south) red tower while corporate customers and club guests will use the main entrance.

TV Studios

The current ‘studio’ used by the likes of Sky for live TV matches is a converted hospitality box near the Middlehaven Suite in the North-West corner of the stadium.

Unfortunately, it’s not big enough so a new site is required.

The club are currently seeking approval from the Premier League to install two new studios in the South-East corner of the stadium.

Broadcast compound

The compound used by the TV companies to park their broadcast trucks and other vehicles has, until now, been located behind the North Stand.

From next season, a section twice the size has been allocated outside the South-East corner.

To enable the TV firms to get their staff and equipment to the new TV studios, a new external staircase will be built on the South-East corner.

The long-term plan is for further staircases to be built to improve and ease access in other areas of the Riverside.

Benches and tunnel area

The Premier League requirements are under review and it is expected that there will be a number of changes to this area including the installation of new, reconfigured benches for subs and coaching staff.

Cameras

Boro had eight camera positions last season.

From the start of next season they need to have 32 potential camera positions hard-wired with the necessary services.

The club also has to have the cameras used for goal-line technology installed.

Press seats

Last season, when watching live match action from the media seats it was blink and you miss it for the gentlemen - and ladies - of the written press.

All Premier League clubs must provide TV screens/monitors in the press box offering a live feed of the match complete with replays.

So, to be ready for the new season, a fair bit of wiring, fitting and fixing is required in the press section at the back of the West Stand either side of the camera gantry.