Wolves' Molineux expansion not yet on the cards
Expanding Molineux is in Fosun's long-term plans for Wolves – but not before a big increase in attendances.
Proposals to redevelop the stadium have been on ice since the £18million Stan Cullis stand was rebuilt in 2012.
Wolves were relegated from the Premier League the same year and average attendances have hovered around the 21,000 mark ever since. The Steve Bull and Jack Hayward stands were to be part of a £40m masterplan, first unveiled in 2010. But they remain untouched.
Fosun's Wolves supremo Jeff Shi told the Express & Star attendances would need to hit the 26,000 mark before any plans could be revived.
"Molineux is always in the plan," he said of Wolves' off-field ambitions. "The pre-condition is we have to fill the stadium first. Now the capacity is 31,700 and attendances are 21,000 or 22,000.
"It's our plan, but we need to be more realistic. We should have at least 25,000 or 26,000 for every attendance first."
As well as higher attendances, Shi is also striving for an improved Molineux atmosphere.
He highlighted Germany as a country Wolves could learn from – and wants fans to turn up earlier to games to generate more noise.
"It's not only about the capacity, it's also about the atmosphere," he added. "Paul Lambert has been in Germany for a long time, he's seen the atmosphere there, and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson also, he has been in Germany and told me about the environment there.
"We can learn something from Germany. The important thing is we hope the fans can come to the stadium earlier, not just one minute before the game.
"That's important to give the players momentum and some inspiration. We have to prepare the game very well.
"And also I hope the fans can have some fun in the stadium, something to eat and drink, to be more happy. Ultimately it's an entertainment business.
"I hope the stadium can be louder, and I think the fans more fierce and aggressive to support the team.
"We can do many more things but we have seen some progress, like the Icelandic clap! It's good. The South Bank is fantastic but I want this everywhere. I hope in future for night games I want to do something with lights, turn off all the lights, something like that. It's a step by step plan.
"I hope eventually when the fans come to the stadium they will feel it's family entertainment. It's so important after five days work they feel it's enjoyable.
"If you want to get to that point you have to do many small things to accumulate."
