SWINDON Wildcats are investigating ways to increase the seating capacity at their Link Centre home.

The Link Centre’s ice rink currently boasts around 850 seats, which have regularly sold out for Cats fixtures this season.

The overall capacity at the venue is almost double that but Cats general manager Steve Nell believes the club are currently losing supporters who do not want to stand to watch games.

He is therefore looking into the possibility of increasing the number of seats to around the 1,100 mark, with the aim of completing the project in time for the new season.

Nell said: “We just need more seats. At the moment there’s about 850 seats but the capacity is around 1,600.

“That’s a lot of standing and we are losing people as they can’t sit down. If a family want to come but they can’t all sit down together, then they won’t come.

“We probably sell out the seats by about Wednesday night for a Saturday game, so we’re having to turn people away.

“We’re looking to put in around another 300 or 400 seats. There’s room behind one of the nets and room down one of the sides, so it’s definitely doable.

“It’s hard to compete with the bigger clubs if you don’t have that fanbase, and if you can’t get people in sat down, you won’t get that fanbase.

“September is what we’d like to aim for. It is going to be tight but it’s probably just about manageable. It could be permanent or temporary -the options are there for both.

“It’s not just down to us, though, and I’ve met with the general manager of the Link Centre and he’s given me the go-ahead to speak to the relevant people and then I’ll report back to him.”

Any possible expansion would come at a cost and Cats have also confirmed they are looking for a new title sponsor ahead of the 2015-16 season.

Prospective sponsors would benefit from home and away jersey branding, advertising around the Link Centre rink and VIP hospitality for home games.

Nell added: “We’ve got a great family environment, we’ve got great community involvement, and the crowds are up.

“I think we could be the second sport in Swindon now as I think we may have just got ahead of the speedway in the last year.

“And it’s a great night out as well, so I think we’re an attractive prospect for any sponsor.”

For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Cats marketing manager Sally Price on 01793 886857 or visit www.swindonwildcats.com.