While inside Premier League games draw sell-out crowds, outside the stadium's east side is earning a new second tier of seating. This unusual expansion may from now on be seen at StadiumDB.com.

Opened in 2009, the new Cardiff City Stadium sees its first expansion already, following the club's promotion to the Premier League and takeover by controversial billionaire Vincent Tan. His plan is to expand the structure from its initial 27,000 to 38,000 seats.

Planning permission for the first phase (adding a second tier to eastern Ninian Stand, closest to the historical former stadium Ninian Park) was granted in October 2013 and first preparatory works began in November that year.

Photo: DJ LeeKee

However it's not the extent, but means of expansion that deserve attention. The addition of over 5,000 seats goes without interfering with season games.

Throughout the Premier League season Cardiff City continues to see packed stands, while the upper tier is growing outside the stadium, just behind the outer edge of the roof. Only after fixtures end in May 2014 will the roof be taken off and replaced by new one covering both tiers.

The expansion to 32,878 seats should be done in late July 2014, while in mid-August the stadium will host its first ever UEFA Supercup game.

After the first phase similar additions are expected on both end zones, raising capacity to the planned 38,000.

Courtesy of Lee Smith we're now able to show you the unusual expansion of Cardiff City Stadium. Already now first concrete prefabs are being installed onto the steel frame of future upper deck. Once the first phase is finished, the stadium with larger Ninian Stand should look like in renditions below: