|
Post by singupgas on Aug 9, 2017 8:08:29 GMT
I fear that the overwhelming demand for season tickets wont be so high next season unless some great master plan is revealed in the next 12 months, if we truly have said no go to the UWE opportunity.
People expect a similar vision to what the UWE offered, good capacity with a chance to expand, not a 18k Flat Tower if that design is to be revisited.
10 years plus of league 1 or 2 await us whilst this project is flirted with, with no doubt several manager changes on the way.
|
|
|
Post by Antonio Fargas on Aug 9, 2017 8:09:14 GMT
Surely the more attractive it is for fans, the more revenue you can get from them. Yeah I get that - was just thinking about it more commercially I guess in terms of revenue outside of a matchday, sponsorship etc. Yeah, I guess both is better, hard to know what room there is for a major commercial project at the Mem, though. Istm, Wael would like a little Stamford Bridge, so maybe a hotel.
|
|
|
Post by faggotygas on Aug 9, 2017 8:11:10 GMT
Visiting the Valley on Saturday gave me some hope in this respect. The area of the Valley (excluding its car park) is almost identical to the area of the Mem site (including car park). The Mem site is in some ways better, as is basically square, while the Valley has some wasted angles. You would, however, somehow have to drag the building North a bit - away from Alton Road and Strathmore road, and do a lot of digging in the car park.
Direct access is not a problem, as very few would actually be parking at the ground, as now. Direct access at the Valley is similar to the Mem - residential streets.
The big thing that the Valley has, of course, is a train station round the corner. Apart from cost, supporter transport has to be our main issue. Perhaps we could sort something out with the new park and rides being built around Bristol - Lyde Green, the Portway, and, especially, Stapleton/Stoke Lane. Also, Parkway station.
Oh, and the Ashton Gate site is only very slightly bigger, and ignoring their out buildings and most of their car park, is the same. Easier though, as it's flat.
Just some thoughts, and, of course, cost is the biggy.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 8:14:59 GMT
Nothing wrong with the interview as far as I am concerned. Yes the Mem could be rebuilt. New South stand. Extend Dribuild full length pitch. Demolish West stand and build one full length pitch. Build new Blackthorn stand. All possible but would lead to a reduced capacity for a few years and obviously less income. Alternative is to move out and Demolish the lot while becoming tenants for a season or two. Ashton Gate anybody? All possible and a decent new stadium would follow. However what about all things outwith of the stadium. I await our owners comments about that. Perhaps Twentyman can ask him how we are going to cope with up to twice the support we now receive and where are we all going to park, how is public transport going to play it's part etc etc etc.The list is endless. UTG!
|
|
|
Post by faggotygas on Aug 9, 2017 8:15:58 GMT
Yeah I get that - was just thinking about it more commercially I guess in terms of revenue outside of a matchday, sponsorship etc. Yeah, I guess both is better, hard to know what room there is for a major commercial project at the Mem, though. Istm, Wael would like a little Stamford Bridge, so maybe a hotel. I was surprised, but on measuring, the Stamford Bridge site, including the hotel, commercial units etc, is exactly the same size as the Mem site. Only slightly bigger if you include the health club in the corner.
Of course, much better transport links.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 8:18:00 GMT
Visiting the Valley on Saturday gave me some hope in this respect. The area of the Valley (excluding its car park) is almost identical to the area of the Mem site (including car park). The Mem site is in some ways better, as is basically square, while the Valley has some wasted angles. You would, however, somehow have to drag the building North a bit - away from Alton Road and Strathmore road, and do a lot of digging in the car park. Direct access is not a problem, as very few would actually be parking at the ground, as now. Direct access at the Valley is similar to the Mem - residential streets. The big thing that the Valley has, of course, is a train station round the corner. Apart from cost, supporter transport has to be our main issue. Perhaps we could sort something out with the new park and rides being built around Bristol - Lyde Green, the Portway, and, especially, Stapleton/Stoke Lane. Also, Parkway station. Oh, and the Ashton Gate site is only very slightly bigger, and ignoring their out buildings and most of their car park, is the same. Easier though, as it's flat. Just some thoughts, and, of course, cost is the biggy. Completely agree, I thought the same about Charlton
|
|
|
Post by gashead1981 on Aug 9, 2017 8:31:19 GMT
What I don't think a lot of people understand, and what we don't know fully is what was given away commercially by the previous board that would have increased our revenue streams. Look at the issue that Coventry had at the Ricoh. They were evicted from their own stadium eventually. The whole plan was a mess from start to finish. My father in law, a die hard Coventry fan since he was a bit said that there was no need to sell Highfield Road, but develop it. He is fully convinced the club would still have been no lower than the championship without the saga that has gone on since.
There is little point in investing millions into a property you don't effectively own. If this is an investment for the Al'Qadi family, you have to assume that the sons of Wael and Hani will eventually succeed the fathers and they will want to hand down the business in the best shape possible. Thats logical. Also businesses must have a sustainable, profitable exit strategy, I have one in mine, it doesnt mean you are looking to sell out, it means that if someone comes along with an offer, you look at what you have invested over time and see if its valuable to sell or invite shared investment.
The UWE project commercially was not viable, that is the line from DS and Wael, not the actual stadium itself. So basically UWE were unwilling to give anything away. They wanted the stadium and all its benefits with us as tenants, the main benefit for us was a nice place to play with not much else on the side. Fair play to Wael for sticking to his principals.
Also, from what I am told, there is a £6m grant given from the FA for stadium redevelopment for lower league clubs, a healthy cash injection, maybe we now have access to that..??
The Buckingham Group will look at everything now at the mem, if they haven't already done so and come up with something that will suit us I am sure. Lets give that a chance.
|
|
|
Post by gashead1981 on Aug 9, 2017 8:36:34 GMT
Visiting the Valley on Saturday gave me some hope in this respect. The area of the Valley (excluding its car park) is almost identical to the area of the Mem site (including car park). The Mem site is in some ways better, as is basically square, while the Valley has some wasted angles. You would, however, somehow have to drag the building North a bit - away from Alton Road and Strathmore road, and do a lot of digging in the car park. Direct access is not a problem, as very few would actually be parking at the ground, as now. Direct access at the Valley is similar to the Mem - residential streets. The big thing that the Valley has, of course, is a train station round the corner. Apart from cost, supporter transport has to be our main issue. Perhaps we could sort something out with the new park and rides being built around Bristol - Lyde Green, the Portway, and, especially, Stapleton/Stoke Lane. Also, Parkway station. Oh, and the Ashton Gate site is only very slightly bigger, and ignoring their out buildings and most of their car park, is the same. Easier though, as it's flat. Just some thoughts, and, of course, cost is the biggy. If you look at the plots of most stadiums, they are similar to what we have at the Mem. The landscape of the land is the only issue, but not insurmountable. I think with any more permissions to BCC, the legal team would prove much more heavyweight than in previous years. Problem is, the Gloucester road/Horfield residents don't want anything built so that will be an interesting fight. The people of London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham seem to embrace their football clubs a lot more than the Bristolians, and that is the major difference.
|
|
|
Post by Henbury Gas on Aug 9, 2017 8:45:03 GMT
I thought it was a decent interview. Wael made it perfectly clear the "commercials" were not right and accused UWE of backtracking on previously agreed points. It's disappointing, but if he is right (and why not trust him?) then its a good decision. Some of the comments on this thread are silly, at best, and lazy. Many coming from fans who expect others to pay for their entertainment. Deja Vu indeed. If the Mem pans out as a stadium, the issue is traffic and access. Funny how a Section 106 sways a Council and might be cheaper than a new build UWE (Stadium and the 106) Just a thought. If the Money grabbing UWE thought Rovers was pulling a fast one why have they not been out in force on TV etc to refute what our great leader has said.... The Silence from UWE id deafening......
|
|
|
Post by Henbury Gas on Aug 9, 2017 8:46:10 GMT
I fear that the overwhelming demand for season tickets wont be so high next season unless some great master plan is revealed in the next 12 months, if we truly have said no go to the UWE opportunity. People expect a similar vision to what the UWE offered, good capacity with a chance to expand, not a 18k Flat Tower if that design is to be revisited. 10 years plus of league 1 or 2 await us whilst this project is flirted with, with no doubt several manager changes on the way. So the pull of championship football wont be enough
|
|
|
Post by Gastafari on Aug 9, 2017 9:16:38 GMT
I fear that the overwhelming demand for season tickets wont be so high next season unless some great master plan is revealed in the next 12 months, if we truly have said no go to the UWE opportunity. People expect a similar vision to what the UWE offered, good capacity with a chance to expand, not a 18k Flat Tower if that design is to be revisited. 10 years plus of league 1 or 2 await us whilst this project is flirted with, with no doubt several manager changes on the way. Why do people automatically think this? Bournemouth have surged to The Premier League in a ground smaller than ours. Brentford have done well and established themselves un The Championship in a ground similar size to ours. Burton have shot up the leagues in a smaller ground than ours. It can be done.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 9:19:57 GMT
I fear that the overwhelming demand for season tickets wont be so high next season unless some great master plan is revealed in the next 12 months, if we truly have said no go to the UWE opportunity. People expect a similar vision to what the UWE offered, good capacity with a chance to expand, not a 18k Flat Tower if that design is to be revisited. 10 years plus of league 1 or 2 await us whilst this project is flirted with, with no doubt several manager changes on the way. So the pull of championship football wont be enough I can really see us going up this season. I believe in DC. However, will DC stay if we do? If promotion is achieved, his stock in the football world would be higher than ever. He'd be able to walk away with his head held high. If he stays he will know that the first season in the Championship would be a relegation struggle, and he'd still have a sh** infrastructure behind him............He's be gone.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 9:24:03 GMT
ooh you're hard (Ricky Gervais Style). Why would I wanna have a meet with knuckle dragger like you who's clearly got anger issues. Have a little read back at our conversation, maybe your response to my first post. Offering people out on a forum you're absolutely pathetic. Is happy to spout off homophobic 'humour' from behind the safety of his keyboard online but doesn't want to explain why it's so funny offline: "IMAGINE MY SHOCK". You're an absolute coward. And you've got the nerve to call me a snowflake and a melt hahahahaha. Just end it, as far as I know we had no opposition to past plans from GBLT groups, it's just a silly comment that is escalating.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 9:29:58 GMT
So now, with you backed in to a corner, it's suddenly satire? And you've played the "I can't be racist I've got a black mate" card as well. If it wasn't for the fact that I don't know what satire is I'd say you must be a pretty good example. Can't wait to listen to an explanation of your satirical humour but will bring an ear trumpet so I can hear you over the sound of your ferocious back-pedalling. Love it when threads get taken over by 2 posters arguing over nothing related to the thread. Ban Best its the Moderators just deleted the threads from this pair as its a personal argument being conducted in public.
|
|
|
Post by singupgas on Aug 9, 2017 9:56:09 GMT
Love it when threads get taken over by 2 posters arguing over nothing related to the thread. Ban Best its the Moderators just deleted the threads from this pair as its a personal argument being conducted in public. Cant they just send private message to each other.
|
|
|
Post by CheshireGas on Aug 9, 2017 9:59:07 GMT
I can really see us going up this season. I believe in DC. However, will DC stay if we do? If promotion is achieved, his stock in the football world would be higher than ever. He'd be able to walk away with his head held high. If he stays he will know that the first season in the Championship would be a relegation struggle, and he'd still have a sh** infrastructure behind him............He's be gone. I agree Nobby but do you honestly think that DC is a man who if he got us into the Championship would want a shiny stadium just to keep him at Rovers. To be honest he comes across more as a very ambitious chap but also very down to earth. I think the challenge of being successful on the pitch overrides his other wants. I believe that the way he picks up and motivates players with potential, creating a team ethic & spirit and with his ambitious nature he could emulate Eddie Howe at Bournemouth. If he can drive the team and be successful, which I believe he can, that will lay a foundation which Wael will have to back if he wants the club to progress. That said he will still need all the other things in place such as the training ground and a successful youth programme. Those things must progress even if a new shiny stadium doesn't.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 10:20:38 GMT
I can really see us going up this season. I believe in DC. However, will DC stay if we do? If promotion is achieved, his stock in the football world would be higher than ever. He'd be able to walk away with his head held high. If he stays he will know that the first season in the Championship would be a relegation struggle, and he'd still have a sh** infrastructure behind him............He's be gone. I agree Nobby but do you honestly think that DC is a man who if he got us into the Championship would want a shiny stadium just to keep him at Rovers. To be honest he comes across more as a very ambitious chap but also very down to earth. I think the challenge of being successful on the pitch overrides his other wants. I believe that the way he picks up and motivates players with potential, creating a team ethic & spirit and with his ambitious nature he could emulate Eddie Howe at Bournemouth. If he can drive the team and be successful, which I believe he can, that will lay a foundation which Wael will have to back if he wants the club to progress. That said he will still need all the other things in place such as the training ground and a successful youth programme. Those things must progress even if a new shiny stadium doesn't. I agree with what you're saying, but Eddie Howe has people behind ready to spend a lot of money on the team. Will DC get that? Also, DC once said it was his intention to get Rovers into the top half of Div.1. If he were to actually get us into the Championship then clubs will be queuing up for him. As for the training ground, the cynic in me just sees some land banked by DS. Land value will not go down, so it's somewhere safe to park some money? As of yet, there are no plans submitted to South Glos Council to develop it.
|
|
|
Post by gastronaut on Aug 9, 2017 10:28:29 GMT
I have not bothered to read the whole thread so forgive me if I am going over old ground. I support Bristol Rovers, it's never been an 'easy, ride, it's kind of like playing golf against pro,s when you don't even have a handicap. I would not have it any other way . Whilst I am a little disheartened that we have lost out on a great new stadium, I am so much happier than I was 3 years ago. Redevelopment of the mem; wonderful. We have a stadium that we can redevelop and an owner that wants to do so. A redeveloped stadium is not worse than a shiny new one, it's just different. I wonder how many Man U, Chelsea, Celtic, Rangers, fans are baying for a move? When city could not develop Ashton Vale what did they do? I have no intention of setting foot there but all my City mates love it. Wael and his family have sunk their cash, effort and expertise into our club. They have tried to get UWE off the ground but been thwarted by the other party. In the meantime they have negotiated, bought and developed the Coloney. These are not signs of a man giving up, they are true commitments to building our club. We are Bristol Rovers, it's always been uphill, but the slope has been getting less steep recently. Surely we can embrace the good, forgive the man for not being able to deliver what we had been promised by people long gone, and get on supporting our fantastic, evolving, promising, exciting club. Whilst we are doing this we should be thanking our lucky stars we are not Hereford, Stockport or Darlington fans. I didn't realise they've "developed The Colony" - how did I miss that? I think you know what I am driving at, but forgive me, I bow to your pedantry
|
|
|
Post by Gastafari on Aug 9, 2017 10:35:54 GMT
I agree Nobby but do you honestly think that DC is a man who if he got us into the Championship would want a shiny stadium just to keep him at Rovers. To be honest he comes across more as a very ambitious chap but also very down to earth. I think the challenge of being successful on the pitch overrides his other wants. I believe that the way he picks up and motivates players with potential, creating a team ethic & spirit and with his ambitious nature he could emulate Eddie Howe at Bournemouth. If he can drive the team and be successful, which I believe he can, that will lay a foundation which Wael will have to back if he wants the club to progress. That said he will still need all the other things in place such as the training ground and a successful youth programme. Those things must progress even if a new shiny stadium doesn't. I agree with what you're saying, but Eddie Howe has people behind ready to spend a lot of money on the team. Will DC get that? Also, DC once said it was his intention to get Rovers into the top half of Div.1. If he were to actually get us into the Championship then clubs will be queuing up for him. As for the training ground, the cynic in me just sees some land banked by DS. Land value will not go down, so it's somewhere safe to park some money? As of yet, there are no plans submitted to South Glos Council to develop it. I dont think Eddie Howe had loads of money to get Bournemouth out of League One, remember he left to go to Burnley. He only came back to Bournemouth after getting sacked from there. Bournemouth started spending when they got Promoted to The Championship, but even then it wasn't millions upon millions. The money they're spending now is what they've generated from 2 years in The Premier League Rovers will have to do the same if we get promoted to The Championship, we'll have to spend money, even if its not millions. If we keep progressing DC will be off anyway, just like Eddie Howe was, we can only hope that he fails somewhere else and decides to finish the job off,just like Bournemouth and Eddie Howe have.
|
|
|
Post by beaver132 on Aug 9, 2017 10:49:35 GMT
Everyone wants some sort of huge multiplex inclusive stadium with hotels, conference centres etc. But let's be realistic, how many of those are there really??? There are loads of redeveloped old stadium though, whose clubs do rather well; Old Trafford (built on existing site)St James Pk, Goddison, Anfield, Chelsea, the list is really quite large. Those that moved out; Coventry (oops) swansea, Man City (gifted the ground) West Ham (gifted the ground). You get the idea. It's not the Holy Grail is all I'm saying.
|
|