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Post by gashead1981 on Dec 3, 2017 22:52:54 GMT
If you want to raise capital investment for a project you need to have the project planned, architected and a viability study completed together with the income streams from the business plan solidified before you can even entertain the possibility of asking someone to open their chequebook. Neither were our previous stadium designs or Ashton Gate entertained this way. That’s because we jumped into bed with Sainsbury’s for a price. Lansdown bankrolled himself but still had to plan it, envelope it inside Bristol sport and for it to turn a profit. It wasn’t a back of the fag packet stuff. But it’s a different set of skittles for us now isn’t it. One that requires outside investment. Whether that was at the UWE or at the Mem.
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Post by madgas on Dec 3, 2017 23:35:16 GMT
Neither were our previous stadium designs or Ashton Gate entertained this way. That’s because we jumped into bed with Sainsbury’s for a price. Lansdown bankrolled himself but still had to plan it, envelope it inside Bristol sport and for it to turn a profit. It wasn’t a back of the fag packet stuff. But it’s a different set of skittles for us now isn’t it. One that requires outside investment. Whether that was at the UWE or at the Mem. What about the first Mem design. That wasn't floated about. Id actually be surprised if they bought a club that needed a stadium and didn't have the funds for it. Not having a proper stadium hurts there investment more than our love this club.
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Post by stuart1974 on Dec 3, 2017 23:39:12 GMT
This is what I think Wael should have said;
Training ground
The initial plan was to build it all in one go, following the UWE collapse we are taking stock so will start the project shortly with a phased approach instead. Phase 1 will start once we have appointed a project manager which will be shortly with a main building and four pitches. Phases 2 and 3 will be added when time, finances and needs allow. Once concluded, the final plan will include (insert as required). It remains our intention to having a category 2 standard academy in due course.
Mem redevelopment
We are consulting with the council, residents and architects as to what could be achieved. We are looking at an end state of about 18-20,000 capacity and need to reevaluate the commercial aspects to see what is required and at what price. We may look at a phased approach here too with an initial construction of one new stand with further stands to come afterwards or for a total rebuild over a couple of seasons. We are looking forward to fans making their own suggestions so we get their input too which is vitally important to us.
It is vital that we get this right first time so not to lose more ground on our competitors and it will take time before firm plans can be made public, but we will keep fans informed as soon as possible.
January transfer budget
DC knows what he has available and we will continue to support him in getting those players he wants.
Rumours
There are many rumours circulating around football clubs and on social media, we are no different to anyone else in that respect as people want to know things are progressing. If I answer one rumour it gives credibility to that rumour and then when I don't respond then it will appear there is something to hide. For that reason it is best I don't respond.
Commitment
We will be here for the long term, it remains our aim to have the training ground, stadium and team ready for sustained Championship football over the next 3-5 years. Events and practicalities will affect the actual timings so could happen sooner or take longer, but that is our medium term goal. Once that is achieved, we can take it from there.
Communication
I admit there have been issues here which have fuelled the rumours in the first place. We need to improve here and as a starting point I would ask fans to submit questions to the club and we will endeavour to provide a written monthly Q&A. We can't answer all questions so will look at maybe the most common 10 and there may be sound commercial reasons for retaining silence on some but we will trial this from January.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Dec 4, 2017 6:29:37 GMT
When you decided to expand your current business ( well done BTW on your success so far ), did you explain to the world and his wife what your plans are before you went down the discovery route or did you do the planning first and then told the world ?. Maybe DS are exploring all options before they announce their plans to the world and his wife ? I mentioned it to some people yes, but my business doesn’t garner an investment from 10k odd other people every week. So you can’t compare it the same way. It doesn’t matter if my business goes bust. My customers will simply find another business to service their requirements. As long as I continue to be one of the best in my field I have a fair crack of being successful. With a football club people pay week in and week out to come and watch. It’s a community. As such, you can’t treat the people that give you a platform of income with contempt or think we are all stupid when some things are as obvious as a pimple on your nose. BRFC is not much of a business in its current format either because it makes a loss. But with Some strategic thinking it could be a shrewd and profitable investment, which is what the ALQs are in it for. But the more time they waste the more Hani will see it as a money pit and not bother. As a follow on about your statement, I also ran a successful business for the last 27 years in a retail environment and i run it very much as a community because without my "community of customers" i would have not been very successful, but at no stage have i ever consulted, divulged or spoke to any of my customers about my many expansion plans. The only people i have ever consulted are the stakeholders in the business. I think the problem with our current owners is that all their experience in Investment banking they have never had to consult their community of customers because they did not have too. I also think running a football club has come as a massive learning curve for them and i feel its one of the reasons they got into it in the first place. I fully expect they will announce what their long term plans are when they have all the pieces in place, just like they would do with any other investment project they are involved in
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Post by Topper Gas on Dec 4, 2017 8:13:59 GMT
I mentioned it to some people yes, but my business doesn’t garner an investment from 10k odd other people every week. So you can’t compare it the same way. It doesn’t matter if my business goes bust. My customers will simply find another business to service their requirements. As long as I continue to be one of the best in my field I have a fair crack of being successful. With a football club people pay week in and week out to come and watch. It’s a community. As such, you can’t treat the people that give you a platform of income with contempt or think we are all stupid when some things are as obvious as a pimple on your nose. BRFC is not much of a business in its current format either because it makes a loss. But with Some strategic thinking it could be a shrewd and profitable investment, which is what the ALQs are in it for. But the more time they waste the more Hani will see it as a money pit and not bother. As a follow on about your statement, I also ran a successful business for the last 27 years in a retail environment and i run it very much as a community because without my "community of customers" i would have not been very successful, but at no stage have i ever consulted, divulged or spoke to any of my customers about my many expansion plans. The only people i have ever consulted are the stakeholders in the business. I think the problem with our current owners is that all their experience in Investment banking they have never had to consult their community of customers because they did not have too. I also think running a football club has come as a massive learning curve for them and i feel its one of the reasons they got into it in the first place. I fully expect they will announce what their long term plans are when they have all the pieces in place, just like they would do with any other investment project they are involved in But isn't that why SH is on board as he does have the experience, although if anything he makes things 10x worse! I guess it wouldn't be the same at Rovers if we did run a professional PR set up like the 82'ers.
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Post by faggotygas on Dec 4, 2017 8:38:45 GMT
I mentioned it to some people yes, but my business doesn’t garner an investment from 10k odd other people every week. So you can’t compare it the same way. It doesn’t matter if my business goes bust. My customers will simply find another business to service their requirements. As long as I continue to be one of the best in my field I have a fair crack of being successful. With a football club people pay week in and week out to come and watch. It’s a community. As such, you can’t treat the people that give you a platform of income with contempt or think we are all stupid when some things are as obvious as a pimple on your nose. BRFC is not much of a business in its current format either because it makes a loss. But with Some strategic thinking it could be a shrewd and profitable investment, which is what the ALQs are in it for. But the more time they waste the more Hani will see it as a money pit and not bother. As a follow on about your statement, I also ran a successful business for the last 27 years in a retail environment and i run it very much as a community because without my "community of customers" i would have not been very successful, but at no stage have i ever consulted, divulged or spoke to any of my customers about my many expansion plans. The only people i have ever consulted are the stakeholders in the business. I think the problem with our current owners is that all their experience in Investment banking they have never had to consult their community of customers because they did not have too. I also think running a football club has come as a massive learning curve for them and i feel its one of the reasons they got into it in the first place. I fully expect they will announce what their long term plans are when they have all the pieces in place, just like they would do with any other investment project they are involved in Retail is different though - if you were to go to the wall, it wouldn't effect your customers much, as the transaction is already done. Rovers as a business is more like a service provider, which is the area I work in - and my clients very much want to know about future plans.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Dec 4, 2017 8:53:53 GMT
As a follow on about your statement, I also ran a successful business for the last 27 years in a retail environment and i run it very much as a community because without my "community of customers" i would have not been very successful, but at no stage have i ever consulted, divulged or spoke to any of my customers about my many expansion plans. The only people i have ever consulted are the stakeholders in the business. I think the problem with our current owners is that all their experience in Investment banking they have never had to consult their community of customers because they did not have too. I also think running a football club has come as a massive learning curve for them and i feel its one of the reasons they got into it in the first place. I fully expect they will announce what their long term plans are when they have all the pieces in place, just like they would do with any other investment project they are involved in Retail is different though - if you were to go to the wall, it wouldn't effect your customers much, as the transaction is already done. Rovers as a business is more like a service provider, which is the area I work in - and my clients very much want to know about future plans. I am a service provider, most of my business is Repair & Maintenance and the retail side of it is not even a close 3rd !
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Post by faggotygas on Dec 4, 2017 10:24:15 GMT
Retail is different though - if you were to go to the wall, it wouldn't effect your customers much, as the transaction is already done. Rovers as a business is more like a service provider, which is the area I work in - and my clients very much want to know about future plans. I am a service provider, most of my business is Repair & Maintenance and the retail side of it is not even a close 3rd ! Ok, but should you go bust or fail to keep up with the market, is it relatively easy for your custolmers to go elsewhere? In otherwords, how much are they invested in your company?
In the business I work in, it would be very disruptive for clients to have to go elsewhere at short notice, and would cost them a good deal of money. Also, their business relies on us being able to continually improve our service in line with end user demand. Therefore, they need to know that we are financially stable, will continue to be in the future, and that we have plans to keep up with the market.
Isn't that more like Rovers? The fans are emotionally invested in the club, and the club relies on that investment in turn.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Dec 4, 2017 10:58:42 GMT
I am a service provider, most of my business is Repair & Maintenance and the retail side of it is not even a close 3rd ! Ok, but should you go bust or fail to keep up with the market, is it relatively easy for your custolmers to go elsewhere? In otherwords, how much are they invested in your company?
In the business I work in, it would be very disruptive for clients to have to go elsewhere at short notice, and would cost them a good deal of money. Also, their business relies on us being able to continually improve our service in line with end user demand. Therefore, they need to know that we are financially stable, will continue to be in the future, and that we have plans to keep up with the market.
Isn't that more like Rovers? The fans are emotionally invested in the club, and the club relies on that investment in turn.
All well and good, but do Rovers have a Monopoly on Football in Bristol. If The Rovers stopped trading and was unable to provide the Service of Football, there are plenty of other football Clubs within a very short distance to fill the gap
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Post by gashead1981 on Dec 4, 2017 11:14:02 GMT
With respect Henbury, you cannot reconcile running a football club with your business or even my business.
If I say to people/customers what my plans are, the common response would be, well good for you, or I hope it goes well. Or, what a smug git showing off! The minority would be interested and be pleased for you. If you or I went bust it would be, what a shame, used to like using them for X reasons, now where else can I go? Would anyone really care? If the football team does badly its depressing, grown men cry at relegation, why the club is still in business? Because you invest in it.
Because of that football clubs have supporters which are like shareholders in a way, they all put something into the club, its based on emotion and we want to see it do well. The customer bit then comes in on the additional revenues, food and drink, shirt sales etc. But the turnstile entry is what gives us the right to ask the board what is going on when its clear things aren't right, don't make sense or when we want to see what sort of future is mapped out for us. Thats why managers time is often called when the supporters make it vocally known its time for a change.
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Post by faggotygas on Dec 4, 2017 12:02:24 GMT
Ok, but should you go bust or fail to keep up with the market, is it relatively easy for your custolmers to go elsewhere? In otherwords, how much are they invested in your company?
In the business I work in, it would be very disruptive for clients to have to go elsewhere at short notice, and would cost them a good deal of money. Also, their business relies on us being able to continually improve our service in line with end user demand. Therefore, they need to know that we are financially stable, will continue to be in the future, and that we have plans to keep up with the market.
Isn't that more like Rovers? The fans are emotionally invested in the club, and the club relies on that investment in turn.
All well and good, but do Rovers have a Monopoly on Football in Bristol. If The Rovers stopped trading and was unable to provide the Service of Football, there are plenty of other football Clubs within a very short distance to fill the gap Precisely. Lack of communication on the future plans of the club could result in loss of that emotional investment. The result is unlikely to be a change in alliagence, but instead a downgrade from active, ticket buying fan to passive, looking at reults in the paper fan. So loss of money to the club.
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Post by faggotygas on Dec 4, 2017 12:03:29 GMT
With respect Henbury, you cannot reconcile running a football club with your business or even my business. If I say to people/customers what my plans are, the common response would be, well good for you, or I hope it goes well. Or, what a smug git showing off! The minority would be interested and be pleased for you. If you or I went bust it would be, what a shame, used to like using them for X reasons, now where else can I go? Would anyone really care? If the football team does badly its depressing, grown men cry at relegation, why the club is still in business? Because you invest in it. Because of that football clubs have supporters which are like shareholders in a way, they all put something into the club, its based on emotion and we want to see it do well. The customer bit then comes in on the additional revenues, food and drink, shirt sales etc. But the turnstile entry is what gives us the right to ask the board what is going on when its clear things aren't right, don't make sense or when we want to see what sort of future is mapped out for us. Thats why managers time is often called when the supporters make it vocally known its time for a change. Yep. You have to treat fans as stakeholders.
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Post by poorblue on Dec 4, 2017 12:21:07 GMT
But you and your mate Ian Holtby are seemingly demanding the ALQ's divulge their complete plans for the UWE now, or failing which sell up to an ex Director who sat on the BoD which very nearly destroyed the club in the not to distant past. Ian Holtby isn’t a mate of mine. Just someone I know at the club who I have dealt with in the past when it comes to sponsorship and still speak to when i bump into him at games. I’m not demanding anything. I’m pointing out that the ALQs have no plan for the Mem redevelopment and if they don’t get a wriggle on it will be another 10 years before we get anything to resemble a new stadium. But instead they are mucking about decorating toilets and putting the club shop in a shed/portacabin/container. Which is a pointless exercise if you have plans to level the place.
If they want to evolve and to raise outside cap ex to do so they need a long term vision and plan so whoever invests, invests in the club not just the building. It will inspire confidence not just to the investors but the supporters as well. I don’t care who is in charge as long as the club goes forward. Not ITK but speculating, so instead of being negative i'm going to be positive thinking rather than pointless negative thinking. Anyone who uses the club shop will be aware its within the security fence. On match days the shop is open whilst the ground is still shut so customers are entering a "closed " ground unlike nearly every other football ground were access is from outside. Relocating it therefore makes sense. In the same area is a small bar under the stand that has no access from outside the security fence thus only opens at 1.30pm when the ground opens. The Supporters Club bar and Irenes Kitchen bar with outside access is open and normally heaving with customers from 11.30am, a full 2 hours before this other bar opens. Seems a lot of lost revenue to me so assuming that the adjoining shop area was converted to a bar refreshment area a huge increase in revenue along with fans comfort and facilities. Along with this possibility it is known that the stand above has conference and match days hospitality suite. This is fully booked for the whole season on match days and whenever I've been on none match days it appears the facilities are operating as a conference room. This new facility could thus increase conference facilities as well and again help generate income. Evolution not Revolution p.s. On the first match day after his appointment the new Commercial Manager quietly stood in the corner of the existing bar and observed it's operation. I spoke to him and he seemed switched on to what was needed to improve fans experience and I assume increasing revenues at the same time. Time will tell if I am correct in my assumptions. UTG
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Dec 4, 2017 13:09:55 GMT
The shop is pointless if it has no stock on the run up to Xmas.
watered off that my boy will be wearing another teams kit this year.
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Post by Topper Gas on Dec 4, 2017 13:14:37 GMT
The shop is pointless if it has no stock on the run up to Xmas. watered off that my boy will be wearing another teams kit this year. Catch 22 though, does the club get in a load of stock in the hope they'll eventually sell it, or make sure they'll sell out what stock they are getting in. They seemed to have loads of shirts on Saturday so it's not like there's nothing left to purchase for Christmas presents.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Dec 4, 2017 13:15:37 GMT
The shop is pointless if it has no stock on the run up to Xmas. watered off that my boy will be wearing another teams kit this year. I think there is a lot of doom and gloom around the people who work in the shop at the moment Maybe they know something we don't know (yet)
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Post by madgas on Dec 4, 2017 13:19:10 GMT
With respect Henbury, you cannot reconcile running a football club with your business or even my business. If I say to people/customers what my plans are, the common response would be, well good for you, or I hope it goes well. Or, what a smug git showing off! The minority would be interested and be pleased for you. If you or I went bust it would be, what a shame, used to like using them for X reasons, now where else can I go? Would anyone really care? If the football team does badly its depressing, grown men cry at relegation, why the club is still in business? Because you invest in it. Because of that football clubs have supporters which are like shareholders in a way, they all put something into the club, its based on emotion and we want to see it do well. The customer bit then comes in on the additional revenues, food and drink, shirt sales etc. But the turnstile entry is what gives us the right to ask the board what is going on when its clear things aren't right, don't make sense or when we want to see what sort of future is mapped out for us. Thats why managers time is often called when the supporters make it vocally known its time for a change. Gashead1981- you've raised lots of interesting viewpoints. But in fairness it was you who originally compared your own business to the situation at rovers. I don't think anyone on this forum disagrees that as fans we carry a level of investment and all on this forum believe their piece is worth something else wise they wouldn't be contributing... There aren't many chairmen that have ever said this is the plan- and actually been able to achieve it? We do need to be making progress and training ground developments will be curious.
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Post by peterparker on Dec 4, 2017 13:20:25 GMT
Ian Holtby isn’t a mate of mine. Just someone I know at the club who I have dealt with in the past when it comes to sponsorship and still speak to when i bump into him at games. I’m not demanding anything. I’m pointing out that the ALQs have no plan for the Mem redevelopment and if they don’t get a wriggle on it will be another 10 years before we get anything to resemble a new stadium. But instead they are mucking about decorating toilets and putting the club shop in a shed/portacabin/container. Which is a pointless exercise if you have plans to level the place.
If they want to evolve and to raise outside cap ex to do so they need a long term vision and plan so whoever invests, invests in the club not just the building. It will inspire confidence not just to the investors but the supporters as well. I don’t care who is in charge as long as the club goes forward. Not ITK but speculating, so instead of being negative i'm going to be positive thinking rather than pointless negative thinking. Anyone who uses the club shop will be aware its within the security fence. On match days the shop is open whilst the ground is still shut so customers are entering a "closed " ground unlike nearly every other football ground were access is from outside. Relocating it therefore makes sense. In the same area is a small bar under the stand that has no access from outside the security fence thus only opens at 1.30pm when the ground opens. The Supporters Club bar and Irenes Kitchen bar with outside access is open and normally heaving with customers from 11.30am, a full 2 hours before this other bar opens. Seems a lot of lost revenue to me so assuming that the adjoining shop area was converted to a bar refreshment area a huge increase in revenue along with fans comfort and facilities. Along with this possibility it is known that the stand above has conference and match days hospitality suite. This is fully booked for the whole season on match days and whenever I've been on none match days it appears the facilities are operating as a conference room. This new facility could thus increase conference facilities as well and again help generate income. Evolution not Revolution p.s. On the first match day after his appointment the new Commercial Manager quietly stood in the corner of the existing bar and observed it's operation. I spoke to him and he seemed switched on to what was needed to improve fans experience and I assume increasing revenues at the same time. Time will tell if I am correct in my assumptions. UTG Agree. People are going on about doing the toilets up and what not, but it all needs doing regardless of whether the Mem is developed or not. The Mem has been neglected for years because we were always moving or rebuilding The Mem. It was an excuse to do little
20 years on and the place needs things doing to it.
The Al-Qadi's might as well not bother though because they are apparently leaving or don't have money according to some and we can all stay in a sh** stadium left to rot
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Dec 4, 2017 13:20:40 GMT
The shop is pointless if it has no stock on the run up to Xmas. watered off that my boy will be wearing another teams kit this year. Catch 22 though, does the club get in a load of stock in the hope they'll eventually sell it, or make sure they'll sell out what stock they are getting in. They seemed to have loads of shirts on Saturday so it's not like there's nothing left to purchase for Christmas presents. Shirts but no shorts or socks. 2 Mile Hill have not had away kits in all season.
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Post by peterparker on Dec 4, 2017 13:21:36 GMT
The shop is pointless if it has no stock on the run up to Xmas. watered off that my boy will be wearing another teams kit this year. I think there is a lot of doom and gloom around the people who work in the shop at the moment Maybe they know something we don't know (yet) Maybe it's something to do with what the SC know, but won't tell us
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