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Post by gasandelectricity on Dec 5, 2020 13:06:58 GMT
Trust me you’ll all miss standing on the terraces when you’re all sat in a soulless bowl on the outskirts of town with no decent pubs and sat next to someone too big for the seat or the 7 foot guy sat in front. I quite like it at away games when the guy in front of you is standing up every 20 seconds and the family behind you is getting irate and you have no choice but to flit between being part of the problem for the family behind and getting their abuse or not being able to watch the match either.
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Post by clockendgas on Dec 5, 2020 13:17:51 GMT
Christ i was getting depressed reading the match day comments so thought i would check on this item, bugger me im even more depressed thinking about our dump, im off to Wells v Buckland, probably a better ground than ours lol
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Post by Big Jock on Dec 5, 2020 13:22:26 GMT
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Post by gasandelectricity on Dec 5, 2020 13:32:54 GMT
Considering 3 stands are temporary they look alright. I’d take them over our tents any day.
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Post by rememberhalifax on Dec 5, 2020 14:22:07 GMT
Having watched a lot of football in many stadiums over the last 60+ years you realise that we have been left way behind most if not all of our competitors and there is no doubt it's very frustrating. I sometimes wonder if we are to concerned with events at Ashton and feel obliged to try and match or better them, the old 'my Dad is bigger than your Dad' syndrome and hence we set the bar far to high. Instead of dreaming of the all dancing super 25000 + stadium would it not be better to scale down to somewhere around 12000(for now) which would surely give us many more options location wise and be more financially viable? this would also allow The Mem to come into the equation among other options. I have no idea of the set up at Bournemouth but they managed to reach the very top with that kind of facility and sustain it, they could even get back there this season. Perhaps Wareham could enlighten us , it would be good to hear first hand what such an experience is like . Perhaps its time we started to be realistic about what we need and cut our cloth accordingly. Up the Rovers!
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Post by gasheadontour on Dec 5, 2020 19:46:34 GMT
Some clubs have older grounds that are quite nice.... Some clubs have new grounds that are quite nice.... We've got a 1980's relic that would look out of date in Belarus.... I'd kill for a Belarussian stadium: Looks like it has melted
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Post by gasheadontour on Dec 5, 2020 19:49:16 GMT
Having watched a lot of football in many stadiums over the last 60+ years you realise that we have been left way behind most if not all of our competitors and there is no doubt it's very frustrating. I sometimes wonder if we are to concerned with events at Ashton and feel obliged to try and match or better them, the old 'my Dad is bigger than your Dad' syndrome and hence we set the bar far to high. Instead of dreaming of the all dancing super 25000 + stadium would it not be better to scale down to somewhere around 12000(for now) which would surely give us many more options location wise and be more financially viable? this would also allow The Mem to come into the equation among other options. I have no idea of the set up at Bournemouth but they managed to reach the very top with that kind of facility and sustain it, they could even get back there this season. Perhaps Wareham could enlighten us , it would be good to hear first hand what such an experience is like . Perhaps its time we started to be realistic about what we need and cut our cloth accordingly. Up the Rovers! Attendances don't matter so much in the Prem as clubs receive so much income from TV rights.
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Post by warehamgas on Dec 5, 2020 20:27:38 GMT
Having watched a lot of football in many stadiums over the last 60+ years you realise that we have been left way behind most if not all of our competitors and there is no doubt it's very frustrating. I sometimes wonder if we are to concerned with events at Ashton and feel obliged to try and match or better them, the old 'my Dad is bigger than your Dad' syndrome and hence we set the bar far to high. Instead of dreaming of the all dancing super 25000 + stadium would it not be better to scale down to somewhere around 12000(for now) which would surely give us many more options location wise and be more financially viable? this would also allow The Mem to come into the equation among other options. I have no idea of the set up at Bournemouth but they managed to reach the very top with that kind of facility and sustain it, they could even get back there this season. Perhaps Wareham could enlighten us , it would be good to hear first hand what such an experience is like . Perhaps its time we started to be realistic about what we need and cut our cloth accordingly. Up the Rovers! Attendances don't matter so much in the Prem as clubs receive so much income from TV rights. AFCB ground is ok. Not special but at 12,000 it does create an intense match day atmosphere. But I saw somewhere that of the 20 PL teams last year they made less from match day income than any other PL club, not surprisingly. So from a financial angle it didn’t get anywhere near making much money and I don’t think it creates much income from use during the week, certainly not to the same extent that other clubs do. When the they got relegated in July the talk was all about AFCB missing the boat on a bigger stadium whilst they were PL. It was great to watch a match at some of the big PL venues. Man C and Villa were the best because at least you got some atmosphere there but tbh I still preferred a smaller, closer atmosphere at Dean Court but I also prefer to watch us at the Mem esp a few years ago when the atmosphere was better. But as gasheadontour said, some PL clubs were able, before CV19, to be able to survive on TV rights without match day income. AFCB were one of these clubs. But as for the football side of it, I’m still convinced that had grounds not closed down AFCB would still be in the PL. The advantage that they had from a smallish, tightly packed ground would have kept them there. Can’t prove it obviously but still feel it. It’s not a soul-less bowl and the atmosphere is good. I’d go with you halifax, build something around 12/15k and plan to extend if needed. And b***** the other lot, we won’t compete with them if we use the measures they use but we can if we use our USP. And we can certainly be a successful League 1 / Championship club with that size of ground, many other clubs have proved that. UTG! edit: And perhaps it’s worth remembering that Man City are an incredibly lucky club. Their owners were looking for a PL with potential back in the noughties and were looking at Everton, Newcastle and city. Everton were very close to be the club they chose. City swung it because they had just had a new ground built for the Commonwealth Games which City took over and looked to have potential that could more quickly be achieved. But for that they’d still probably still be a yo-yo PL/Championship club.
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Post by lpgas1 on Dec 6, 2020 18:42:37 GMT
And so it goes on and on and on.We are 92 in the rankings stadium wise now with Macclesfield gone and Wimbledon in a new home.As I have pointed out previously non league grounds around here are improving their facilities but meanwhile our Dickensian set-up was there for all to see v Darlington. So embarrassing.Used to think it couldn't go on forever with the only progress yet another small tent but on and on it goes.My fear is that the EFL will tell us to sort it or else and we'll end up Ground sharing.City so far ahead now they are out of sight. Stoke is a deprived area with many social problems and has major issues with poverty,unemployment and drug abuse and yet both Stoke and Port Vale have far better set-ups as have tiny Crewe Alex.All very close to me. Leadership both on and off the field sadly lacking but will never lose the faith.Not even the glimmer of a proper stand at the Mem on the horizon.Geoff Dunford told us at an open day that the plan was to extend the DRIBUILD the whole length of the pitch.We were also promised the Mem would be redeveloped and to choose our seats at Cheltenham whilst it was being constructed.Then the UWE farce.Too old now to have any real prospect of seeing our stadium rise from number 92 in the rankings.Will remain loyal but it isn't easy. They discovered the dri build could not be extended because the sight lines were so poor, plus it would have held less then 4,000. He told me that you could build a 5,000 seater at the Thatchers' end without going higher than the tree line. But he also told me that that the Mem wasnt our permanent home and that we would move on to somewhere better
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Post by Topper Gas on Dec 6, 2020 18:54:52 GMT
Ignoring the fact why it was ever built in the first place by the rugby club I can't understand why we didn't simply demolish the DriBuild stand and build a new one down the entire east side and extend the west stand the full length of the pitch on the other side, the south stand could have always remained a temp stand so we'd then just need to build something at the thatchers end, instead we've spent years looking to build a world class stadium as the Mem slowly declines to being not fit for fans to attend games.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2020 19:46:03 GMT
Ignoring the fact why it was ever built in the first place by the rugby club I can't understand why we didn't simply demolish the DriBuild stand and build a new one down the entire east side and extend the west stand the full length of the pitch on the other side, the south stand could have always remained a temp stand so we'd then just need to build something at the thatchers end, instead we've spent years looking to build a world class stadium as the Mem slowly declines to being not fit for fans to attend games. I agree with East and West stands. I’d have also liked to see the South replaced with a full width permanent structure filled with terrace (or safe standing type seats) of the same size as currently due to the close proximity housing, with the Thatchers knocked down with a nice steep one tiered ‘Kop’ style all seater stand with bars underneath in its place.
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Post by rusho'gas on Dec 7, 2020 8:28:16 GMT
Ignoring the fact why it was ever built in the first place by the rugby club I can't understand why we didn't simply demolish the DriBuild stand and build a new one down the entire east side and extend the west stand the full length of the pitch on the other side, the south stand could have always remained a temp stand so we'd then just need to build something at the thatchers end, instead we've spent years looking to build a world class stadium as the Mem slowly declines to being not fit for fans to attend games. The rugby club were serious financial mis-managers, this is why they sold the adjacent training ground for housing to stay afloat.
It's not because of lack of planning foresight, it's down to serial mis-management from the 80's and into the professional era.
This is why we have the Mem and they are in bed with the dark side.
That said, I think there is now a case to partially develop the Mem, hopefully Wael can pull a rabbit out of the hat soon
I think prior to the new ownership taking over Rovers have not had the financial where-without to take on such a large project.
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Post by darkbluegas on Dec 7, 2020 8:44:26 GMT
I think this period of absence from grounds will have a significant impact on paying fans attitudes to where they spend their leisure cash. Whenever I hear our owners or manager say “we can’t wait to see fans back at the Mem” my heart sinks a little. Now I’m out of the habit of going and having endured this awful year I’m not sure I can face going back to that eye sore, it’s just too depressing. Think it will be away games for me until it’s knocked down.
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Post by gashead1981 on Dec 7, 2020 8:58:12 GMT
I think the problem with our ground is its location.
Local residents will oppose a new stadium of any great proportion due to increased traffic to an already built up area, parking is a problem and those who remember Horfield Rose will tell you the objections that were raised the last time. Then when we tried to move and sell the mem for alternative purpose (forget the legal wrangling thereafter) the locals were vocal in that it is a sports stadium in memory of fallen heroes and it should remain as one and from there bred TRASH.
Because of this it makes it a very tricky piece of real estate to develop and get a return from commercially as well as building the right kind of stadium for fans which takes into consideration the limitations because it is surrounded by housing. Dare I say it that if the Rugby club hadn't sold off the additional pitches for the new housing estate a new Mem stadium would have been a very easy project to do.
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Post by darkbluegas on Dec 7, 2020 9:06:17 GMT
I think the problem with our ground is its location. Local residents will oppose a new stadium of any great proportion due to increased traffic to an already built up area, parking is a problem and those who remember Horfield Rose will tell you the objections that were raised the last time. Then when we tried to move and sell the mem for alternative purpose (forget the legal wrangling thereafter) the locals were vocal in that it is a sports stadium in memory of fallen heroes and it should remain as one and from there bred TRASH. Because of this it makes it a very tricky piece of real estate to develop and get a return from commercially as well as building the right kind of stadium for fans which takes into consideration the limitations because it is surrounded by housing. Dare I say it that if the Rugby club hadn't sold off the additional pitches for the new housing estate a new Mem stadium would have been a very easy project to do. I have to say with all due respect, the attitude of your post is the exact reason the club languishes where it is. We need someone with some imagination to push through an innovative project in the heart of Bristol.
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Post by supergas on Dec 7, 2020 9:26:33 GMT
It's great for them and obviously better than the mem. Didn't I read that it will have one new stand and 3 temporary stands at first. I can imagine the meltdown, if we announced similar. Suppose it's a way of getting it done and then they can improve it in the future Owners and other interested parties thinking outside the box. Something missing at Bristol Rovers for many decades. Don't need a huge capacity right now? Build the cheapest concrete stands you can with roofs and bolt some seats to them. Just make sure there is space to expand them in the future (as they have done - they're temporary but modular, they just add new bits to the backs as and when they need them). I remember reading a few years back they can literally increase the stands in segments without compromising anything including sightlines - so if attendances are up and you suddenly get a cash windfall you can either add a couple of blocks at the back of a temporary stand or add some new hospitality suites in the main stand.... It's so simple it's genius....
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Post by blueridge on Dec 7, 2020 9:31:26 GMT
As an ageing citizen I got seriously fed up with the whole match day experience at the Mem last season - it might be fun for the younger supporters to meet up, have a few beers and a sing song - but not for me anymore. The stadium is a disgrace and the whole debacle about moving to somewhere new has gone on far too long for me. The chances of sitting in a new stadium in my lifetime is virtually zilch. To be honest I’m surprised the football authorities and the City Council allow this tip to be used as a fee paying venue for professional sport. In fact ‘tip’ is probably an apt description - it could quite easily be converted into a Waste Recycling Centre. The whole place is an embarrassment to our City - and seeing it empty on ifollow is a sad spectacle and a poor advertisement for the Club as a whole.
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Post by stuart1974 on Dec 7, 2020 9:39:32 GMT
I don't think the Mem being converted into a decent stadium is a problem (in the grand scheme of things) especially as there is precident from the Council. There will be objections but not insurmountable, although we would need to be seen as considerate neighbours.
What will be a problem will be money. The site doesn't seem (to the layman that I am) to offer much in the way of significant additional commercial revenue.
It would take £10-£20m to do and whilst it may be able to pay for itself (such as the student lets plan) I'm not sure it would offer much extra to the club itself outside of match days.
Should Wael have £20m in his wallet I suspect he'd rather have a down-payment on a new build.
Interesting proposition though and something has to happen soon, doesn't it?
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Post by chewbacca on Dec 7, 2020 10:17:55 GMT
I think the problem with our ground is its location. Local residents will oppose a new stadium of any great proportion due to increased traffic to an already built up area, parking is a problem and those who remember Horfield Rose will tell you the objections that were raised the last time. Then when we tried to move and sell the mem for alternative purpose (forget the legal wrangling thereafter) the locals were vocal in that it is a sports stadium in memory of fallen heroes and it should remain as one and from there bred TRASH. Because of this it makes it a very tricky piece of real estate to develop and get a return from commercially as well as building the right kind of stadium for fans which takes into consideration the limitations because it is surrounded by housing. Dare I say it that if the Rugby club hadn't sold off the additional pitches for the new housing estate a new Mem stadium would have been a very easy project to do. We've never had a planning application turned down.
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Post by darkbluegas on Dec 7, 2020 11:19:23 GMT
I think the problem with our ground is its location. Local residents will oppose a new stadium of any great proportion due to increased traffic to an already built up area, parking is a problem and those who remember Horfield Rose will tell you the objections that were raised the last time. Then when we tried to move and sell the mem for alternative purpose (forget the legal wrangling thereafter) the locals were vocal in that it is a sports stadium in memory of fallen heroes and it should remain as one and from there bred TRASH. Because of this it makes it a very tricky piece of real estate to develop and get a return from commercially as well as building the right kind of stadium for fans which takes into consideration the limitations because it is surrounded by housing. Dare I say it that if the Rugby club hadn't sold off the additional pitches for the new housing estate a new Mem stadium would have been a very easy project to do. We've never had a planning application turned down. Unfortunately it serves some people well to perpetuate the myth of a new stadium whilst watching our current ground decay around us. You would think there will become a point where public pressure from fans and those with political interests would say enough is enough. Of the three main sports arenas in Bristol ours has become a massive embarrassment. All three venues are clearly visible on the Bristol skyline and ours is a constant reminder of our failures as an organisation over recent decades. As I’ve said before this episode in our country’s history will have an impact on how people spend their leisure money and I just cannot see the fans of the future returning to the insanitary conditions of our ground.
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