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Post by gasonthemount on Nov 4, 2021 9:31:24 GMT
This is the first (and probably last) thread that I create!
For 40 years we have looked at various locations for new stadiums, some have got further than others but eventually they have all failed for one reason or another.
I know this will probably divide the fan base as much as JB does! However bear with me. Many teams above and below have improved their stadiums or moved to new ones. Many factors apply but finding a suitable site and financing are probably the main ones.
I look at Brentford playing in the Premiership with a new stadium capacity of 16,500. I think it is time to revisit looking at the Mem and undertaking improvements one side at a time. If we had started this at the beginning of the century we would have a much better stadium now and probably be playing at a higher level.
It is no good to keep looking elsewhere if it is never going to happen!
I have seen the pros and cons of staying and moving but if nothing ever happens we are stagnating and going backwards in relation to other clubs.
I honestly believe it would be better to improve the Mem than just carry on hoping for something that is never going to happen (well it feels that way after 40 years) and none of us are getting any younger!
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Post by rememberhalifax on Nov 4, 2021 9:53:46 GMT
Agree with you, would have been better done before adjoining houses were built but even so a clever architect should be able to come up with a state of the art 15000 seater with all mod cons, endless possibilities especially if you have very limited parking ( special public transport to be laid on!) better than wasting millions on pie in the sky schemes as we have in the past imho.
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Post by axegas on Nov 4, 2021 10:12:00 GMT
Just a small nitpicky point here but haven’t we had two attempts to rebuild the mem fall through for various reasons too? It seems like whatever we do, getting modern facilities looks like a far off dream, with cost being the main factor. I think that’s why we keep trying to look at places elsewhere too, if you or investors are going to spend £20 million pounds then getting a return on investment is the most important factor which I’d imagine would be difficult on the mem’s current footprint versus moving elsewhere. New facilities at the mem would be nice though from a supporters standpoint.
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Post by gasandelectricity on Nov 4, 2021 10:43:24 GMT
Strongly disagree. Road networks are a nightmare. Public transport is a nightmare. Parking is a nightmare.
It’s nice for a laugh and having a few drinks on Gloucester Rd but the site couldn’t accommodate a decent sized stadium with the non match day facilities to boot for it to be feasible. If it did, the site would be far below the capacity desired.
It might actually cost more to update the Mem than to build elsewhere due to tax implications and practicality of renovating the site whilst staying there or moving to a different ground temporarily.
I suggest the only way to get better facilities is actually to move.
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Post by Henbury Gas on Nov 4, 2021 10:56:37 GMT
Best of luck getting it past our green controlled city council with an idiot in charge
Our future is with South Gloucestershire who are bending over backwards to accommodate us
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Post by Colyton Gas on Nov 4, 2021 11:00:30 GMT
We talk.Nothing ever happens.Most other clubs don't talk they just get on and do it.New stands and stadiums here there and everywhere except for us.
The directors must be embarrassed when they go to away games and then look at our three tents.Down here Exeter extending their training ground massively and Muff too not standing still and even little Beer Albion where they only have club linesmen are putting us to shame.If we don't DO something soon-not talk about it-we will fall so far behind we may disappear.
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Post by badengas on Nov 4, 2021 11:21:42 GMT
Love the Mem, hate concrete bowls.
Would love this but can't see it happening. Could we crowd fund it ?
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Post by Jomo on Nov 4, 2021 12:15:50 GMT
Love the Mem, hate concrete bowls. Would love this but can't see it happening. Could we crowd fund it ? In answer to your question, I would say that's nigh on impossible. |
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Post by richmace on Nov 4, 2021 12:16:15 GMT
Best of luck getting it past our green controlled city council with an idiot in charge Our future is with South Gloucester who are bending over backwards to accommodate us We have never had a planning application refused. There is a precedent there and no reason to expect a future application to be refused.
The only reason that the multiple Memorial Stadium redevelopment ideas have failed have been down to the football club itself. All of them would be better than what we have now...
I agree with the original poster 100%
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Post by Quarters on Nov 4, 2021 12:17:41 GMT
Thought it was said that it could not provide the revenue streams that you should get from a stadium and need from a stadium.
New stadium should have been built alongside the Arena, would have all the links and parking in place plus an infrastructure for transport.
Apart from ships which have now sailed.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Nov 4, 2021 12:19:41 GMT
I thought the plans for exactly such a project were in place around 15years ago, when we were meant to share with Cheltenham for a while?
We had obtained a grant from the Football Trust. It obviously expired soon after.
Personally, I would prefer to revamp the Mem. It's a hub of the community and many actually walk to the venue.....I admit I'm a dinosaur, but aesthetics of new builds don't appeal to me.
It's also great location for non football commercial potential.
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Post by richmace on Nov 4, 2021 12:23:18 GMT
I thought the plans for exactly such a project were in place around 15years ago, when we were meant to share with Cheltenham for a while? We had obtained a grant from the Football Trust. It obviously expired soon after. Personally, I would prefer to revamp the Mem. It's a hub of the community and many actually walk to the venue.....I admit I'm a dinosaur, but aesthetics of new builds don't appeal to me. It's also great location for non football commercial potential. Yes there was. It was for an 18.5K all seater stadium, with student flats build into the rear of the stands.
This was within the current footprint. So it is possible.
PS I thought the student flat idea was crazy, but the rest of the design was perfect.
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Post by warehamgas on Nov 4, 2021 12:27:58 GMT
Whatever decision the owner makes about the ground I hope it’s a lot better than the ones he’s made over the past year or so on the football side of stuff.
UTG!
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Post by Jomo on Nov 4, 2021 12:34:56 GMT
I thought the plans for exactly such a project were in place around 15years ago, when we were meant to share with Cheltenham for a while? We had obtained a grant from the Football Trust. It obviously expired soon after. Personally, I would prefer to revamp the Mem. It's a hub of the community and many actually walk to the venue.....I admit I'm a dinosaur, but aesthetics of new builds don't appeal to me. It's also great location for non football commercial potential. Yes there was. It was for an 18.5K all seater stadium, with student flats build into the rear of the stands.
This was within the current footprint. So it is possible.
PS I thought the student flat idea was crazy, but the rest of the design was perfect.
This was the design I believe, although there were a few slightly different artists' impressions along the way before it got canned. It's weird, because the funding was in place and had been for some time.   |
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Post by stuart1974 on Nov 4, 2021 12:39:20 GMT
Love the Mem, hate concrete bowls. Would love this but can't see it happening. Could we crowd fund it ? In answer to your question, I would say that's nigh on impossible. It's approximately £1m per 1000 seats, so a new 2,500 seat south stand would be £2.5m+. With, say, 10,000 fans that's £250 each. It's doable with sponsorship but any more than that is unlikely. Don't mind new or rebuild, just make a decision and get on with it. |
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Post by richmace on Nov 4, 2021 12:40:24 GMT
Yes there was. It was for an 18.5K all seater stadium, with student flats build into the rear of the stands.
This was within the current footprint. So it is possible.
PS I thought the student flat idea was crazy, but the rest of the design was perfect.
This was the design I believe, although there were a few slightly different artists' impressions along the way before it got canned. It's weird, because the funding was in place and had been for some time. Yep. That is it. Looks beautiful. Would be perfect.
EDIT: Without the student flats
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Post by rovers5charlton5 on Nov 4, 2021 12:41:52 GMT
Love the Mem, hate concrete bowls. Would love this but can't see it happening. Could we crowd fund it ? Have you seen our crowd recently 🤣 |
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Nov 4, 2021 13:15:06 GMT
I thought the plans for exactly such a project were in place around 15years ago, when we were meant to share with Cheltenham for a while? We had obtained a grant from the Football Trust. It obviously expired soon after. Personally, I would prefer to revamp the Mem. It's a hub of the community and many actually walk to the venue.....I admit I'm a dinosaur, but aesthetics of new builds don't appeal to me. It's also great location for non football commercial potential. So it is possible.
PS I thought the student flat idea was crazy, but the rest of the design was perfect.
I think under B-liar/Brown tenure, students were the rising numbers of occupation.....things have changed in a generation or so. The plans were or are there, with an infrastructure already set up and a public transport system set to increase (with plans for Ashley station to reopen), why not consider the benefits of revamping Mem? |
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Post by Hudson1883 on Nov 4, 2021 13:48:53 GMT
Surely there just isn’t enough room for a decent size stadium to see us for the next X amount of decades, long after all of us have gone?
There is such Minimal space behind the West Stand, South Stand and Thatchers End? With the terraced streets hugging the Mem on 3 sides of the ground, plus a new build site next door to the current car park. All well and good using said car park for added ‘new stadium space’, but as already mentioned the parking situation for supporters is and always has been abysmal. Not to mention access. I love what Gloucester Road currently has to offer pre/post match as much as anyone, but any realistic future in a modern all seater stadium lies away from the Memorial Ground.
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Post by meader on Nov 4, 2021 13:50:37 GMT
Have to say that the idea of rebuilding the Mem is a logical one. As the years have gone by, suitable land for a new stadium has diminished. There is no longer any suitable land available. No club in English football has been looking to build a new stadium longer then Bristol Rovers. Also, where would the money come from?
As has been previously stated, we are a club going backwards with no end in sight.
If nothing is done soon, I can see the club disappearing with no way back.
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