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Post by gasandelectricity on Oct 7, 2022 5:20:07 GMT
We’re not talking popper falsification here - where lack of stadium to date implies we’re not getting one at all.
Building a new stadium is the most complicated project that a football club will have.
It is bloody disheartening that we still don’t have one though and I don’t blame anyone for being pessimistic.
I have been very optimistic with the Fruit Market but the lack of news of late is very concerning and is leaving me feeling a little despondent.
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Post by Topper Gas on Oct 7, 2022 5:26:36 GMT
"long enough" surely you haven't been relying upon those comments for over 5 years, when Wael hasn't mentioned anything about a new stadium for years?
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Post by daniel300380 on Oct 7, 2022 5:34:35 GMT
We’re not talking popper falsification here - where lack of stadium to date implies we’re not getting one at all. Building a new stadium is the most complicated project that a football club will have. It is bloody disheartening that we still don’t have one though and I don’t blame anyone for being pessimistic. I have been very optimistic with the Fruit Market but the lack of news of late is very concerning and is leaving me feeling a little despondent. We are not the ones in charge of the fruit market though. Neither us, or the group working on they project have confirmed if it is, it isn't going ahead. So you can only assume, they are still working on it. They say these things take time, but if it's a bigger project, that includes a football stadium, it takes even longer!! I don't know if it's happening or not, but neither do the ones that are saying Wael is doing nothing! They just like moaning, as most of them have never liked him anyway. Probably because they have ties with the old board, who did so well, taking us to non league! |
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Post by kruger on Oct 7, 2022 6:17:49 GMT
I really can't ever see a stadium happening in my lifetime, I'm 50 now so sad. I've got to the point now where I'd just be happy for us to bulldoze out ground and start again
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2022 6:53:56 GMT
Yes aware all of your points raised, appreciate the effort though, i just like calling out those who slate the man that is keeping the club going that has brought me joy, occasional ecstasy and plenty of heart break. Then again I'm just coming off the back of the worst MS relapse in 17 hours so it's important to stay positive, as for the people who stand/sit among us and all that negativity drives me nuts, anyway first game for me this season on Saturday in the South Stand on my crutch, a useful weapon if someone close by wants to slate Wael!!! FWIW, I've always believed that the merchant venturer's with old weasel face have gone out of their way to spoil and scupper any plans Rovers have considered within the BCC boundaries, no foundation just a feeling, UTG. A fellow MSer. Had to take a crutch on a couple of occasions. Not sure they'd allow me in with a walking pole, got a rubber stopper on the end that comes off and reveals a spike for 'off roading' Lethal Thanks for the tip, no pun intended! Strange times having to use one arm to move the other one. |
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Post by playtowin on Oct 7, 2022 9:56:24 GMT
We’re not talking popper falsification here - where lack of stadium to date implies we’re not getting one at all. Building a new stadium is the most complicated project that a football club will have. It is bloody disheartening that we still don’t have one though and I don’t blame anyone for being pessimistic. I have been very optimistic with the Fruit Market but the lack of news of late is very concerning and is leaving me feeling a little despondent. I would guess that as that whole "zone" us up for redevelopment it might take a while to hear anything. Aquiring all the land will take time as companies need to relocate. Then there is getting all the new infrastructure arranged...as in power,water,sewage ,gas ,roads etc. Not just for the stadium but everything intended for the zone. Then all the different new builds need agreeing and timelines set ,what parties are interested and who is funding etc. Its not a stand alone stadium build ,its part of a bigger redevelopment. So it could be 5 years before we even get a sniff of the plans.... I guess if we had concrete commitment that we are in the process of building a stadium we might all then not worry so much about yhe state of the mem (?) |
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Post by islandgad on Oct 7, 2022 10:27:26 GMT
If somebody from the club is reading this can you please issue a statement to let us know what is happening. I think we've been patient enough!
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Post by garystash on Oct 7, 2022 10:42:49 GMT
Instead of worrying about a new stadium, people need to live in the here and now. Right now we are at the Mem, and if you genuinely don't enjoy it there then what are you doing on this forum?
It has soul, history and can generate an amazing atmosphere! I have had some brilliant shared experiences with family at the Mem. I applaud the work that has been done to improve it since Wael came in.
I have faith that a new stadium will be built, but who knows how long that will take?
If you spend all your time yearning for something new, you risk missing the good things that are staring you in the face right now.
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Post by wertongas on Oct 7, 2022 10:50:08 GMT
Geoff Dunford did buy The Mem which has given us the security that we now enjoy. I doubt Wael's family would have come anywhere near a club renting Twerton Park. Higgs was a disaster though, two full planning consents, didn't build either and non league football. Loved Geoff Dunford but he didn't BUY The Mem - he borrowed the funds, or rather the club did and that was the cause of some of the financial issues. He had no choice as the contract with the egg chasers was that if either club went under, the remaining club could buy the stadium for £2m. If Rovers hadn't come up with the £2m, the land would have been sold to housing developers and then the team would have had to return to Twerton Park with tails between legs! That is not totally correct, the Rugby Club were facing administration caused by not being able to cover the cost of the West stand, so they did a deal with Rovers to sell 50 percent of the stadium ownership to the club for two million this would help the rugby club pay its debts and finish the stand. Part of the agreement was if either party went bankrupt the other party would take full ownership of the Mem. Dunford did a very clever bit of work because not long after securing the 50 percent ownership, the rugby club went to the wall and Rovers got the rest of the ground with no extra cost. The club did have a mortgage on the stadium as you say. Since I started supporting the football club the Dunfords/Rovers purchase of the stadium and The Beeches traning ground have been the biggest off the pitch achievement, the biggest on the pitch was promotion to what is now the championship that was also under the Dunfords. So they are ahead of Wael at the moment , but a new stadium could change all that. |
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Post by Colyton Gas on Oct 7, 2022 11:01:19 GMT
If somebody from the club is reading this can you please issue a statement to let us know what is happening. I think we've been patient enough! Understand your frustration but nowt is preferable to the previous one 'Something is happening but we can't reveal anything due to a 'Confidentiality Clause'. Previously we were told to choose our seats at Cheltenham whilst the Mem was being re -developed.When in July ,nothing at the Mem was happening,Lennie Lawrence said when questioned why the Mem was still un -touched,' The players need somewhere to meet before games?  ??' Prefer nowt to political waffle. When and a very big 'IF' something happens then perhaps we will be told but the adage of ,'I'll believe it when I'm sat in it' is perhaps the philosophy to adopt. When I visited Derby's new stadium many moons ago with some disabled guys ,their facilities with special lifts and boxes for disabled people showed just how far behind we were even then but hey ho ,love every minute at the Dickensian Mem despite everything. (Derby's new ground cost 27 million in 1997). |
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Post by fintanstack on Oct 7, 2022 12:27:13 GMT
Well it’s taken 40 yrs and we’ve identified about 3 (?) possible sites in Bristol . Can’t see us suddenly finding new ones can you ? 3? Mangotsfield, Avonmouth, UWE, yea 3 sounds about right. Yep a site once every 12 years so Wael has 7 years before he can be called a failure. |
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Post by Quarters on Oct 7, 2022 13:36:11 GMT
3? Mangotsfield, Avonmouth, UWE, yea 3 sounds about right. Yep a site once every 12 years so Wael has 7 years before he can be called a failure. I think in 50 years we have had. Redevelop Eastville Mangotsfield Bradley Stoke Avonmouth Redevelop Mem UWE Rumour re Fruit Market. Any missed? |
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Post by warehamgas on Oct 7, 2022 14:10:20 GMT
If somebody from the club is reading this can you please issue a statement to let us know what is happening. I think we've been patient enough! Understand your frustration but nowt is preferable to the previous one 'Something is happening but we can't reveal anything due to a 'Confidentiality Clause'. Previously we were told to choose our seats at Cheltenham whilst the Mem was being re -developed.When in July ,nothing at the Mem was happening,Lennie Lawrence said when questioned why the Mem was still un -touched,' The players need somewhere to meet before games? ??' Prefer nowt to political waffle. When and a very big 'IF' something happens then perhaps we will be told but the adage of ,'I'll believe it when I'm sat in it' is perhaps the philosophy to adopt. When I visited Derby's new stadium many moons ago with some disabled guys ,their facilities with special lifts and boxes for disabled people showed just how far behind we are but hey ho ,love every minute at the Dickensian Mem despite everything. Derby's new ground cost 27 million in 1997. I get that Colyton. I do enjoy the Mem, easy to get to for me, a traditional ground and I would love a re-development of it but given Wael has said on numerous occasions that he will not spend money on doing that because all the advice given has said it would not make ‘financial sense’ to do that. So that is not going to happen under his watch. This season more than ever, with momentum from last year, a reduced capacity(?) and the trouble of getting tickets (something I have found personally) something needs to give. We must have missed out on so much income being limited to about 9500. (I’m sure someone will correct me.) Without a new ground we will never establish ourselves any higher than League 1 (even League 2 perhaps) and staying in League 1 is providing its challenges though of course I’m not linking that directly to the Mem. In summary we need a new ground or a re-developed Mem. Given that the latter is not going to happen we therefore need a new ground. But in the meantime I will enjoy being a fan and liking the Mem! 😀 UTG! |
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Post by SleepyGas on Oct 7, 2022 14:26:20 GMT
Loved Geoff Dunford but he didn't BUY The Mem - he borrowed the funds, or rather the club did and that was the cause of some of the financial issues. He had no choice as the contract with the egg chasers was that if either club went under, the remaining club could buy the stadium for £2m. If Rovers hadn't come up with the £2m, the land would have been sold to housing developers and then the team would have had to return to Twerton Park with tails between legs! That is not totally correct, the Rugby Club were facing administration caused by not being able to cover the cost of the West stand, so they did a deal with Rovers to sell 50 percent of the stadium ownership to the club for two million this would help the rugby club pay its debts and finish the stand. Part of the agreement was if either party went bankrupt the other party would take full ownership of the Mem. Dunford did a very clever bit of work because not long after securing the 50 percent ownership, the rugby club went to the wall and Rovers got the rest of the ground with no extra cost. The club did have a mortgage on the stadium as you say. Since I started supporting the football club the Dunfords/Rovers purchase of the stadium and The Beeches traning ground have been the biggest off the pitch achievement, the biggest on the pitch was promotion to what is now the championship that was also under the Dunfords. So they are ahead of Wael at the moment , but a new stadium could change all that. The way I remember it was that we bought 50% of the Mem from Bristol Rugby (for £1m?) with a condition in the contract saying that if either party went bankrupt then the other can buy out their stake for £1. Bristol Rugby went bankrupt and so we took over their share. |
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Post by yattongas on Oct 7, 2022 14:28:24 GMT
Instead of worrying about a new stadium, people need to live in the here and now. Right now we are at the Mem, and if you genuinely don't enjoy it there then what are you doing on this forum? It has soul, history and can generate an amazing atmosphere! I have had some brilliant shared experiences with family at the Mem. I applaud the work that has been done to improve it since Wael came in. I have faith that a new stadium will be built, but who knows how long that will take? If you spend all your time yearning for something new, you risk missing the good things that are staring you in the face right now. Yes the Mem is quirky , as was Trumpton and Eastville . The sadness comes about for what we could of become as a club ( or still could ) if we had a decent stadium with a decent capacity. I’m convinced we could and would easily be on a par with the likes of Cardiff , Reading , Swansea etc if we’d of had a decent stadium . It’s the not fulfilling our potential which is the frustrating bit . |
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Post by garystash on Oct 7, 2022 14:38:05 GMT
Instead of worrying about a new stadium, people need to live in the here and now. Right now we are at the Mem, and if you genuinely don't enjoy it there then what are you doing on this forum? It has soul, history and can generate an amazing atmosphere! I have had some brilliant shared experiences with family at the Mem. I applaud the work that has been done to improve it since Wael came in. I have faith that a new stadium will be built, but who knows how long that will take? If you spend all your time yearning for something new, you risk missing the good things that are staring you in the face right now. Yes the Mem is quirky , as was Trumpton and Eastville . The sadness comes about for what we could of become as a club ( or still could ) if we had a decent stadium with a decent capacity. I’m convinced we could and would easily be on a par with the likes of Cardiff , Reading , Swansea etc if we’d of had a decent stadium . It’s the not fulfilling our potential which is the frustrating bit . Totally get what you're saying, but as I understand it we very nearly didn't have a club to support. Don't waste energy thining what could be when you can just enjoy what we have. Let Wael worry about getting a stadium and catching up with those other guys. He's the only one that can actually do something about it. |
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Post by wertongas on Oct 7, 2022 15:17:49 GMT
That is not totally correct, the Rugby Club were facing administration caused by not being able to cover the cost of the West stand, so they did a deal with Rovers to sell 50 percent of the stadium ownership to the club for two million this would help the rugby club pay its debts and finish the stand. Part of the agreement was if either party went bankrupt the other party would take full ownership of the Mem. Dunford did a very clever bit of work because not long after securing the 50 percent ownership, the rugby club went to the wall and Rovers got the rest of the ground with no extra cost. The club did have a mortgage on the stadium as you say. Since I started supporting the football club the Dunfords/Rovers purchase of the stadium and The Beeches traning ground have been the biggest off the pitch achievement, the biggest on the pitch was promotion to what is now the championship that was also under the Dunfords. So they are ahead of Wael at the moment , but a new stadium could change all that. The way I remember it was that we bought 50% of the Mem from Bristol Rugby (for £1m?) with a condition in the contract saying that if either party went bankrupt then the other can buy out their stake for £1. Bristol Rugby went bankrupt and so we took over their share. i did get it slightly wrong , the club paid 2.3 million for the first 50 percent and when the Rugby club went bankrupt the remainder of the ownership was signed over on 17th April 1997, the first time we owned our own stadium since 1939. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2022 16:30:21 GMT
That is not totally correct, the Rugby Club were facing administration caused by not being able to cover the cost of the West stand, so they did a deal with Rovers to sell 50 percent of the stadium ownership to the club for two million this would help the rugby club pay its debts and finish the stand. Part of the agreement was if either party went bankrupt the other party would take full ownership of the Mem. Dunford did a very clever bit of work because not long after securing the 50 percent ownership, the rugby club went to the wall and Rovers got the rest of the ground with no extra cost. The club did have a mortgage on the stadium as you say. Since I started supporting the football club the Dunfords/Rovers purchase of the stadium and The Beeches traning ground have been the biggest off the pitch achievement, the biggest on the pitch was promotion to what is now the championship that was also under the Dunfords. So they are ahead of Wael at the moment , but a new stadium could change all that. The way I remember it was that we bought 50% of the Mem from Bristol Rugby (for £1m?) with a condition in the contract saying that if either party went bankrupt then the other can buy out their stake for £1. Bristol Rugby went bankrupt and so we took over their share. A company called the Memorial Stadium Company Ltd was formed with 50% owned by BRFC and 50% by Bristol Rugby. £2m was paid in total to Arthur Holmes funded by 50% mortgage with Barclays and 50% private investors including directors from both sides. Barclays insisted that if either club went bust then they did not want to own half of a stadium so the remaining owners had to take over the others share for £10,000. This left BRFC with a £2m + £10,000 debt. You were almost spot on Sleepygas. |
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Post by The Equaliser on Oct 7, 2022 16:36:17 GMT
The way I remember it was that we bought 50% of the Mem from Bristol Rugby (for £1m?) with a condition in the contract saying that if either party went bankrupt then the other can buy out their stake for £1. Bristol Rugby went bankrupt and so we took over their share. A company called the Memorial Stadium Company Ltd was formed with 50% owned by BRFC and 50% by Bristol Rugby. £2m was paid in total to Arthur Holmes funded by 50% mortgage with Barclays and 50% private investors including directors from both sides. Barclays insisted that if either club went bust then they did not want to own half of a stadium so the remaining owners had to take over the others share for £10,000. This left BRFC with a £2m + £10,000 debt. You were almost spot on Sleepygas. Well three cheers for Barclays then, credit where it’s due (pardon the pun). |
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Post by peterhooper57 on Oct 7, 2022 16:41:25 GMT
"long enough" surely you haven't been relying upon those comments for over 5 years, when Wael hasn't mentioned anything about a new stadium for years? The last update by Wael was along the lines that there was nothing going to happen any time soon. If he was interested in progressing a project, then I am sure he would have mentioned it. |
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