New stadium update: (9 Viewers)

[Deleted member 5849]

but I don’t appreciate being taken for a prick TBH.

You're on the wrong board, then!

Anyway, this whole thing is quite simple really.While there might have been a case for the first JR, nobody has ever been able to explain why the city council, after noting the litigious nature of SISU, would sell the stadium without eleventy billion lawyers checking that the deal followed the rules.

What we see is exactly what it was, a stalling exercise to tie up funds, sow doubt in the minds of sponsors, and cause expense and disruption.

Now, I don't mind Wasps going bust, but let's at least see it for what it is and was, and not pretend there was anything else behind this particular avenue of complaint.

And just think how much further down the line in resolving our own long-term future we'd have been without all this inane vindictive distraction.

 

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[ccfctommy]

Sooner we get out of the Ricoh the better. Wank stadium

To play in a smaller version of the Ricoh with no pubs nearby? Nah

 

[Happy_Martian]

CWR Breakfast with Phil Upton - Coventry City Council leader: we're working together for a new football stadium - BBC Sounds

Councillor George Duggins says plans for a new ground as "a major development".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[ajsccfc]

Is Ryton still earmarked for sale? I could see Warwick further improving the sport facilities and the club having the training base there possibly, but hearing about the plans for the 'eco park' I really don't see how that can include a big stadium and all the mess that comes with it unless it's made of hemp and magic wishes.

 

[GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee]

unique main stand the club.

I agree with the other bits but I am not sure 'unique' necessarily means good. That stand looks awful, in my opinion of course.

 

[Joy Division]

CWR Breakfast with Phil Upton - Coventry City Council leader: we're working together for a new football stadium - BBC Sounds

Councillor George Duggins says plans for a new ground as "a major development".

www.bbc.co.uk

Still thinks he did the right thing selling to Wasps then

 

[chiefdave]

CWR Breakfast with Phil Upton - Coventry City Council leader: we're working together for a new football stadium - BBC Sounds

Councillor George Duggins says plans for a new ground as "a major development".

www.bbc.co.uk

Interesting that Duggins says it was Croft from the university who found a way to get the case ended. Still don't understand why the uni are getting involved if they don't have a reasonable belief they will benefit.

All very strange. Past history would suggest there is zero chance of a new stadium but equally this isn't just Fisher spouting off, there seems to be more to it than that. Why is the uni tying their name to it if they don't believe it will happen? They're redeveloping that whole side of the uni, are they really going to develop the whole area and leave a stadium shaped hole just on the million to one chance SISU actually come good for once?

 

[pusbccfc]

I agree with the other bits but I am not sure 'unique' necessarily means good. That stand looks awful, in my opinion of course.

In what way? Compared to Southampton and Leicester and even compared to Middlesbrough and Cardiff, it gives us something different. The corporate facilities are class too.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Is Ryton still earmarked for sale? I could see Warwick further improving the sport facilities and the club having the training base there possibly, but hearing about the plans for the 'eco park' I really don't see how that can include a big stadium and all the mess that comes with it unless it's made of hemp and magic wishes.

The club are actively looking for alternative training ground sites so I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is eventually what materialises. I know that they enquired about the possibility of acquiring land from the Dallas Burston Polo Club prior to the pandemic.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

Duggins can hardly string 2 words together, he doesn't come across as an inspirational leader more like someone talking in a smokey wood panelled union office.

 

[fernandopartridge]

The club are actively looking for alternative training ground sites so I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is eventually what materialises. I know that they enquired about the possibility of acquiring land from the Dallas Burston Polo Club prior to the pandemic.

I don't wanna be moving to bloody Texas

 

[Deleted member 5849]

The club are actively looking for alternative training ground sites so I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is eventually what materialises. I know that they enquired about the possibility of acquiring land from the Dallas Burston Polo Club prior to the pandemic.

Out of interest, what issues are there with just improving Ryton?

 

[Grendel]

Interesting that Duggins says it was Croft from the university who found a way to get the case ended. Still don't understand why the uni are getting involved if they don't have a reasonable belief they will benefit.

All very strange. Past history would suggest there is zero chance of a new stadium but equally this isn't just Fisher spouting off, there seems to be more to it than that. Why is the uni tying their name to it if they don't believe it will happen? They're redeveloping that whole side of the uni, are they really going to develop the whole area and leave a stadium shaped hole just on the million to one chance SISU actually come good for once?

The partnership is hardly the uni committing to anything. A partnership can end up being a number of things. It’s just another game from the Empress having had her Latest half arsed strategy at trying to look as if the club don’t need a lease at the arena

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

I don't wanna be moving to bloody Texas

A Davy Crockett mascot might be a nice change from Sky Blue Sam!

 

[Grendel]

Duggins can hardly string 2 words together, he doesn't come across as an inspirational leader more like someone talking in a smokey wood panelled union office.

He’s a typical council leader. Education isn’t a requirement to lead the council.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

He’s a typical council leader. Education isn’t a requirement to lead the council.

Same mould and gruff voice as Lucas and Mutton.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

He’s a typical council leader. Education isn’t a requirement to lead the council.

But your right they are not well educated people to run a multi million pound business ie CCC

 

[Deleted member 5849]

But your right they are not well educated people to run a multi million pound business ie CCC

Tbf it's the chief exec who runs it, the councillors set strategy and priorities... and arguably don't do that in some cases!

 

[GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee]

In what way? Compared to Southampton and Leicester and even compared to Middlesbrough and Cardiff, it gives us something different. The corporate facilities are class too.

I haven't been round there to see the facilities for myself so I am sure you are right. I was more commenting on the aesthetics. I just think it looks awful. The huge white cladding, the fact it looks like it has so few seats, and the top seats are always empty. Personally just think it looks really budget. I prefer the steepness of the CBS to many of the others but I would rather the four identical stands over what we have. Of course, having something unique that was aesthetically pleasing would be the best option, but I just really dislike the look of it.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Out of interest, what issues are there with just improving Ryton?

Ryton is pretty tired. If you've ever been to/in the building it's not totally fit for purpose anymore, especially if we are to cement ourselves as a Championship club in the years ahead. They've obviously made some improvements in recent years which is fantastic, largely thanks to external donations, but to redevelop the site would cost hundreds of thousands. Money the club just doesn't have.

Equally the revenue generated from the Ryton sale as a housing development would probably far outweigh the cost of purchasing and developing a new training site at Warwick Uni - as I suspect if we were to build a facility at the University then they may also at least help fund the project by X amount if a commercial agreement stipulated that they could have equal use of it. It would certainly propel the universities standings in sports science/sport to greater heights so it would make sense from their standpoint.

Someone is probably better placed to chip in here as it's really not my area of expertise, but that's my very rough guess anyway.

 

[MalcSB]

Many clubs share with other sports.

Get the pitch up to scratch then.

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Only from memory but doent the state aid rules specifically say that once made the complainant has made the application it can not be withdrawn and any decision to proceed further is down to the EU commission. Been a while since I looked at it so might be wrong.

To dress it up as sisu doing everyone a favour by dropping it is arrogant, patronising and two faced of the highest order. What they said before when making the application and what is said now cannot both be true.

Always have treated us as idiots, and doing it again in my opinion.

My guess is the university needed something from the city Council who wouldn't whilst the case going on or there was potential for further legals

I wonder when the EU made the decision

Really what is being said is that sisu won't take any further legal action. Not quite the same as EU closing the case. It seems to me our owners have had to give the legal undertakings that they said could bankrupt the club afterall. I never did believe in that threat they made.

Talking to my sources lol. It appears further information was requested and wasn’t given from sisu so the eu decided not to continue with it

So conceivably the complaint couldn’t be withdrawn but now can. Made sense to me

 

[Travs]

In what way? Compared to Southampton and Leicester and even compared to Middlesbrough and Cardiff, it gives us something different. The corporate facilities are class too.

I think the fact that we have a slightly different stand, hardly marks it out as unique compared to Leicester, Middlesborough, Soton, etc. As much as we all allegedly love the stadium now we're doing well, its still an indentikit off-the-shelf modern stadium.

As much as i'd love us to stick two fingers up to the council and build our own ground, i can't see the UOW site being any better... i'd imagine it would be similar in design to the Ricoh, undoubtedly smaller, and still have similar "out of town" issues that the Ricoh has.

If, as it seems is the case, we can't be granted development of a site within inner city Coventry, then unfortunately the Ricoh is probably the best of a bad hand, and we might as well try to make it work there for the time being (this in no way dilutes my dislike for Wasps, the sooner they disappear back down south the better)

 

[Otis]

I don’t appreciate being taken for a prick TBH.

Doesn't bother me.

I have heard you being called a prick loads of times, Shmmeee and I haven't even flinched once.

 

[ajsccfc]

Ryton is pretty tired. If you've ever been to/in the building it's not totally fit for purpose anymore, especially if we are to cement ourselves as a Championship club in the years ahead. They've obviously made some improvements in recent years which is fantastic, largely thanks to external donations, but to redevelop the site would cost hundreds of thousands. Money the club just doesn't have.

Equally the revenue generated from the Ryton sale as a housing development would probably far outweigh the cost of purchasing and developing a new training site at Warwick Uni - as I suspect if we were to build a facility at the University then they may also at least help fund the project by X amount if a commercial agreement stipulated that they could have equal use of it. It would certainly propel the universities standings in sports science/sport to greater heights so it would make sense from their standpoint.

Someone is probably better placed to chip in here as it's really not my area of expertise, but that's my very rough guess anyway.

This would make sense to me also. Campus is already being used as a base for the Commonwealth games, there have been Premier League youth tournaments held there over summers and the England women's team has trained there in the past so expanding that side seems something that they'd pursue

 

[chiefdave]

Ryton is pretty tired. If you've ever been to/in the building it's not totally fit for purpose anymore

Isn't there also an issue with no land being available around it to expand if we ever actually wanted to do that. Think the only option would be buying the connexion and redeveloping that.

Moving training to the uni definitely makes sense, they've got some decent new facilities we could use and it would be something that could benefit both parties.

Could potentially mean you could have the academy at the same location as the rest of the club.

As with everything involving our owners I'll believe it when they've built it.

 

[chiefdave]

So conceivably the complaint couldn’t be withdrawn but now can.

Guess that would allow both sides to claim they were right. Council can say it was withdrawn, SISU can maintain they had no way to withdraw it. If they just haven't responded and therefore its been given up on then you could make an argument that both versions were true.

Main thing is that its finally over and done with. One less thing to worry about.

 

[Cov kid 55]

Its just another hapless and half arsed attempt by Seppalla to take over the lease that’s again hit the buffers. It’s funny politically you accuse Mr Johnson of diversion, lies and spin but lack the consistency when it comes to the ridiculous chancer Ms Seppalla

Nobody, and I mean nobody, is a more ridiculous chancer than Johnson….

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Isn't there also an issue with no land being available around it to expand if we ever actually wanted to do that. Think the only option would be buying the connexion and redeveloping that.

Moving training to the uni definitely makes sense, they've got some decent new facilities we could use and it would be something that could benefit both parties.

Could potentially mean you could have the academy at the same location as the rest of the club.

As with everything involving our owners I'll believe it when they've built it.

Well exactly I think purchasing Connexions would be the only option which would then probably extend the cost into the millions.

I'm not holding my breath, and I certainly don't believe it's a new stadium, however I find it very difficult to believe something isn't in the works. As why else would an institution like Warwick Uni very publicly associate themselves with the club if there was even the slightest chance that it would harm their reputation?

 

[better days]

Talking to my sources lol. It appears further information was requested and wasn’t given from sisu so the eu decided not to continue with it

So conceivably the complaint couldn’t be withdrawn but now can. Made sense to me

I commented earlier Pete that I have some experience of commercial court cases in the UK and all parties have to get their documents in by a set date ahead of the planned trial
It looks like SISU didn't comply so the case dies

 

[better days]

Isn't there also an issue with no land being available around it to expand if we ever actually wanted to do that. Think the only option would be buying the connexion and redeveloping that.

Moving training to the uni definitely makes sense, they've got some decent new facilities we could use and it would be something that could benefit both parties.

Could potentially mean you could have the academy at the same location as the rest of the club.

As with everything involving our owners I'll believe it when they've built it.

A number of other clubs have their training facilities in University grounds
Colchester for example have brilliant facilities for a club at their level

 

[Moff]

Isn't there also an issue with no land being available around it to expand if we ever actually wanted to do that. Think the only option would be buying the connexion and redeveloping that.

Moving training to the uni definitely makes sense, they've got some decent new facilities we could use and it would be something that could benefit both parties.

Could potentially mean you could have the academy at the same location as the rest of the club.

As with everything involving our owners I'll believe it when they've built it.

There's definitely not enough land around Ryton to develop.
The Connexion is privately owned and would take a lot of money to purchase and completely redevelop. The footprint of that site also isn't huge.
You've then got Keller to the other side and housing (rear of Lodge and pitch)
We really need to move.

As Kenilworth Sky Blue said, although money has been pumped in, its not fit for purpose if we have aspirations of being a decent Championship team, or higher.
I spoke to a physio a few weeks back, who had worked at the club, and he said exactly the same, the Lodge had been improved, but he preferred the facilities at the Higgs Centre, and if the club wanted to improve they really needed to move to a better training facility.

 

[shmmeee]

A training ground would make the most sense all round really. Especially if there is a route to some level of ownership at the arena.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I commented earlier Pete that I have some experience of commercial court cases in the UK and all parties have to get their documents in by a set date ahead of the planned trial
It looks like SISU didn't comply so the case dies

It wasn't a court hearing but in principle you're probably right

 

[duffer]

At the end of the day, regardless of our opinions, it's about money.

If, in the long term, building our own stadium with access to the full revenue streams is cheaper than renting at the Ricoh with access to none, then I think it could happen.

I'm not sure it adds up unless you can get hold of a lot of money on very favourable terms, but really, who knows.

I never thought a business already losing money would be able to refinance a £35m bond either, but if Wasps can manage that on diminishing returns, then imagine the kind of suckers that a vaguely promising Championship football team could pull in.