The State of the CBS (3 Viewers)

[alexccfc99]

Sat/stood in my new perch in the safe standing for the first time last night, first time I have sat away from the West Stand this side of St Andrew's/COVID

I felt a real apathy towards the Arena in it's early days and even more so during the pests tenure but I cannot put into words how much of an improvement there has been

Not only does it actually feel like a football ground these days but for the first time ever it properly feels like OUR home! Hats off to all involved

 

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[Sick Boy]

It’s most definitely a ground we can be proud of these days, it’s just a shame we’re unlikely to ever own it.

 

[Bad Boy]

It’s most definitely a ground we can be proud of these days, it’s just a shame we’re unlikely to ever own it.

All good things come to pass SB, there's always hope.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It’s most definitely a ground we can be proud of these days, it’s just a shame we’re unlikely to ever own it.

As long as the people who do own it have a good relationship with the club then this isn’t a problem.

 

[harvey098]

When the attendance got read out last night I had a real sense of ‘we’ve come a long way’ (SHFWC).

I was part of 6,500 crowds for actual league games less than a decade ago. The idea of having nearly triple that for a friendly is wild.

I remember having whole rows to just your group.

 

[alexccfc99]

When the attendance got read out last night I had a real sense of ‘we’ve come a long way’ (SHFWC).

I was part of 6,500 crowds for actual league games less than a decade ago. The idea of having nearly triple that for a friendly is wild.

I remember having whole rows to just your group.

nearly 17 and half thousand in League 1 and 2, apart from the occasions they did tickets for a quid across the board was a non starter

 

[PVA]

I remember having whole rows to just your group.

We used to sit at the end City were attacking then at half time walk round to the other end to watch us attack again. Imagine being able to do that now

And when I say watch us attacking, I mean watch Peter Vincenti stumble around or watch the ball bounce off Kwame Thomas.

 

[SHUNT31]

It’s most definitely a ground we can be proud of these days, it’s just a shame we’re unlikely to ever own it.

I would say we have a much better chance now than we ever had tbf. Council were never selling to SISU, Wasps would never have sold had they been a viable business.

Frasers won’t own it forever. I would put money on us at least owning 50% should we reach the PL.

 

[SleepyGinger]

Atmosphere was brilliant last night for a friendly

 

[oscillatewildly]

Thought from the headline this was going to be a negative post - which initially left me a little puzzled.
Couldn't agree more with what the OP has stated.

 

[Calista]

It’s most definitely a ground we can be proud of these days, it’s just a shame we’re unlikely to ever own it.

Genuine question though - purely in hard nosed financial terms is it a money spinner or is it a liability we don't need?

 

[alexccfc99]

Thought from the headline this was going to be a negative post - which initially left me a little puzzled.
Couldn't agree more with what the OP has stated.

Perhaps worded wrongly on my part!

 

[Calista]

Perhaps worded wrongly on my part!

Maybe it can be edited, it does sound like an invitation for a moan-in

 

[Skyblueweeman]

That's what happens when parasites go away and die.

 

[pusbccfc]

It's one of the best grounds in the the country again as it was built to be.

Unlike Southampton and Leicester, it was built at a substantial cost and designed to be another level up from those.

The final piece of the jigsaw will be sorting the transportation which is still very poor.

 

[Torquay Sky Blue]

Thought from the headline this was going to be a negative post - which initially left me a little puzzled.
Couldn't agree more with what the OP has stated.

Think that was to draw in the crowd. Clever marketing.

 

[LastChance]

Agree the stadium is looking great now but we had to queue up for ages to get in. It was ridiculous, there were loads of people still outside when the match kicked off and were still coming in 10/15 mins into the game. This for a 17.4k crowd, what's it gonna be like when we have sellout games?

 

[alexccfc99]

Agree the stadium is looking great now but we had to queue up for ages to get in. It was ridiculous, there were loads of people still outside when the match kicked off and were still coming in 10/15 mins into the game. This for a 17.4k crowd, what's it gonna be like when we have sellout games?

Walked straight into the South Stand luckily

 

[Liquicon]

Agree the stadium is looking great now but we had to queue up for ages to get in. It was ridiculous, there were loads of people still outside when the match kicked off and were still coming in 10/15 mins into the game. This for a 17.4k crowd, what's it gonna be like when we have sellout games?

I would hope that for a league game they open the doors earlier than 45 minutes before kick off. Saw plenty of people struggling with the scanners too which would hopefully not happen with the normal season cards.

 

[Domo]

defiantly read you title as "The STATE of the CBS" as tho it was crap etc, glad to see everyone is happier here.

couldnt make it yday, how were the concourse updates?

 

[chiefdave]

Would be nice if we could get some wraps up over the cladding which is faded and clearly shows where things like the Wasps badge have been up.

That can't be too expensive, they've got some up for an inflatables event they're having but if you got some made to the right size you could easily cover all the cladding that looks the worse for wear.

 

[Saddlebrains]

Do we really need to own it?

It's been a money pit for anyone who's ever owned it. Granted Frasers lost 14 million on it last year but they've invested a lot on bringing it to to scratch.

Doesn't seem to have attracted any large concerts this summer either which is strange

Il be interested in seeing next year's accounts for the stadium...

 

[pusbccfc]

Do we really need to own it?

It's been a money pit for anyone who's ever owned it. Granted Frasers lost 14 million on it last year but they've invested a lot on bringing it to to scratch.

Doesn't seem to have attracted any large concerts this summer either which is strange

Il be interested in seeing next year's accounts for the stadium...

No we don't want it.

Until they sort the transport out, it will never become a truly national stadium/concert arena.

Even more so when Birmingham City build their super stadium.

 

[Domo]

No we don't want it.

Until they sort the transport out, it will never become a truly national stadium/concert arena.

Even more so when Birmingham City build their super stadium.

can only think the blues plans are going to be shelved for a bit

 

[skybluericoh]

Do like the old traditional grounds, but new grounds are more suitable for the modern game - level pitches, un restrictive views, better facilities more suitable for families etc.
always thought the arena would come good, remember posting that we needed to build memories there for it to feel like a real home. When it is rocking, the atmosphere is brilliant, we are building those memories now, still have things that need fixing, but I enjoy going. Outside last night was crazy, that needs sorting! But inside very happy.

 

[bigfatronssba]

This is like one of those newspaper articles where the headline bears no resemblance at all to the story

Agree with the sentiment though. It really is our home now

 

[BananaFlats]

What was the subway under the railway like last night? I popped up to the club shop on Sunday and parked at Tesco and walked over, but both subways were flooded and pretty much impassable! Did that get sorted before last night?

 

[SHUNT31]

Do we really need to own it?

It's been a money pit for anyone who's ever owned it. Granted Frasers lost 14 million on it last year but they've invested a lot on bringing it to to scratch.

Doesn't seem to have attracted any large concerts this summer either which is strange

Il be interested in seeing next year's accounts for the stadium...

Makes us a hell of a lot more valuable if we come with a stadium attached and most of us believe DK not in this for long haul.

 

[Marty]

Do we really need to own it?

It's been a money pit for anyone who's ever owned it. Granted Frasers lost 14 million on it last year but they've invested a lot on bringing it to to scratch.

Doesn't seem to have attracted any large concerts this summer either which is strange

Il be interested in seeing next year's accounts for the stadium...

I'm pritty sure we have exclusive rights to use the pitch area for the next few years. So there shouldn't be any concerts/events on there until the original lease (5 years?) we signed runs out

 

[Balli001]

I'm pritty sure we have exclusive rights to use the pitch area for the next few years. So there shouldn't be any concerts/events on there until the original lease (5 years?) we signed runs out

Not entirely true. I was of the belief it was any sporting events on the surface we had veto over. Didnt they have a concert in May this year anyway?

 

[Balli001]

What was the subway under the railway like last night? I popped up to the club shop on Sunday and parked at Tesco and walked over, but both subways were flooded and pretty much impassable! Did that get sorted before last night?

Yes dry as anything

 

[AOM]

Do like the old traditional grounds, but new grounds are more suitable for the modern game - level pitches, un restrictive views, better facilities more suitable for families etc.
always thought the arena would come good, remember posting that we needed to build memories there for it to feel like a real home. When it is rocking, the atmosphere is brilliant, we are building those memories now, still have things that need fixing, but I enjoy going. Outside last night was crazy, that needs sorting! But inside very happy.

Rubbish location and fan base, but as a modern bowl style football stadium, I quite liked the MK Dons ground.
Thought it was one of the nicer new stadiums we've been to, even though it was a dire 0-0 away day

 

[AJB1983]

I never bought the whole ‘the Ricoh/cbs is soulless/got no atmosphere’ nonsense.
when they’re playing well and it’s rocking or a special moment (we’ve mentioned on here before goddens winner against Bristol in 2021) its incredible.
But granted, when it’s flat it’s flat and you feel it.

Not necessarily about numbers though - the Stoke fa cup game when we were in league 2 - there were only 14000 there but that was great and the atmosphere in the hospitality/players lounge after was something else.

but totally agree about the whole place feeling different since last season - feels like home.

 

[theferret]

I agree with the general sentiment about it feeling like home now, but it's looking very tired in parts following years of neglect under previous owners. If it is to grow as a major leisure and conference venue, it needs further investment and a lot of it. The area around it is very scruffy and all a bit dystopian tbh. And a football venue I'm not arsed, I'm not that bothered about aesthetics, as long as it has heart and soul it's not that important; but as an asset for the city, it, and the surrounding area, need a coherent development plan.

 

[skyblue_55]

And I know Rome wasn’t built in a day , but could someone please sort out the awful PA system…….. it’s been awful since installed
Please ?