Midlands Today Last Night (10 Viewers)

[torchomatic]

Anyone see the piece on City, ACL and the Ricoh last night? The head of ACL Jackie Whatshername said:

"Clearly it's easier if the Sky Blues are here but we have a robust* business....we had the Olympics** in the City, we have got Bruce Springsteen*** in June, we have got Muse**** playing here in May. We are really busy."

*Thanks to Coventry City Council
**Once in a lifetime event
***One off
****Another one off

Are ACL seriously saying they could manage without the football club, because I certainly don't think they could.

 

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[Covstu]

No missed it, i agree the Ricoh isnt going to work without a club in there. Talk about a london based rugby team is also rubbish, they are not going to attract even a quarter of what city get (which means about 2k!!). There is only one realistic option and that is to stick with the sky blues, now agree a deal and be done with it.

 

[derbyskyblue]

Apparently they can, sure they would take a hit and besides i doubt the council would let them fail.
I'm just waiting to see what sisu's legal eagles will do.

 

[skyblueman]

I think that's exactly what they are saying I'm afraid - SISU want's to pay so little it's become far less important to them now - they should have done a deal at the £400k mark - they've overplayed their hand have SISU

 

[torchomatic]

It's on IPlayer. That's where I saw it.

 

[Warwickhunt]

Its a large Grassed area that would need to be maintained if no Football team operate there, it would be like Wembley accept there would be noone playing there. If they are seriuos about not having CCFC there then they will need to get it Roofed and the Playing area turned into a Big indoor arena to make it pay.

 

[torchomatic]

I agree. It's all very well talking about the Olympics - it'll never happen again and Rugby matches happen every now and then won't suffice, surely?

A football stadium without a football club?

No missed it, i agree the Ricoh isnt going to work without a club in there. Talk about a london based rugby team is also rubbish, they are not going to attract even a quarter of what city get (which means about 2k!!). There is only one realistic option and that is to stick with the sky blues, now agree a deal and be done with it.

 

[Astute]

Are ACL seriously saying they could manage without the football club, because I certainly don't think they could.

And they would never get by if SISU don't pay any rent?

It would be a waste of a football ground, but if there was not football taking place they could make a more permanent plan for more concerts. It would cost less to hold them if they didn't have to remove everything all the time. The football season wouldn't get in the way. CCFC moving out wouldn't mean the end of the stadium. It would mean the end of football at the stadium though. That is unless Beduff needed a bigger stadium.

 

[Greggs]

They seem to have a lot of 'one offs' though Torch.
Add Coldplay, Oasis, Take That, Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi to the other one offs, Rugby Cup Finals, top womens games, exhibitions all year round and the Ricoh could very well be a viable successful Arena.

With more time on their hands, chaotic tenants evicted, ACL could spend even more time focussing and attracting business to The Ricoh.

 

[MichaelCCFC]

I agree. It's all very well talking about the Olympics - it'll never happen again and Rugby matches happen every now and then won't suffice, surely?

A football stadium without a football club?

?

Torch - what do you reckon sisu's next move will be?

 

[Greggs]

not forgetting Monster Trucks.........

 

[torchomatic]

I agree. But how many Rugby finals have their been in the last seven years for example? Exhibitions are all very well, but they need to be indoors. There won't be any outdoor concerts in the winter either. "Top Women's Games"? How often, what is the attendance?

Nah, doesn't stack up for me. Now that the Council have bailed them out then I'm sure they could give it a go, but I think it would be doomed to failure.

They seem to have a lot of 'one offs' though Torch.
Add Coldplay, Oasis, Bon Jovi to the other one offs, Rugby Cup Finals, top womens games, exhibitions all year round and the Ricoh could very well be a viable successful Arena.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I agree. But how many Rugby finals have their been in the last seven years for example? Exhibitions are all very well, but they need to be indoors. There won't be any outdoor concerts in the winter either. "Top Women's Games"? How often, what is the attendance?

Nah, doesn't stack up for me. Now that the Council have bailed them out then I'm sure they could give it a go, but I think it would be doomed to failure.

Or, if CCFC leave, let's see how much taxpayers' money is needed to prop up ACL, it'll be interesting to see how many people moan about 'wasted taxpayers' money' then!

 

[torchomatic]

I have no idea. Get Jan to ask them. I thought you were in constant dialogue with the Club?

I should hope they will work with ACL to find something that is suitable to all parties involved in the dispute.

?

Torch - what do you reckon sisu's next move will be?

 

[Astute]

You don't have to play football at the Ricoh for it to survive just because there is grass in the middle with goalposts on it.

 

[dongonzalos]

SISU could have looked fantastic in everyone's eyes two months ago.

By claiming the had negotiated a 66 percent drop in rent.
Claiming the club are now financially stable.
Improving relationships with ACL and. The council.
Mark Robins and the results on the pitch .

I can't help think they missed a massive truck to try and save a further 16 k a month. This also suggests to me it wasn't. Really about the rent.

 

[torchomatic]

But would it? Are ACL willing to take the risk? All this "we hate SISU etc, it's all their fault" attitude from a section of fans is all very well, but if the Club to get chucked out - regardless of the rights or wrongs of it - how many City fans will be happy with it? I'm sure attitudes wouldn't quite be the same then.

You don't have to play football at the Ricoh for it to survive just because there is grass in the middle with goalposts on it.

 

[Bugsy]

wouldn't it be better to have at least 9k income every week than nothing at all ?? with a football team playing weekly and gaining a sum of money each week would only be an advantage...

 

[dongonzalos]

ACL may not survive with the current Football club and owners at the club.

Hence one day they would have to take drastic action.

However I don't see why that would not mean another club would not see it as any opportunity.

 

[torchomatic]

A Monster Truck?

I can't help think they missed a massive truck

 

[torchomatic]

F.a.n.t.a.s.y.

however i don't see why that would not mean another club would not see it as any opportunity.

 

[dongonzalos]

Fortunately for is the fans SISU getting the club into the championship would make that decision by ACL a lot harder.

 

[dongonzalos]

F.a.n.t.a.s.y.

Yes your right Torch total fantasy.

ACL stay as it is we go under as our tenant is paying nothing.
Or
Kick out Coventry or liquidate them and try and get someone in so we don't go under. (Still fantasy)

What would u do. Go under or take a chance that might mean you don't ?

 

[dongonzalos]

A Monster Truck?

Ha ha. Predictive text is good sometimes.

You have to admit they should have signed the deal quicker

 

[MichaelCCFC]

I have no idea. Get Jan to ask them. I thought you were in constant dialogue with the Club?

I should hope they will work with ACL to find something that is suitable to all parties involved in the dispute.

I thought you might have an interesting perspective e.g. what would you say "something that is suitable to all parties" would be?

 

[lordsummerisle]

Midlands Yesterday?

 

[torchomatic]

Yes, total fantasy.

I'm not aware of major homeless sports teams with enough fans to fill a 32K seater stadium who are happy to pay over a £1M a year rent. Unless you know of some, of course.

Yes your right Torch total fantasy.

ACL stay as it is we go under as our tenant is paying nothing.
Or
Kick out Coventry or liquidate them and try and get someone in so we don't go under. (Still fantasy)

What would u do. Go under or take a chance that might mean you don't ?

 

[WillieStanley]

A lot of their business has come through the fact that the football club is there though. If it wasn't a proven venue for football, the England U21s wouldnt have played there and as such, it probably wouldn't have been picked as an Olympic venue. I know that it wouldn't have been picked as the venue for my wedding had it not been the home ground of CCFC, and the same goes for probably 95% of the weddings there. A lot of local businesses use it as a venue for conferences and meetings and I strongly believe this is about local businesses showing that they have an interest in the welfare of the City as well as promoting the identity of the City and that the fact that they've used the home of the local football team completely leads people to buy into that. There are also perks that ACL throw in to businesses using the venue, such as use of a corporate box - that's going to be an attractive offer when there's nothing to watch from that box. One of the packages the hotel offers is that of a match day experience from your room... good bye to that offer. We all know that the casino nearly went bust before they started catering to the fans on a match day.

The fact that the club is there is woven into what makes ACL a successfull business. It's not just about income from rent, it's about what having a brand thats instantly recognisable and sparks emotions of endearment from fans of the club and football fans in general. Without CCFC, ACL would only have wedding fairs and concerts to butter its bread with. Yummy.

 

[Astute]

Yes, total fantasy.

I'm not aware of major homeless sports teams with enough fans to fill a 32K seater stadium who are happy to pay over a £1M a year rent. Unless you know of some, of course.

Oh I forgot we have enough fans to fill a 32k stadium

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Oh I forgot we have enough fans to fill a 32k stadium

We have the 'potential' to.

 

[Astute]

We have the 'potential' to.

Do we?

I know you are too young to remember, but even when we were in the Prem we wouldn't have sold out this stadium. We rarely sold out in a stadium that was smaller and easier to get to.....and free parking all around.

 

[ashbyjan]

Can ACL survive without CCFC as tenants? They are much more likely to survive without CCFC today than they were before the loan restructuring. Could they? Possibly but it would need some restructuring, rebuilding etc but now financially it would be possible - at present under FL rules they cannot utilise the stadium for 9 months of the year without CCFC this would free it up for other uses. Do they want to survive without CCFC - no. For a myriad of reasons social, political, community based and financial they want CCFC to stay but now they are in a much stronger position to ensure that CCFC stay on their terms. I believe we have to stop thinking about the Ricoh as a football stadium with some bits atttached but more of a leisure and conference centre incorporating a football stadium.

Can CCFC survive without the Ricoh? Seriously No - their income would plummet if they had to play at either of the grounds mentioned previously whilst still legally obliged to pay the contracted rate at the Ricoh.

Bottom line is the two sides need each other, what the loan restructure has done is levelled the playing field so its time for the two sides to stop posturing and get the whole thing sorted once and for all. The rent has come down 67% and Mutton hinted that there may be a smidgen more to be offered, the club has to compromise a bit as well. The two sides are not a million miles apart and it would be ridiculous and unforgivable if for the sake of a relatively tiny amount of money the club was forced into liquidation.

There is a deal to be done - bloody well start talking and get it done.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Do we?

I know you are too young to remember, but even when we were in the Prem we wouldn't have sold out this stadium. We rarely sold out in a stadium that was smaller and easier to get to.....and free parking all around.

True, but in the prem, everyone sells out, bar Wigan, but Rugby League is more popular there though.

Look at Leeds, 28k for some reason, others like Wolves, Brum and Leicester we've had very good, higher than HR max attendances.

Stoke were like us once, according to a Stoke P.E teacher of mine.

 

[cloughie]

Preferably it would be better for all concerned that CCFC remain at the ricoh and agree a rent deal. Yet some seem to forget that almost every day you pass the Ricoh there is a least 1 and sometimes 2 exhibitions going on. It doesn't just rely on 1 offs or CCFC

 

[superskyblue]

Gloucester Rugby club have announced a £300,000 profit, with a large percentage of it down to a Tom Jones concert held there (ground is half the size of the Ricoh). It is a lucrative business hosting events.