Trust meeting with wasps (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter Nick
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oldskyblue58
CCFC Finance Director
There should have been an email out ..... I got mine yesterday
Trust Meets Wasps/ACL
Last week the Sky Blue Trust met again with Nick Eastwood CEO of Wasps and new Chair of ACL, following confirmation of their 100% ownership of ACL. The meeting centred on the new owner’s approach to the Sky Blues and how they intended to work together for a mutually beneficial future. Nick stated that they had already had meetings with Steve Waggott and Steve Brookfield from CCFC and the meetings had been very constructive and held in an atmosphere of co-operation covering many aspects of mutual interest such as potentially sharing ticketing systems and some specific matters that would affect CCFC and its supporters.
Nick stated that a Wasps logo would be put up on the outside of the stadium alongside those currently in place for the Sky Blues and Casino but there were definitely no plans for changing the seat colours. He stated this stadium was now the permanent home of the Wasps but they also want it to be the permanent home of the Sky Blues and would not do things to change that but there may well be the need for some compromise and pragmatism.
We asked about the details of the deal for the Council and the Higgs Charity shares but Nick stated that these were covered by commercial confidentiality but did confirm that the North stand would be renamed the Alan Higgs Charity Stand and that the charity would receive 50p for every ticket sold for rugby matches – not for football matches.
When quizzed about the state of the pitch he admitted that it was of concern to all and stated that the main reason for the current poor condition was simply due to the timing of the return of the Sky Blues in that the pitch would ideally have been given time to be properly prepared but for a host of reasons all parties had decided that getting matches back at the Ricoh took precedent over the potential damage to the playing surface. In hindsight this may have been a mistake but ACL were committed to increasing resources in this area to improve the quality of the playing surface for both teams. How the pitch performed for the rest of this season would be dependent upon the weather etc but unfortunately the situation is at it is and both sides would have to make do this season.
Nick stated once again that ACL/Wasps were keen to keep CCFC at the Ricoh and were open to discussions on all aspects including access to revenues but it takes will on both sides to make this happen and as yet these talks have yet to be had. When we brought up the matter of the much vaunted new stadium he stated that was a matter for Otium/SISU to decide what fitted their business model for the club best and it wasn’t his place to comment on its merits. We stated that we preferred that the club stay at the Ricoh in Coventry as tenants on a good rental deal rather than be saddled with millions more debt and a small stadium outside Coventry.
Overall it was a very constructive and positive meeting – the general tone was that ACL want CCFC to be part of the future of the Ricoh and that this is their home. There appears to be a will from Wasps to work with the Sky Blues, not something that was always clear from the previous relationship between ACL and CCFC, but the final decision rests with the football club as to which direction they wish to go in.
Nick has agreed to be the guest speaker at the next Sky Blue Trust open meeting on Monday 1st December, 7.30pm Squirrel pub, Greyfriars Lane, Coventry, CV1 2GY. All Trust members welcome to come along, hear what Nick has to say and ask him their own questions – should be an interesting evening.
Trust Meets Wasps/ACL
Last week the Sky Blue Trust met again with Nick Eastwood CEO of Wasps and new Chair of ACL, following confirmation of their 100% ownership of ACL. The meeting centred on the new owner’s approach to the Sky Blues and how they intended to work together for a mutually beneficial future. Nick stated that they had already had meetings with Steve Waggott and Steve Brookfield from CCFC and the meetings had been very constructive and held in an atmosphere of co-operation covering many aspects of mutual interest such as potentially sharing ticketing systems and some specific matters that would affect CCFC and its supporters.
Nick stated that a Wasps logo would be put up on the outside of the stadium alongside those currently in place for the Sky Blues and Casino but there were definitely no plans for changing the seat colours. He stated this stadium was now the permanent home of the Wasps but they also want it to be the permanent home of the Sky Blues and would not do things to change that but there may well be the need for some compromise and pragmatism.
We asked about the details of the deal for the Council and the Higgs Charity shares but Nick stated that these were covered by commercial confidentiality but did confirm that the North stand would be renamed the Alan Higgs Charity Stand and that the charity would receive 50p for every ticket sold for rugby matches – not for football matches.
When quizzed about the state of the pitch he admitted that it was of concern to all and stated that the main reason for the current poor condition was simply due to the timing of the return of the Sky Blues in that the pitch would ideally have been given time to be properly prepared but for a host of reasons all parties had decided that getting matches back at the Ricoh took precedent over the potential damage to the playing surface. In hindsight this may have been a mistake but ACL were committed to increasing resources in this area to improve the quality of the playing surface for both teams. How the pitch performed for the rest of this season would be dependent upon the weather etc but unfortunately the situation is at it is and both sides would have to make do this season.
Nick stated once again that ACL/Wasps were keen to keep CCFC at the Ricoh and were open to discussions on all aspects including access to revenues but it takes will on both sides to make this happen and as yet these talks have yet to be had. When we brought up the matter of the much vaunted new stadium he stated that was a matter for Otium/SISU to decide what fitted their business model for the club best and it wasn’t his place to comment on its merits. We stated that we preferred that the club stay at the Ricoh in Coventry as tenants on a good rental deal rather than be saddled with millions more debt and a small stadium outside Coventry.
Overall it was a very constructive and positive meeting – the general tone was that ACL want CCFC to be part of the future of the Ricoh and that this is their home. There appears to be a will from Wasps to work with the Sky Blues, not something that was always clear from the previous relationship between ACL and CCFC, but the final decision rests with the football club as to which direction they wish to go in.
Nick has agreed to be the guest speaker at the next Sky Blue Trust open meeting on Monday 1st December, 7.30pm Squirrel pub, Greyfriars Lane, Coventry, CV1 2GY. All Trust members welcome to come along, hear what Nick has to say and ask him their own questions – should be an interesting evening.
Paxman II
Well-Known Member
Well they would say that. They need the football club to help drive their revenue...no different to ACL. CCFC need their own revenue and I'm not sure Wasp can offer anymore on that at the Ricoh than ACL did in the past. So we are back where we started. The only difference is CCFC have a minuscule rent now in comparison to previous but that may only be temporary in nature. Could they get a long term deal to suit them with Wasp? Not sure they can. Had we secured a half of the Ricoh then it was entirely sustainable but being back at square one means a new stadium is the best idea. However cost, size required and where again is the elephant in the room and it may never happen under this ownership. Beyond that SISU selling CCFC to Wasp owners seems the most likely scenario that would work well. A company that owns a Rugby Club and a Football Club using the same arena must be cost effective. To get it will Wasp distress CCFC and strt charging high rents?!!!.....just saying, the merry go round may begin all over again. A real 'ground hog' day!
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
No it isn't Otis, not at all. Can you imagine how generous Wasps will be in setting our new rent when the current agreement expires in 4-5 years time and we have nowhere else to go-we will be ripped off to the hilt. It makes far, far more sense to have a ground that is clearly ours and that the club will get 100% of the proceeds from all year round.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
Some of Eastwoods "facts" would make Fisher blush. Did you know 80% of season ticket holders live less than half hour from the Ricoh?
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Eastwood is Richardson's mouthpiece much as Fisher is for Seppalla. I really don't get the fawning of some fans over Wasps' arrival and their heralding as whiter than white businessmen. Although I can believe the 80% statistic-Wasps have got planning permission for HS3 which will take fans from London to the Ricoh in 29.5 minutes.
Is there nothing they can't do?
Grendel
Well-Known Member
More like supersonic auto-mobiles apparently;
"I think 80 per cent of our season ticket-holders live within a 30-minute drive, so anyone who lives west and north, it's going to be an easier journey than in and out of Adams Park.
lewys33
Well-Known Member
Priceless. Bet Joy is getting ready to hand Tim his P45, clearly the new kid on the block is far superior.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
To be fair he has been busier than Tim;
"We looked at probably 15 sites in and around London in the last two years." he said.
Main difference to Tim: he found one with a stadium (32000) + complex at a bargain price- didn't bother going through the artist's Impression bit. Just did it.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Sorry Brighton. Agree with you on a lot of things, but not this. I simply cannot entertain a stadium in Nuneaton, or Hinckley, or Rugby. or Warwick, or Leamington etc.etc. etc. and there is no evidence whatsoever to say any new stadium would be in, or even close to Coventry.
We move out of the city and we could lose thousands of fans forever and that is a scary proposition and simply should not be entertained.
Danceswithhorses
Well-Known Member
Interesting possible scenario - SISU/Otium being distressed by ACL for control of CCFC...oh the irony
stupot07
Well-Known Member
That's what the SBT members said. Not wasps.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors
skybluefred
New Member
This post is utter drivel. How on earth can you tell us what is going to happen in 4 or 5 years time,there are absolutely no facts to support your
scaremongering tirade. I suspect it is based on the fact that Wasps saw a good opportunity and took it,something our owners had but refused.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I'm not advocating a ground in those places. But a basic ground, in Coventry, with the facility to quickly expand is surely preferable to forever being tenants to a rugby club who want us there as a cash cow and maybe some cheap PR? In my view the latter is something which should not be entertained either. I could be wrong and Wasps could offer us a nominal rent with full access to the revenues we generate-and if that were offered I could accept it. But I can see us being bled dry by a businessman who is out there to make as much profit as he can.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
An opportunity that only became available because our own owners succeeded in distressing the business to the point where the council had to cut its losses. Wasps' chairman has already shown he doesn't care about the club's own fanbase with this relocation. In 5 years time, if we have nowhere else to go then our room for negotiating a new rent deal is pretty limited and it takes no genius to see we will get a bad deal from it.
Nick
Administrator
You are forgetting the distance bit. There might be one sat waiting for us in Dublin or somewhere
skybluetony176
Well-Known Member
You are forgetting the distance bit. There might be one sat waiting for us in Dublin or somewhere
I seem to remember that Wimbledon muted that idea while playing at Selhurst Park and change there name to The Dublin Dons but the FA turned them down flat.
You are forgetting the distance bit. There might be one sat waiting for us in Dublin or somewhere
quite like Dublin.....
prefer it to ExhallWasps have been tenants at Adams park for some time, so are very well experienced from that end. I really don't see Wasps having any interest in making things difficult or uncomfortable for CCFC. The greater crowds, the more use of the hotel (meaning Wasps can charge the hotel company a higher rate), the more food sales, the greater number in the casinos etc etc Wasps will be making revenue from the ccfc crowds, and likely don't want any ill will that would be associated with chasing them out. I really think that CCFC will get a good deal for the rent, we've been on the other end of a bad deal, which has now cost our previous hosts and the town, I don't see Wasps making the same mistake.
Obviously no one can know for sure, but I really think it will be in Wasps interests to try and keep CCFC around.
Obviously no one can know for sure, but I really think it will be in Wasps interests to try and keep CCFC around.
skybluetony176
Well-Known Member
Sam Hamman !!!!
Thats the man.
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
You're a wasps fan right? If you believe what our owners say we have no intention of staying around long term and I don't blame them. Obviously it's in Wasps interests to keep us around as it makes them money. Why should CCFC fans be used to generate revenue for a Rugby club with no ties to the City which is what you are talking about here, all the money we spend on matchday at the ground and watching our team should be used to fund the team we support. I won't be spending a penny contributing to Wasps in anyway of buying food, using the casino, hotel or any other of the other facilities as I don't want my money paying the wages of Wasps players and staff. I'll buy my tickets from the club, I'll cheer on the team I support and I'll leave at the end of the match.
Anyway if you think it will be easy dealing with our owners you haven't met them yet? Expect unreasonable demands (at least from Wasps perspective), guerilla negotiating tactics and the first time you actually see their face will probably be in a court room. I really don't see how it will work, the only way it could have was a joint partnership which Wasps weren't interested in.
ccfcway
Well-Known Member
I don't
Surely watching any game at the Ricoh puts money in ACL's pockets?
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
I won't let it stop me watching my team but I'll be doing my best to make sure I'm not directly contributing to ACL coffers.
Nick
Administrator
Do ACL get some of the ticket money for CCFC now?
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
I don't think so but I guess anyone who goes is indirectly financing ACL just by going as the club pays ACL.
Wasps were transplanted into Coventry, but with their own stadium for 250 years, they're going to have a longer history there than they had in Middlesex, London or Buckinghamshire.
I obviously can't say for sure what our our owners will do, but like I said, I think they'll try and give CCFC as good a deal as possible, perhaps that'll involve a share of other match day revenues, who knows.
From what I've read about your owners I've no idea what will be tried, but none of you seem to seriously expect them to build a stadium, so I guess it's just a question of where you rent.
I obviously can't say for sure what our our owners will do, but like I said, I think they'll try and give CCFC as good a deal as possible, perhaps that'll involve a share of other match day revenues, who knows.
From what I've read about your owners I've no idea what will be tried, but none of you seem to seriously expect them to build a stadium, so I guess it's just a question of where you rent.
Bennets Afro
Well-Known Member
What's with all the "wasps will give us a good deal bollox"??
Wasps will not give a penny more than they have to and with the current rent deal that gives us match day revenues, what more can they offer us other than cheaper rent????
Wasps will not give a penny more than they have to and with the current rent deal that gives us match day revenues, what more can they offer us other than cheaper rent????
henry the wasp
Well-Known Member
'Nick' said this, 'Nick' said that. Supposed to be representing supporters not acting like giddy schoolgirls. Should try and be a bit more professional and they might get taken a bit more seriously. Obviously want that seat on the board. Any board by the looks of it.
