New stadium - Okay, let's just suppose for a moment (11 Viewers)

[Otis]

As to the original question....

I think if we did build a new Sky Blues stadium within the catchment area, be it a few miles outside the officially city boundary then I think we will see no change in support what so ever.
Consulting with fans would merely see a sheep capacity to say "we want it IN Coventry" reply across the board. Of course most fans would say that but I remember when the Ricoh was rumoured and then under construction and then built we had fans saying it was way too far out and no one would attend out there etc etc. Turns out it's a brilliant location and yes some of those fans still complain about where it is.
It depends what side of the city boundaries you are I suppose. Frankly anywhere that's no worse for example than an out of town boundary placed shopping centre will make no difference. Of course fans will go and watch their beloved Sky Blues. It's like saying if you stuck it in Exhall you would expect less attendees? that's rubbish. I don't quantify my City as having to define a boundary for the purpose of a football team needing a stadium, so long as it's obviously within a strong catchment area and a clear affinity with the city.

West Ham are going to the Olympic stadium and I don't hear too many complaints? they won't even own it and will pay £6m a year rent! If they fail to stay in the top flight they too will be buggered good and proper.

Lets just say it was built at the airport site. Would you still attend?

Err, but West Ham are a London club. the Olympic Stadium is in London. If West Ham moved to Watford then maybe you would have a point.

If City move within Coventry then no-one is going to have a problem. The whole beef with many fans is if we move to another town.

 

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[Jack Griffin]

A couple of points ...
The huge debt is with SBS&L - not with Otium (the club). The current debt level is around $12m which is just about manageable, but if interests are being paid (actually paid out, not accrued) then it leaves nothing to invest in the team. We definitely need more revenue.
Second - how exactly are sisu milking the club by increasing the debt (loans)? (I have a feeling you will say something like 'management fee's').

It is a lot more than that.

28th February 2014. Accounts for SBS&L and Otium Ent. Group filed on time for the year to 31/05/13. The group showed net losses of £7.1m with net liabilities of £44.7m. SISU Investors were owed £28.5m and ARVO £13.4m. The auditors drew attention to going concern issues

See more http://www.skybluetrust.co.uk/index...ne/355-4-the-ricoh-dispute-years-2012-to-2014

 

[Gazolba]

All I want to know is what do people think Sisu would do if the stadium location was announced at City fans pretty much universally rejected it?

Would they listen? Ignore? What?

First, there's never going to be a new stadium.
Second, what does it matter what we think they would do? 90% of us could say we think they would do one thing and they could do something else anyway
So far there is no evidence that SISU have asked the fans anything or listened to anything the fans have said. They are not motivated by the same things we are.

 

[Gazolba]

They could build it with retails, bars, cafe's and restaurants around it. The complex can hold offices for rent. There are bands/groups that can attract an audience of 8-10.000 - probably more than bands that can attract an audience of 30.000. In short there are revenues they can have to help pay for the thing and to help the manager with the FFP/salary cap restrictions.

If you think CCFC are in competition with Wasps now, what do you think would happen with a new stadium. Every time the pathetic 12k inflatable stadium hosts an event they will be trumped by the Ricoh holding an even bigger event. Based on previous actions, what makes you think SISU have the business acumen to run a successful business? They are asset-strippers, they seek value and capitalise on it, they buy low and sell high. Any attempt to build a new stadium will be a complete disaster.

 

[Paxman II]

Otis I thought I was clear about it....
No fan will give a dam in reality except the likes of some of us on here who are weirdly animated enough and maybe sad enough to be involved in a football forum!
What I'm trying to say is the vast majority are sheep prepared to be herded into a new venue so long as it is within easy reach of most of the fans living in CCFC's catchment area.
Why would SISU ask fans opinion? they know there is a guarantee of football fans in this fair city of some 300k and a catchment of some 500k with only a small percentage in reality who grumble. Fans are fickle. Give them some new stadium to call our own (as we did with the Ricoh at first) and they will come, probably moaning at the same time because that's what Coventrians are good at. Breed some success on the pitch and they will be there in large numbers.
That semi in the JPT was proof of just how fickle fans really are. 30k + was it for a ridiculously pointless cup game? Proof positive that this city is a football city and the fans want their football club alive and kicking somewhere (so long as we are not talking about another town of course) inside or even close by our city borders that is convenient and is OURS. This thing about "I won't go" is just pathetic sound bites grabbing attention.

I think a better argument would be IF they build said stadium who will 'own it'?
We need assurances that it will remain as CCFC's and not an asset to be squandered by SISU. Promise that and the fans will be more obliging in my opinion.
If the recent events over the Ricoh involving the council and ACL have taught us anything then we must realise we need control over our own ground. With out it we will wither and die.

The Ricoh still has possibilities if CCFC recognise the potential to negotiate a deal with the stadiums current lease holders. My belief is WASP will not survive the long run without a major tenant. They will not fully utilise the stadium as much as the football club potentially can. No amount of concerts etc will change that very much either. ACL could not make it work so why can WASP?
WASP may well think they have a glorious deal for now. I suppose with a 250 year lease in place they have a valued asset to assign and get out if the need ever arose. It's just a pity SISU did not get that deal.

Anyway I diverse, rant over.

 

[Otis]

Otis I thought I was clear about it....
No fan will give a dam in reality except the likes of some of us on here who are weirdly animated enough and maybe sad enough to be involved in a football forum!
What I'm trying to say is the vast majority are sheep prepared to be herded into a new venue so long as it is within easy reach of most of the fans living in CCFC's catchment area.
Why would SISU ask fans opinion? they know there is a guarantee of football fans in this fair city of some 300k and a catchment of some 500k with only a small percentage in reality who grumble. Fans are fickle. Give them some new stadium to call our own (as we did with the Ricoh at first) and they will come, probably moaning at the same time because that's what Coventrians are good at. Breed some success on the pitch and they will be there in large numbers.
That semi in the JPT was proof of just how fickle fans really are. 30k + was it for a ridiculously pointless cup game? Proof positive that this city is a football city and the fans want their football club alive and kicking somewhere (so long as we are not talking about another town of course) inside or even close by our city borders that is convenient and is OURS. This thing about "I won't go" is just pathetic sound bites grabbing attention.

I think a better argument would be IF they build said stadium who will 'own it'?
We need assurances that it will remain as CCFC's and not an asset to be squandered by SISU. Promise that and the fans will be more obliging in my opinion.
If the recent events over the Ricoh involving the council and ACL have taught us anything then we must realise we need control over our own ground. With out it we will wither and die.

The Ricoh still has possibilities if CCFC recognise the potential to negotiate a deal with the stadiums current lease holders. My belief is WASP will not survive the long run without a major tenant. They will not fully utilise the stadium as much as the football club potentially can. No amount of concerts etc will change that very much either. ACL could not make it work so why can WASP?
WASP may well think they have a glorious deal for now. I suppose with a 250 year lease in place they have a valued asset to assign and get out if the need ever arose. It's just a pity SISU did not get that deal.

Anyway I diverse, rant over.

Well yep, people say we need our own stadium, but who is 'we' going to be? Seems to me that we won't own any new stadium. That seems abundantly clear.

I maintain a new stadium is a nonsense. The talk is of revenues etc., but just how far down the line would this be with all the enormous costs of any new venue and the burden of debt that will bring with it?

It's ridiculous. A smaller staidum, much further away, massively increasing the club's debt.

Anyway, Joy Seppala said she doesn't bluff and it will be a new stadium built within 5 years and that was over a year ago, so I think she needs to get her trowel out sharpish.

 

[torchomatic]

Richardson didn't consult with us, did he? He just printed a few glossy brochures and tried to sell the dream.

 

[torchomatic]

Similarly staying and playing in a stadium awash with logos of a London rugby team is also nonsense and soul destroying. Not only for the fans but the club, who won't get any revenue at all. We can look forward to staying at this level for decades to come.

Well yep, people say we need our own stadium, but who is 'we' going to be? Seems to me that we won't own any new stadium. That seems abundantly clear.

I maintain a new stadium is a nonsense. The talk is of revenues etc., but just how far down the line would this be with all the enormous costs of any new venue and the burden of debt that will bring with it?

It's ridiculous. A smaller staidum, much further away, massively increasing the club's debt.

Anyway, Joy Seppala said she doesn't bluff and it will be a new stadium built within 5 years and that was over a year ago, so I think she needs to get her trowel out sharpish.

 

[tisza]

They have always been clear that a new stadium would be built and then the club would rent it with "access" to revenues.
Joy has said 40% of the cost would be capital and the remaining borrowings.
It has never been clearly stated (that i can find) that the club would be building or owning its own stadium.
Who would lend money for a stadium to the football club with its debt levels when ARVO have 1st charge on any assets already owned by the football club?
Strangely enough I do see us going for a new stadium. It's the only way I can see us cutting into the debt and making the club a more saleable prospect. SISU aren't going without getting at least their current investment back.
I see little chance of the club getting much more than matchday access to Ricoh income streams. The old F&B argument is tiresome. Even Fisher admitted to the SCG the income (not profit) was under 2 pound per spectator.
I have yet to see any evidence (happy to be corrected) of stadiums outside the Premiership with strong non-football (or all year) income.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Richardson didn't consult with us, did he? He just printed a few glossy brochures and tried to sell the dream.

And look where that got us.

But hey ho, because Richardson started the destruction of our club that now means its fine for sisu to finish it off.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Similarly staying and playing in a stadium awash with logos of a London rugby team is also nonsense and soul destroying. Not only for the fans but the club, who won't get any revenue at all. We can look forward to staying at this level for decades to come.

Reading fans seem ok with that don't they?

 

[torchomatic]

Never mentioned SISU and it being "fine".

And look where that got us.

But hey ho, because Richardson started the destruction of our club that now means its fine for sisu to finish it off.

 

[torchomatic]

I don't give a fuck about Reading fans, so not sure what that has got to do with Coventry City and the Ricoh.

Reading fans seem ok with that don't they?

 

[bigfatronssba]

Never mentioned SISU and it being "fine".

So what was your point then?

 

[bigfatronssba]

I don't give a fuck about Reading fans, so not sure what that has got to do with Coventry City and the Ricoh.

You only care about Coventry City do you?

 

[torchomatic]

Primarily, yes I do, which is why I'm not a member of the Reading football forum.

You only care about Coventry City do you?

 

[chiefdave]

Reading fans seem ok with that don't they?

From what I remember their stadium is primarily branded for the football team, a very different situation to the one we are in.