New stadium - Let's suppose for a minute .... (1 Viewer)

Otis

Well-Known Member
Forget about whether or not the new stadium idea has previously been pure fantasy for a minute and think about here and now if the Ricoh is sold.

Suppose now Sisu believe the only way forwards is a new stadium, because they simply cannot get their hands on the Ricoh.

What are the obstacles?

1. Where? As has already been said, there is hardly any land around this city large enough to accommodate a football stadium.

2. If outside the city, how far outside? And how far outside would it have to be before the majority said they would no longer attend?

3. If it is much smaller in size and capacity, then how feasible will it be for conferencing and events etc.?

4. Opposition from local residents etc.

5. Access. The Ricoh is perfect. Right by the M6, next to a train line, 2 entrances in. The roads outside in some places are 4 and 5 lanes. Also great shopping facilities close by.

Where will they find any such land that would have such great access? Without the really good access, this would then have a knock on effect for any events and conferencing, concerts etc. Poor access will result in a loss of trade.

6. If we go ahead with a new stadium how badly will the club be hit while the new venture would be financed? I know they talk of investment, but there are plenty of other associated costs they are going to have to deal with.

7. Any new stadium would have to be expandable and expandable to a large degree. Think we all agree that if we got to the Premier we could quite easily get 30,000 againt Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Villa.


The main things for me, finance aside, is the location and access. The Ricoh has a massive car park adjacent. If you look at the amount of space taken up by the Ricoh and the associated car parks and walkways etc., you are talking about a very large area of land.

Just cannot see the club finding anywhere close that would have the size of land we would require and then that begs the question, as I have already mentioned, how far outside the city is too far?

You have to think somewhere either industrial or rural. I just cannot ever see it getting off the ground and this is with basing the notion of the club for once actually being serious about building a new stadium. Seems like previous it was all air talk, but if Sisu insist on owning their own stadium and the Ricoh is sold to Wasps, then it is either get out or build a new stadium.

I keep coming back to where? And objections and City fans demanding it be close to Coventry, if not indeed, inside the boundaries.
 

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Jack Griffin

Guest
Bang! We are back to the utter lack of transparency?
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
There will not be a new stadium , why on earth would a company build an assett for 30 mill for example , when they already say they are 70 mill down , then claw all the funds back over what ...a 50 year plan lol , wont happen ...never , if it does il eat my foot
 

skyblueinBaku

Well-Known Member
I'm sure we'll find out, Otis. Am I mistaken, or did TF say not so long ago that the site had already been selected and quoted commercial confidentiallity and fear of ACL/CCC pressure as the reason for secrecy?
 
J

Jack Griffin

Guest
I'm sure we'll find out, Otis. Am I mistaken, or did TF say not so long ago that the site had already been selected and quoted commercial confidentiallity and fear of ACL/CCC pressure as the reason for secrecy?

Well if Wasps buy the Ricoh, why will there be any need for secrecy anymore?

Can anyone think of a good reason?
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
There will not be a new stadium , why on earth would a company build an assett for 30 mill for example , when they already say they are 70 mill down , then claw all the funds back over what ...a 50 year plan lol , wont happen ...never , if it does il eat my foot

So where are we? No new stadium and Sisu refuse to remain as tenants? If the Ricoh deal is approved then surely Sisu have absolutely nowhere to go. Between a rock and a hard place.
 
new staduim plan
Relaid-Pitch-4.jpg
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
I believe that the consortium that will buy the stadium , will end up in control of ccfc
 

Woodster

Well-Known Member
Maybe they're hoping that Wasps get relegated and try to buy the Ricoh off them on the cheap..

In all seriousness, a construction project of this size would take a minimum of two and a half years - and that's once the land has been purchased. As Otis refers to, certainly within reasonable distances (~ 2/3 miles) of the City bounds the land just isn't there. I think that is the most concerning part of it, going to Northampton was one thing but if SISU build a permanent home, say 10 miles away, then that would be it for many.

I've pretty much given up emotionally investing in the saga now, I'm going to keep going to the Ricoh and try to enjoy the football for what it is. I just hope that, whatever decision is made, they stop the posturing and get on with it. In my opinion I think we need to stay at the Ricoh at all costs, whoever owns it. There's no way that the resources are there to build a ground that could compete with staying; accessibility, potential or even financially (as mentioned, corporate opportunities would surely be poor).
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Maybe they're hoping that Wasps get relegated and try to buy the Ricoh off them on the cheap..

In all seriousness, a construction project of this size would take a minimum of two and a half years - and that's once the land has been purchased. As Otis refers to, certainly within reasonable distances (~ 2/3 miles) of the City bounds the land just isn't there. I think that is the most concerning part of it, going to Northampton was one thing but if SISU build a permanent home, say 10 miles away, then that would be it for many.

I've pretty much given up emotionally investing in the saga now, I'm going to keep going to the Ricoh and try to enjoy the football for what it is. I just hope that, whatever decision is made, they stop the posturing and get on with it. In my opinion I think we need to stay at the Ricoh at all costs, whoever owns it. There's no way that the resources are there to build a ground that could compete with staying; accessibility, potential or even financially (as mentioned, corporate opportunities would surely be poor).

Think 10 miles would do it for me too.

Just wouldn't feel like my club anymore. Think if it were 4-5 miles away I could deal with that, but 10 and over, you are then talking much close to another town than to Coventry.
 

theferret

Well-Known Member
Think 10 miles would do it for me too.

Just wouldn't feel like my club anymore. Think if it were 4-5 miles away I could deal with that, but 10 and over, you are then talking much close to another town than to Coventry.

Plenty of suitable sites within the city boundary. Would actually be harder to find somewhere outside of the city.

Lots of reasons why the ground will never be built, but finding a site isn't really one of them. The council have just earmarked 710 acres of vacant land within the city for potential new housing sites in their 'city plan'.
 

skyblueinBaku

Well-Known Member
Plenty of suitable sites within the city boundary. Would actually be harder to find somewhere outside of the city.

Lots of reasons why the ground will never be built, but finding a site isn't really one of them. The council have just earmarked 710 acres of vacant land within the city for potential new housing sites in their 'city plan'.

Within this total of 710 acres , is there a 60 acre plot? That's what TF said was needed.
 

theferret

Well-Known Member
Within this total of 710 acres , is there a 60 acre plot? That's what TF said was needed.

Not sure, but the actual amount of green belt within the city boundary is 6500 acres (the council only intend to build on 10% of it). Lots of small sites I suspect but a few large areas that have potential. Don't know about 60 acres though. I doubt this will ever happen for other reasons, so a bit academic I suppose.
 

shy_tall_knight

Well-Known Member
The only places I can think of to build are Foleshill road area near the city centre I think there are plenty of old factories need knocking down. Whitley Willenhall Baginton area lots of green fields there
 

Senior Vick from Alicante

Well-Known Member
I think CRAIGSBA has hit the nail on the head Otis. If the Ricoh is sold to the Wasps consortium SISU could be put under heavy financial constraints to try to force a sale through. As a premiership Rugby club one would think they would struggle to attract big crowds with Tigers and Saints on their doorstep, the football side of it would be the main income earner for the stadium. Caveat to that though is SISU know this and don't have to sell, any chance of a take over would be based on causing financial chaos aimed at securing the club if it all goes Tits up again.
 

theferret

Well-Known Member
The only places I can think of to build are Foleshill road area near the city centre I think there are plenty of old factories need knocking down. Whitley Willenhall Baginton area lots of green fields there

I think you are referring to Paragon Park - that is a big site but there is a current planning app for housing on that site.

Yeah, lots of greenfield sites/parkland within the city, and it is these sites the council are planning to build housing on.
 

shy_tall_knight

Well-Known Member
The other thought is one of the 4 big food retailers who may now be struggling such as Tesco near Junction 2 of the M6, ASDA Whitley, Sainsburys Courthouse Green- knockdown store etc.. just a thought but the way these businesses are losing out to the low cost shops anything is possible and have decent road connections
 
J

Jack Griffin

Guest
The other thought is one of the 4 big food retailers who may now be struggling such as Tesco near Junction 2 of the M6, ASDA Whitley, Sainsburys Courthouse Green- knockdown store etc.. just a thought but the way these businesses are losing out to the low cost shops anything is possible and have decent road connections

Supermarkets aren't building massive out of towners. the competition is to snap up the smaller sites like Aldi/Lidl use.

Surely housing or a high tech park are the only feasible options..
 

oldskyblue58

CCFC Finance Director
Only way that SISU come under pressure is if the new stadium is a complete fantasy........ otherwise they have a plan forward and a contract that keeps them safe for 4 years whilst the new stadium is built.

Not sure where such a development site is in this City. As pointed out by Otis it isn't just the basic stadium that has to be catered for it is its potential expansion and associated car parking. I can not see that such a ground will be able to generate similar incomes to the Ricoh, it simply will not have the size and adding things like exhibition halls adds size and therefore cost.

So what extra incomes are we looking at
- ground naming rights, for a L1 ground will be nothing like the Ricoh sponsorship deal
- Ground advertising, don't they get that now
- car parking well the size of crowds and events will restrict that
- F&B and hospitality well yes they get the full turnover but also the full costs. SO SMCP calculation affected but not by the turnover but the figure after deduction of direct costs
- corporate and social events (depends where it is because there wont necessarily be much walk up trade and there is plenty of competition)

Against that
- increased interest costs
- increased day to day costs
- the stadium will be 12 to 15k capacity well that restricts the big games eg cup games (so no £5 per ticket maybe?) but what happens if we get Chelsea in the FA Cup?

But they say that a new stadium not the Ricoh is the preferred option so wont try to acquire an interest at the present stadium
 

bigfatronssba

Well-Known Member
The only places I can think of to build are Foleshill road area near the city centre I think there are plenty of old factories need knocking down. Whitley Willenhall Baginton area lots of green fields there

They would never get planning permission for a football ground on the greenbelt. Even if the council gave planning permission the government would most likely block it.
 

theferret

Well-Known Member
They would never get planning permission for a football ground on the greenbelt. Even if the council gave planning permission the government would most likely block it.

Within the city boundary it wouldn't be major issue, unless it was a nature reserve or something similar. It's when you encroach into greenbelt at the edge of the conurbation that you run into problems. If you incorporated housing and employment provisions into the application I doubt the Government would block it.
 

bigfatronssba

Well-Known Member
Within the city boundary it wouldn't be major issue, unless it was a nature reserve or something similar. It's when you encroach into greenbelt at the edge of the conurbation that you run into problems. If you incorporated housing and employment provisions into the application I doubt the Government would block it.

Inside the city you are right. On the edge of the city, even if housing were incorporated I couldn't see it going through. Massive shortage of housing, therefore that has to take precedent. I cant see locals being happy about the green and pleasant Warwickshire countryside being paved over because of a dispute between a council and a hedge fund.

Any government that allowed that would be very unpopular in that particular area, and Coventry is surrounded by marginal constituencies.
 

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