Leicester is a very pertinent comparison for me living in this corner of Sth West Leics. Last weekend saw their football team crush Derby to stay top, the Rugby team reached the last 8 of the European Cup and their basketball team won the cup at a packed NIA. I'll tell you what though the people really get behind their sports teams over there ! It was at least a feather in our cap to actually have a better football stadium than them with louder and prouder vocal support..................until SISU gave us the Sixfields morgue that is !
That’s fair enough and I pretty much agree with your sentiments. At least you’ve put forward your reasons why unlike the OP. Do you feel embarrassed by the Ricoh though?
Do you not feel embarrassed, almost ashamed, that as far as a stadium to be proud of is concerned, we’re plumbing the depths in our current situation at Sixfields.
Metaphorically speaking, I wouldn’t be seen dead at Sixfields.
I guess this takes us back to whether you have pride in Coventry as a city- including its facilities, buildings, history etc. as well as its football team. I am a Cov kid, always will be, and want the city [in general] to do well.
I guess this takes us back to whether you have pride in Coventry as a city- including its facilities, buildings, history etc. as well as its football team. I am a Cov kid, always will be, and want the city [in general] to do well.
Maybe a generational thing too, GPE. Growing up, for me, the biggest draw in Coventry was a go on the 'Witch's Hat' at Coombe Abbey. These young feckers want the world, and then some
People must be struggling to read the question.
Minority of being able to read I guess as half the answers have nothing to do with the question.
Like that ever makes a difference on this forum
Exactly my point. Somebody could ask what day it was and the answer would be SISU OUT / Council OUT etc. Maybe it is just I have been using forums for years but threads usually need to stay on topic (or create a new different one).
Anyway, before this goes off topic about being off topic I think it is just about the Ricoh as a building.
Yep maybe MMM. Would be interesting to do an age profile on here, and who was born in Cov. Might explain some of the divisions..
Being from Radford, Coombe was always an exciting bike ride out-- and corley rocks...
You're all too quick to respond and shout at someone with a differing view, without actually thinking about what they've actually asked.
CCFC is what makes the Ricoh. It's nothing without us. What's to be proud of?
Born just opposite the Binley Mega Chippy; and lived off the Clifford Bridge Road until about '77. The Coombe Abbey witch's hat, and concrete tubes were but a short 'tracker' ride away!
Born just opposite the Binley Mega Chippy; and lived off the Clifford Bridge Road until about '77. The Coombe Abbey witch's hat, and concrete tubes were but a short 'tracker' ride away!
The Council have stated they are facing terrible cuts in funding yet will not sell the stadium. Why?
They certainly sell other now empty properties.
They see the Ricoh and surrounding lands as being central to their plans for the regeneration of the City; and notwithstanding the stance of the football club in recent seasons, have been successful in doing so. The whole complex brings people to the city to spend their cash here and generate jobs for local people. They don't want to lose control of that even at this phase, let alone the potential yet to come.
What if the council long term vision is to generate, saay 500 jobs there and take revenue in so doing? Selling that to a third party - especially one who's administered something like SISU have our club - could jeopardise that, couldn't it? What if they did so and the whole thing fell apart, and you were one of the 90% of the tax payers of Coventry who don't attend the football, but who were interested in the jobs and revenue the regeneration plan could bring?
Sell the Stadium not the surrounding land etc.
I d love to see 5,50,500 jobs created but they wo nt be in the Stadium will they. Maybe a few part time stewards for the extra pop concert or two. They can replace the jobs lost by no football or other team playing there. Why have nt the Council ordered a report into the loss of revenue to the City of Coventry by retaining the Stadium without a football team ?
The 90% of Coventrians who do nt watch or have an interest in football would surely be a lot happier with the money generated from a sale used to support Council services. Its a pity we do nt know how many of those people actually thought a £14 million stake in ACL was a good idea.
As i said not necessarily a sale to Sisu / Otium, but deffinately a sale.
Pusb
But how do you sell 'the stadium'? Do you mean the football bit, but excluding the conference hall, hotel and casino? If so, what about the 'football bit' when concerts are held in there? It's not as easy as that. Looking at ACL's business model as reported - and let's not debate it's accuracy as that's another argument, but it's plans are audited -the football-related turnover is only 20 to 30% of it's turnover. If that's the case, why does the owner of the football club have a divine right to the balance of the business?
What's better is for the council to own the freehold, and have a tenant with access to all incomes on a long lease with fair rentals. To achieve this, SISU would have to buy the Higgs adhere of ACL (which they've already been offered), and badger CCC for the balance; and assistance in negotiating the novation of the Compass contract. Pay a fair price, and do it.
We get the council continuing to regenerate the area, the football club has a huge turnover - helping with FFP - and traction from a business (ACL) that has been building revenues in recent times
I thought the Higgs part isn't for sale?
As a stadium, the Ricoh pisses all over it.
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