Did they come knocking or were they invited?
Don't disagree with much of that.
It must've helped Wasps though to pick up a stadium when a certain councillor was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'Hell freezing over before selling to CCFC'. Must have been slightly milder when a franchised rugby club came knocking.
Didn't she write it on some council note?
Do you seriously believe that there was a conspiracy to get 100000 in rent revenue and a few pies and hot dogs sales from league 1 attendances?
Not for a second but what I can imagine is someone in Wasps PR machine (you know, the one they say doesn't exist) thinking it might not look good if Wasps buy the Ricoh on the cheap, causing CCC and Higgs to lose millions, while the football club is playing in Northampton and there's 10,000 people marching through the street every year protesting the club not playing in its hometown, a CT campaign about the same thing and CCC saying at every available opportunity what a disgrace it is to rip a club from its community.
I can definitely see Wasps saying get them back ASAP, get them in on a short term deal so we aren't committed to anything and don't look like we've stolen their ground. There's no way SISU paid for a pitch at Sixfields and sold cheap season tickets if they thought we were coming back. If it was on the cards we would have been here for the start of the season, everything about it screams rush job.
Did they come knocking or were they invited?
Not for a second but what I can imagine is someone in Wasps PR machine (you know, the one they say doesn't exist) thinking it might not look good if Wasps buy the Ricoh on the cheap, causing CCC and Higgs to lose millions, while the football club is playing in Northampton and there's 10,000 people marching through the street every year protesting the club not playing in its hometown, a CT campaign about the same thing and CCC saying at every available opportunity what a disgrace it is to rip a club from its community.
I can definitely see Wasps saying get them back ASAP, get them in on a short term deal so we aren't committed to anything and don't look like we've stolen their ground. There's no way SISU paid for a pitch at Sixfields and sold cheap season tickets if they thought we were coming back. If it was on the cards we would have been here for the start of the season, everything about it screams rush job.
Yes but surely it made sense for CCFC to return if WASPS were to get the Ricoh then the Sixfields distressing tactic had failed and it was pointless continuing to lose millions in Northampton. Quite convinced that SISU knew about WASPS when they agreed to come back
You could make the opposite argument. If SISU believed ACL was a company in trouble (and it would now seem they may well have been correct) would it not have been better to stay at Sixfields and wait for Wasps to fail? An argument against Sixfields was that CCC had deep pockets and could prop up ACL for as long as SISU stayed away. Would the same have been true in private ownership?
Waiting for WASPS to fail,I hear this too much, I hate WASPS owning "our" ground, I won't go to WASPS games despite many friends going (meet them for a drink after the game) but we can't rely on this especially as early indications are that they are doing OK especially the forecast 30,000 crowd v Leicester. Agree that WASPS PR knew it would be more palatable to have CCFC back before announcing the deal but how often are SISU outmaneuvered in this debacle.
Did they come knocking or were they invited?
stadium outside of Coventry just too risky as may be rejected by a lot of fans on principle as well as just not practical to get to for a lot of fans.
They came knocking for definite.
stadium outside of Coventry just too risky as may be rejected by a lot of fans on principle as well as just not practical to get to for a lot of fans.
They came knocking for definite. In fact, with their experiences over the difficulties of acquiring land and planning permission and build costs, they couldn't believe SISU didnt want to buy into it. A purpose built venue, up and running with revenue streams showing a profit (which were far from being maximised) for about 25 million. Straight from the mouth of one of their directors at Old Eds
So for example the other side of the motorway from the Ricoh or Warwick Uni or Ansty Park would all be considerably harder to get to than the Ricoh? Don't buy that for a minute. If people don't go to a new ground, if there ever is one, that won't be the reason. It might be used as an excuse like the old nowhere to park we get now.
They came knocking for definite. In fact, with their experiences over the difficulties of acquiring land and planning permission and build costs, they couldn't believe SISU didnt want to buy into it. A purpose built venue, up and running with revenue streams showing a profit (which were far from being maximised) for about 25 million. Straight from the mouth of one of their directors at Old Eds
There's a difference between what SISU were expected to pay for it, and what Wasps got it for.
I suspect if the club had ever been offered the identical terms to what Wasps were that this conversation would not exist.
I am afraid I agree with you that Wasps/ACL won't fail anytime soon. If they can secure a good name sponsorship then it's definitely over - the club will never own the Ricoh (or whatever it's name will be).
That leaves two choices - stay as tenant in the faint hope Wasps hedge fund will treat us better than the Ricoh's previous owners, or support the building of a new stadium.
It's almost like Sisu never attempted to buy half of ACL with a 125 year lease for the same price as Wasps paid for all of it with a 250 year lease isn't it?
They might have first been talking to ACL about using the Ricoh for European games. I believe their ground at Wycombe didn't meet the requirements for those. Wouldn't surprise me if that's all they were interested in and then the idea of buying ACL was put to them.
It's almost like Sisu never attempted to buy half of ACL with a 125 year lease for the same price as Wasps paid for all of it with a 250 year lease isn't it?
Not sure Godiva...is there a right answer to this?! If they were invited...well that makes me a little angrier!
Wasn't everyone in the world invited when AL went on TV and publicly proclaimed that they would listen to any sensible offer for ACL?.
I honestly dont recall her doing that? and I tend to remember when she is in the press spouting her usual crap.
Obviouslly just because I dont recall it doesnt mean it didnt happen, so when was this Tony? as I seriouslly have no recognition of Anns come and get it sale.
I honestly dont recall her doing that? and I tend to remember when she is in the press spouting her usual crap.
Obviouslly just because I dont recall it doesnt mean it didnt happen, so when was this Tony? as I seriouslly have no recognition of Anns come and get it sale.
Who was offered a 125 year lease ?
I'm never going to get into a debate on the stadium again because life is far too short so take this as a general comment rather than one on the stadium
There really is very little difference between a 125 year and 250 year lease, anyone that trys to infer a 250 year lease is worth double a 125 year lease is nuts, in fact I'd be very surprised if the difference was anywhere close to 10%.
A house with a 999 year lease has pretty much identical value to one with 150 years.
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