Should We Stay Or Should We Go?

[Tricky]

I quite simply find it hard to imagine the City Council would seriously consider any plans that will allow any sporting arena within an already creaking City Centre infrastructure, especially a football stadium which could generate a capacity of 35,000+ people.

What kind of arrangement would be made to the club? Would they just lease the ground from the developers? In which case certain elements of club management would be taken away from the owners and would be negotiable. Any major disagreement could result in us having to play away from the stadium and play our home games at another ground (Meadow Lane or worst still the King Prawn?). See Coventry City and the Ricoh Stadium owners.

There would be the increase in traffic coming in to an already congested road network. Not everyone can access public transport to get to the ground so car parking would need to be addressed. The traffic jams would be horrendous. They are bad now on matchdays and that is only traffic coming to the ground from the North of the City. Traffic coming in from all directions would be madness!

Hooliganism. Lets face it, there is still an undercurrent at football matches whereby violence is still bubbling away under the surface. Forest V Derby is a prime example of that. The City Council would not be seen to be supporting an initiative that would be detrimental to the safety of all users of the City Centre, especially shoppers. I cannot see how they would approve any kind of proposal that would put the safety of all users at any kind of risk. Away fans would head into the City Centre for drinks before and after the game and policing a much larger area of pubs would be problematic for the Police.

I just don't see it being given the go-ahead TBH. I think the Boots island site was probably about as close to the City Centre as would be reasonably acceptable and anything nearer would not get the support of the City Council.

Just my personal opinion

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Yes agree with all of that Tricky. Even if we are indeed looking for alternatives I would be amazed if the Broadmarsh is a serious possibility.
Most of the above discussion is just conjecture, my gut feeling we will remain at the CG for years to come.
Im actually quite surprised at the split in the vote, even as one who voted to go I thought it would be a massive majority to stay.

[Paplane]

I quite simply find it hard to imagine the City Council would seriously consider any plans that will allow any sporting arena within an already creaking City Centre infrastructure, especially a football stadium which could generate a capacity of 35,000+ people.

What kind of arrangement would be made to the club? Would they just lease the ground from the developers? In which case certain elements of club management would be taken away from the owners and would be negotiable. Any major disagreement could result in us having to play away from the stadium and play our home games at another ground (Meadow Lane or worst still the King Prawn?). See Coventry City and the Ricoh Stadium owners.

There would be the increase in traffic coming in to an already congested road network. Not everyone can access public transport to get to the ground so car parking would need to be addressed. The traffic jams would be horrendous. They are bad now on matchdays and that is only traffic coming to the ground from the North of the City. Traffic coming in from all directions would be madness!

Hooliganism. Lets face it, there is still an undercurrent at football matches whereby violence is still bubbling away under the surface. Forest V Derby is a prime example of that. The City Council would not be seen to be supporting an initiative that would be detrimental to the safety of all users of the City Centre, especially shoppers. I cannot see how they would approve any kind of proposal that would put the safety of all users at any kind of risk. Away fans would head into the City Centre for drinks before and after the game and policing a much larger area of pubs would be problematic for the Police.

I just don't see it being given the go-ahead TBH. I think the Boots island site was probably about as close to the City Centre as would be reasonably acceptable and anything nearer would not get the support of the City Council.

Just my personal opinion

I'd normally agree with most of that Tricky and to me this all seems pie in the sky but the more I think about it the more I like the idea and think someone might be looking at it. If the city council aren't I can see why maybe private developers would be giving it some thought. The biggest factor is that the City Council own this large piece of land and the market for prime retail floor space has fallen away, so no prime rental income is realistic in the foreseeable future as footfall disappears. So what next, residential development? Well there are plenty of private developers out there who are delivering that stuff in the city already. People have mentioned a city park green space, well that sounds lovely but will offer zero return to tax payers. So what could the site be used for that would provide the much needed urban regeneration, and be a boost for the Nottingham community, and provide a return for tax payers, and promote the name of Nottingham? A multi use stadium facility incorporating football, cinema, bars, restaurants etc etc.  

And re the transport issues, the council took the view with the ice stadium that a venue could be built without any car parking provision. It was controversial at the time, but it does seem to work ok. Yes, a football stadium is another level but the tram and train are on the doorstep and I wouldn't put it past the council to think they could overcome the transport issues. 

It just sounds mega expensive though. Developing all of that, along with the associated infrastructure, is a vast undertaking. Much more expensive than sticking a pride park stadium on an industrial estate so I cant see the club going for it unless it would be heavily subsidised by a world cup bid or something. It'll come to nothing and was probably just a rumour anyway, but I do like the idea myself. It's much more appealing that an out of town venue.

[ozzyten10]

Nail on head Pap!

[stirred]

I would guess a fair amount of fans wouldn’t go if car parking wasn’t available. People of a certain age become less comfortable with rammed public transport, and our fan base is ageing. And some with young children. And public transport just isn’t convenient for many who live out of the city. And then some people want a pleasant experience, people who will pay extra for the posh seats, and combine it with a meal, who don’t want to bookend the experience being rubbed up against by a sweaty pisshead. And that’s without a pandemic.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

our fan base is ageing.

This unfortunately is true and is a big problem for the future and why it is so imperative to get promotion soon. What kid wants to sit in the cold for 2 hours watching a middling Championship team get beaten when they can sit inside and watch Liverpool win on their phones. Especially when their school mates take the piss out of them about it on Monday morning.

[Tricky]

I quite simply find it hard to imagine the City Council would seriously consider any plans that will allow any sporting arena within an already creaking City Centre infrastructure, especially a football stadium which could generate a capacity of 35,000+ people.

What kind of arrangement would be made to the club? Would they just lease the ground from the developers? In which case certain elements of club management would be taken away from the owners and would be negotiable. Any major disagreement could result in us having to play away from the stadium and play our home games at another ground (Meadow Lane or worst still the King Prawn?). See Coventry City and the Ricoh Stadium owners.

There would be the increase in traffic coming in to an already congested road network. Not everyone can access public transport to get to the ground so car parking would need to be addressed. The traffic jams would be horrendous. They are bad now on matchdays and that is only traffic coming to the ground from the North of the City. Traffic coming in from all directions would be madness!

Hooliganism. Lets face it, there is still an undercurrent at football matches whereby violence is still bubbling away under the surface. Forest V Derby is a prime example of that. The City Council would not be seen to be supporting an initiative that would be detrimental to the safety of all users of the City Centre, especially shoppers. I cannot see how they would approve any kind of proposal that would put the safety of all users at any kind of risk. Away fans would head into the City Centre for drinks before and after the game and policing a much larger area of pubs would be problematic for the Police.

I just don't see it being given the go-ahead TBH. I think the Boots island site was probably about as close to the City Centre as would be reasonably acceptable and anything nearer would not get the support of the City Council.

Just my personal opinion

I'd normally agree with most of that Tricky and to me this all seems pie in the sky but the more I think about it the more I like the idea and think someone might be looking at it. If the city council aren't I can see why maybe private developers would be giving it some thought. The biggest factor is that the City Council own this large piece of land and the market for prime retail floor space has fallen away, so no prime rental income is realistic in the foreseeable future as footfall disappears. So what next, residential development? Well there are plenty of private developers out there who are delivering that stuff in the city already. People have mentioned a city park green space, well that sounds lovely but will offer zero return to tax payers. So what could the site be used for that would provide the much needed urban regeneration, and be a boost for the Nottingham community, and provide a return for tax payers, and promote the name of Nottingham? A multi use stadium facility incorporating football, cinema, bars, restaurants etc etc.  

And re the transport issues, the council took the view with the ice stadium that a venue could be built without any car parking provision. It was controversial at the time, but it does seem to work ok. Yes, a football stadium is another level but the tram and train are on the doorstep and I wouldn't put it past the council to think they could overcome the transport issues. 

It just sounds mega expensive though. Developing all of that, along with the associated infrastructure, is a vast undertaking. Much more expensive than sticking a pride park stadium on an industrial estate so I cant see the club going for it unless it would be heavily subsidised by a world cup bid or something. It'll come to nothing and was probably just a rumour anyway, but I do like the idea myself. It's much more appealing that an out of town venue.

I appreciate and respect your comments Pap, with the exception to using the Ice Stadium as a comparative. 

The public ice stadium doesnt involve significant numbers using it at any set time and the Arena has a maximum capacity of about 10,000 (i think). The Arena is also predominantly used during the evening hours (both hockey matches and concerts) so that does not, in any way, interfere with the general public, out doing their shopping. It is also based on the very edge of the city centre, so is not too obtrusive. 

Would the City be able to cope with potentially 35,000+ making their way to a stadium built within the City Centre? 

I do agree with you about the loss of footfall due to shops closing however and the need to regenerate the City Centre will be high on the Councils priority list, but with a large sports stadium in the middle of it? I'm not entire sure they would entertain it.

[ozzyten10]

Tram link to large park and ride site?

[Jean_claude_killy]

Newcastle manage just fine with 50k supporters at a city centre ground with no parking readily available.

If the proposed location is close to the Boots Island site, not only would the Tramway service the site but so would Rail.

The thing that makes me think it may be plausible, is the fact that developers are sat on prime land that would ordinarily be used for retail; well, we all know how that has changed recently.

A huge leisure facility bang in the centre of town would bring with it its own micro economy which the City Centre will need to compensate for loss of retail.

There would be the question of who would pay for it; I suppose building residential on the City Ground could pay for a large amount.

But then there is the issue of various Councils having to coordinate their activity; that is the big stumbling block for me.