MickA
Player Valuation: £10m
Some decent posts again in here after the week of deflection and white noise.
@the esk is making good points about the financials. There's too much belief that just building a new ground will boost revenues and that simply is not the case. The business case must stack up (same as it would for redevelopment) and everything I've read over the last 15 years points towards a phased redevelopment as the only option. Without an investment of capital neither will happen and that alone should be enough to put serious pressure on this current board.
Since the Main Stand was rebuilt in 1969 (in the same place, during a season) all we have seen is a new Gwladys Street roof and a lower league standard Park End replacement that was part funded. It's an absolute disgrace and a dereliction of duty by the owners to let the 1966 World Cup semi-final venue fall so far behind our peers.
Regarding attendances I think EFC is relatively healthy for now but we must act fast. Nearly all games sell out except for obstructed views. This won't matter to most ST holders but for the casual attendee or a visitor the options are diabolical for the 21st century. Unless you have an affinity with the Club you certainly wouldn't be back for a second helping and this must change; we cannot rely solely on recurring ST sales. Given our current attendances and facilities I think it is achievable to have c50k back at GP especially if we are sensible about redevelopment. A rebuilt Park End for example can have hospitality facilities ranging from top end down to a 'Winslow style' experience and space for 'normal' supporters. Again @Bluesnapper makes a great point about local schools etc topping up attendances when necessary but what underpins all this is investing in improved facilities for every single person that walks into GP. Currently, we are putting up with absolute [Poor language removed] and those above don't care.
What needs to be done to remedy this impasse has been debated time and again and I urge anybody supportive of this board to question them. I just hope that we see change before we arrive at an irreparable situation as with every passing week we're falling further behind even second tier PL sides.
@the esk is making good points about the financials. There's too much belief that just building a new ground will boost revenues and that simply is not the case. The business case must stack up (same as it would for redevelopment) and everything I've read over the last 15 years points towards a phased redevelopment as the only option. Without an investment of capital neither will happen and that alone should be enough to put serious pressure on this current board.
Since the Main Stand was rebuilt in 1969 (in the same place, during a season) all we have seen is a new Gwladys Street roof and a lower league standard Park End replacement that was part funded. It's an absolute disgrace and a dereliction of duty by the owners to let the 1966 World Cup semi-final venue fall so far behind our peers.
Regarding attendances I think EFC is relatively healthy for now but we must act fast. Nearly all games sell out except for obstructed views. This won't matter to most ST holders but for the casual attendee or a visitor the options are diabolical for the 21st century. Unless you have an affinity with the Club you certainly wouldn't be back for a second helping and this must change; we cannot rely solely on recurring ST sales. Given our current attendances and facilities I think it is achievable to have c50k back at GP especially if we are sensible about redevelopment. A rebuilt Park End for example can have hospitality facilities ranging from top end down to a 'Winslow style' experience and space for 'normal' supporters. Again @Bluesnapper makes a great point about local schools etc topping up attendances when necessary but what underpins all this is investing in improved facilities for every single person that walks into GP. Currently, we are putting up with absolute [Poor language removed] and those above don't care.
What needs to be done to remedy this impasse has been debated time and again and I urge anybody supportive of this board to question them. I just hope that we see change before we arrive at an irreparable situation as with every passing week we're falling further behind even second tier PL sides.
