When people talk about Tesco and the development, and the rest, it feels alot to me like it does run deeper.
Its not just about a team, or a stadium, it seems to be like a way of life. Its the people who live in the shadow of the ground, and have done so their whole lives. Its people who retain a proud sense of ownership. Who'll never move out of the area, and who's kids, and their kids will do the same.
The way of life of these people is threatened. Threatened not by fear of anything other than unfamiliarity.
One thing i found in England, is that people wont travel anywhere. Theyve grown up with everything right there and no need to go anywhere else. Its safe.
Its strange for an outsider to see the change your going through, because In Sydney and most of Australia, weve already been through this kind of change.
The concept of the Mall was pioneered in the states, but it turns out that an Aussie called Frank Lowy decided in the 60's, that this would be the way to go. So, everything you could need in one massive complex. It killed the 'high street' and the Corner shop in most suburbs. Now the corner shop is a 7/11, shell or ampol or BP service station. Now the high street is only for small suburbs without a 'mall'. I can feel you are going through this kind of change.
Here we have mega malls, Parramatta, Burwood, Chatswood, Hornsby and every day theres another one being built. The only similar thing I saw in England (in the northwest) was the shooping centre in Manchester. Its got the different areas for southern style, or the titanic food court. There are heaps of those in Sydney.
And the really crazy thing is, they will build a giant mega mall, and guaranteed its packed. And these things are massive. Its the way that things will go. On the Central coast an hour north of sydney, they built two. Erina fair, which seriously is GINORMOUS and Westfield Tuggerah, which is also blooody huuuge. The impact was felt in Gosford, Woy Woy and Wyong, whos empty centres are only just recovering. People here are more into new stuff. Who wanted to see the Olympics at 20 year old Aussie Stadium? No-one, so they built a whole new olympic suburb, complete with town aptly called Newington, All different stadiums, parks, the works.
I think in a few years, when hopefully this stadium goes ahead, and people look back on the fervent opposition to this development, will realise how well it will turn out. How could we have lived without this before? They will say.
Corperate branding is essential for big business to survive. Think about it, we could make the biggest headquarters for Everton, have a superstore there, a hotel, heaps and heaps of cheap parking, and pub section designed with various types of pubs, movie theatres, ice rinks, muliptle sporting teams like basketball and rugby. I think diversifying, and corperate branding have the ability launch our club into the big club land again.
Kenright and the other guy will be remembered as visionaries in my books, its just a pity that we couldnt have initiated this 15 years ago.
Imagine where we'd be if we have done this earlier. We would never have entertained parting with the likes of Rooney.
Just my two cents
