When Ken Bates goes and the dust settles we will not know who owns Elland Road.. So instead of paying high rents to "unknown owners in the British Virgin Islands" it might be time to move to a new ground. I personally question why Bates is so intent on developing a ground he does not own? Surely Ken Bates knows how hard it will be to findout who owns a business based in the British Virgin Islands........ So I was thinking of few options: 1. Build a new stadium on Elland Road on the council land behind the west stand 2. Move into the City Centre, perhaps the old Tetleys site 3. Build new stadium at the back of Temple Newsam near the M1 Any thoughts?
I'd prefer a new stadium, perhaps sharing with the Leeds Rhinos. I'd make it a community stadium, so that the people of Leeds can use it when it's not being used by either Leeds United or Leeds Rhino's. I'm not bothered by ER, I know the history and I understand why many feel that ER is our home and must remain so, but I've never been attached to buildings and ER always looks tired and dated to me. If we could get the stadium closer to the city centre, all the better, it would make it easier to get to and could bring in more people. Unlikely to ever happen as Bates owns ER and when he dies, he'll make sure the ownership is transferred on to someone who will continue with Bates plan. To buy Bates out completely will costs millions and millions, something we will probably never have.
I would love to see mystery owner left with a Stadium no one wants, and facing a council not keen to give a change of use for planning.
I wouldn't want to see a new stadium unless it was 50 000+, and if we built a new stadium it'd likely be 35000-40000 based on our current situation. I'd still rather see the North and West stands brought up to match the East stand, it would rejuvenate the whole ground significantly. But yes, the ground is owned by an unknown owner hiding behind an offshore trust fund... you know that sounds very familiar! wonder who's behind it...
I would rather turn up to a 25,000 seater hole in the ground with no toilets, than pay anymore money to "unknown owners in the British Virgin Islands".
Write to the Chambers Dictionary about it: Unknown Owner - A small white old man with a scruffy beard and awful teeth, who is also a ****.
"unknown owners" as Ken Bates has clearly stated he does not know who owns Elland Road, and we know he would not lie..... Does make you wonder who he asked before he started remodelling the ground or asking the council to reallign Lowfields Road?
Well since it was you who inspired me to post, that would be why. I have literally just posted that on there now, hence it's under review by the editors
We have to stay positive, Leeds United need to attract Frank Lowy the Australian businessman and co-founder of the Westfield Group; he is a supporter of football and is Chairman of the Football Federation in Australia. He has been linked to Leeds United before; we need to get the council on board with allocating land large enough for a Shopping Centre and Stadium development. It could be a win for the city and the supporters. If the FA investigated Ken Bates as requested by Parliamentary Enquiry he could be stripped of possession of his golden share and Lowry could be a saviour without giving Bates a penny.
Frank Lowy is over 80 and as far as I know, has virtually stopped working. I'm not saying what your suggesting is wrong, but Lowy appears to have retired. There was more than talk of Lowy buying Leeds in April last year, but Bates put a stop to that. Sun Herald Newspaper (April 2010): According to The Sun-Herald last week, Lowy, who owns the Westfield chain of shoppping centres, hired a Leeds-based agency to conduct a report on the proposed venture, and the results have encouraged him to make a bid for the club, run by former Chelsea chairman Bates. Though Bates is the figurehead at Elland Road, the actual ownership of Leeds is shrouded in mystery and controversy. 'Despite Leeds being in England's third-tier competition - Football League One - they remain a strong brand with a massive supporter base, drawing crowds of 25,000-plus,' noted The Herald. However, today's Sun-Herald reports instead: 'Leeds United chairman Ken Bates launched a blistering attack on Lowy - who co-founded the Westfield shopping centre group and is one of Australia's richest men - saying a Westfield project in nearby Bradford had "buggered" that town's centre. The $529 million development halted during the economic downturn.'
With regards to Elland Road. Don't we own it now? That's from Wikipedia, so obviously it might not be accurate. Leeds United Football Club Limited is the company that owns Leeds and the directors are Bates, Harvey and Taylor.
well that went under the radar, I don't remember buying the stadium back and at the earliest a year ago I'd heard it still wasn't ours.
We don't own it. It was purchased by Jacob Adler a Manchester based business man for an estimated 8m in November 2004, with a buyback clause. SEE: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....and_road_its_future_is_safe_with_me_1_2280202 Then on 28 Dec 2006 we found out ownership had tranfered to a company called "Teak Trading Co" based in the British Virgin Islands, ownership of Teak Trading is unknown, reports at the time claim chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "We can confirm that the change in ownership in relation to Elland Road actually took place in excess of 15 months ago. The change of ownership has no material effect on Leeds United as we still have the same lease as originally entered into, albeit with a different company." and "More importantly, the buy-back provision has also been transferred. The club have no concern that the company who now own Elland Road is based in the British Virgin Islands. It makes no difference to the club. "The ownership of the stadium is noted at the Land Registry and has been on the public record for a significant period of time." Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/30715-elland-road-in-safe-hands-leeds#ixzz1Yz6qtWbb
