Hull City unveils plans for £25m Sporting Village at Walton Street - and wants Hull Fair moved Exclusive as Hull City draw up grand plans to regenerate area around MKM Stadium with a multi-million pound development Barry Cooper please log in to view this image The site of Hull Fair on Walton Street car park. Hull City's MKM Stadium is just out of site at the bottom of the picture (Image: Hull Live) Hull City are planning an ambitious £25m investment project that would breathe new life into the area surrounding the MKM Stadium by building Yorkshire's leading sports village. The multi-million-pound project is part of the long-term vision of owner Acun Ilicali, as he seeks to establish the Tigers as a force in the Premier League in the near future, while beginning the first steps to what he wants to be a lasting impact on the region. However, the plan also potentially calls for a controversial relocation of Hull Fair from its historic Walton Street site. Hull City Council leader Michael Ross has welcomed the plans and confirmed talks over the future of the stadium site are underway. He told Hull Live that he believes a Hull City sports campus could be accommodated at the Walton Street site along with Hull Fair. Read more: Full interview with Hull City vice-chair on ambitious expansion Central to City's plans would be a brand new state-of-the-art training facility that would see the club’s first team and academy come under the same roof for the first time. There are also longer terms plans to increase the capacity as part of a wider refurbishment scheme of the 25,500-seater stadium which celebrated its 20th anniversary at the back end of last year. please log in to view this image Walton Street car park with the MKM Stadium in the distance. Hull City want a £25m development on the site (Image: Duncan Young) The football club, working also under the guise as leaders of the Stadium Management Company (SMC) who operate the stadium on behalf of Hull City Council, have formed a working group which includes Hull FC owner Adam Pearson. Mr Pearson was the first to pose the idea of a Sports Village in west Hull when leading the original build of the stadium. Improved relations between the football and rugby league club have allowed the new plans to move ahead at a greater speed. Hull Live understands early discussions having already taken place with Hull City Council on the feasibility of the Sports Village plan and the acquisition of land in West Park. City have long since outgrown their current training ground at Cottingham and a potential sale of the site owned by the football club would raise valuable funds towards the overall cost of the project first revealed by Hull Live last year. The 'Sports Village' as it has been dubbed among those involved in the project would take on a similar theme to the Etihad campus in Manchester, though City's plans are naturally a scaled-down version of Manchester City's and will be specific to the football club and to the needs of Hull FC, who are a significant component of this deal. One key to the project being given the go-ahead is the club agreeing a long-term lease on the stadium which is owned by Hull City Council, and Hull Live understands the local authority are open to handing that over to Ilicali, providing assurances over the project's viability, funding, and, crucially, long-term security are met. With a deal that includes a new lease for Hull FC also key, with the rugby league club's current agreement only having five more years to run. please log in to view this image The MKM Stadium and the land occupied by Hull Fair, top, which Hull City want to develop into a sports village (Image: Hull Live) Another key sticking point is the land around the stadium, with the Walton Street car park central to potential plans. The football club want to build their new sports village on the site of the car park, but owing to the long-standing agreement with the Showman’s Guild as its site for historic Hull Fair, the footprint of the new development will likely have to be adjusted. Speaking to Hull Live, council leader Mr Ross said: "As a city, we know just how important the stadium has been to the clubs, but also the local community, over the last 20 years. Alongside this, there is also a long history of Hull Fair, something that the community of Hull cherishes. The fair is part of the fabric of the city and will continue to be so for many years to come. “The missing piece of the jigsaw is the wider redevelopment of the area, and so I welcome Hull City’s investment and ambitions. The Council is working closely with them on possible options to develop the MKM Stadium. We are all agreed that the future development, along with the success and sustainability of the stadium for both Hull City and Hull FC, are vital for the area. Critically, we also believe that this can be done in a way that guarantees the future of Hull Fair at Walton Street.” Under the plans, a host of new pitches and academy buildings would be built to accommodate Hull City's first team and academy, which are currently operating out of Millhouse Woods in Cottingham and Bishop Burton College. It's also hoped that a smaller stadium with a capacity of around 12,000 could be built within the grounds to provide a unique venue for the city to host national and local sporting events, while also providing a potential home for Hull FC should they wish to relocate as well as a venue for City's Under-21s to play. please log in to view this image The Etihad Campus, training ground to Manchester City football club and home to Manchester City football academy (Image: David Goddard / Getty) Further down the line, there's also a desire to increase the overall capacity of the MKM stadium above 30,000 while plans to build a Hull City museum remain firmly on the agenda as part of the overall development project.
Hull City's Tan Kesler on sports village - 'Walton Street is key to our dream and we shouldn't stop progress and ambition' In an exclusive interview with Hull Live, Tan Kesler outlines ambitious plans for MKM Stadium and expansion Barry Cooper please log in to view this image Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has outlined the vision of a new Hull City sports village and campus, which would be a smaller version of the Manchester City Etihad Stadium and Campus, main picture(Image: Hull Live / Getty) Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has outlined the club’s grand plans for a Sports Village in west Hull, saying without big dreams nothing will be achieved. The Tigers vice chairman has revealed for the first time the negotiations which have already taken place, including a link-up with Hull FC and their owner Adam Pearson to drive forward ambitious plans which would dramatically alter West Park and the facilities available to both clubs. The Tigers, with the support of FC and working alongside Hull City Council, are hoping for a £25m investment around the stadium which would create a sports hub similar to that seen at Manchester City’s Etihad complex, albeit on a smaller scale. Featuring the likes of new training facilities, multi-surface sports pitches, a gymnasium, an indoor venue of some kind, and a mooted smaller stadium similar to Costello Stadium in Hull but with a capacity to seat up to 12,000 people, City owner Acun Ilicali and Kesler are dreaming big, as Hull Live first revealed almost 12 months ago. READ NEXT: Hull City unveils plans for £25m Sporting Village at Walton Street - and wants Hull Fair moved Speaking exclusively to Hull Live about the plans for the site around the MKM Stadium, Kesler offered an insight into the discussions which have already begun. "In terms of developing the stadium, the training ground, the football, we're not doing this all together. We're talking about it all the time but we're not doing it all together”, Kesler explained. "We have to be realistic at the same time, but if you're not passionate and if you don't dream about it then you can't achieve it, having said that, is every dream of yours going to be achieved? Probably not, but at least it will give you the motivation and passion to go on and tackle other good things in life. please log in to view this image The MKM Stadium, home of Hull City (Image: Ben Early/News Images) "This is what I learned from the chairman, always look for the positive and be receptive to good things that will benefit everyone. There is a short-term plan, there's a long-term plan and there are mid-term goals. When we took over we established our own plan and we're sticking with the plan. "The only thing where we have ups and downs is with the on-pitch performance. The stadium development plans moved on after our first quarter, we realised we needed to come together with Adam (Pearson) and as a community and do something. "Driving into the stadium every day and seeing the location we have needs to be developed, and going back to the council and asking what we can do. They say 'you, as a football club and rugby club, you should come together and improve this area, and if we can support it as a city council, then why not?' "Certain things triggered us to consider a stadium development project where we can now talk about it. It's a long-term project, meaning it's not five years down the road, but it's not going to happen this season. "There are also some pieces that need to come together for us to achieve our goals, we need more land to bring the first team and our academy onto the stadium site, to be able to develop that area as a community use." Hull City working with Hull FC City's relationship with Pearson has significantly changed from the legal battles the Hull FC owner endured under the Allam regime, and now the two parties are working together on what they believe is a much-needed regeneration project for West Hull. Pearson has a particular vested interest in finding a long-term solution, given FC's current lease at the MKM Stadium has just five years to run. "We need additional pitches," Kesler said. "We're looking for the city council to help us out on that one. The rugby club and Adam Pearson have been very supportive of our project, he's been part of the development committee. "He's also looking to get his club situated long-term inside the stadium, so we're trying to help him out. This is one of the long-term goals." please log in to view this image The MKM Stadium and the land occupied by Hull Fair, top, which Hull City want to develop into a sports village (Image: Hull Live) Central to the project getting spades in the ground any time soon is the support of the council, who are keen for it to happen but are also wary after talk of such plans under previous owners that have not come to fruition. Kesler says conversations with the local authority have been hugely positive and remain so. "From the first day to now, they've been supportive and I think they're more supportive towards us that the previous ownership, but this is a massive club and part of the city, so I don't see why they wouldn't be supportive. "We communicate openly and properly, they have ideas, we have ideas. We explained our ideas before we put them on our drawings, they gave us guidance. please log in to view this image Hull City vice chairman Tan Kesler (Image: Richard Addison Photography) "In the end, I want our fans to know that there are pieces that are very symbolic to the city. When we had the meetings with the council, they mentioned expanding to the south side where our members' park, and building the academy pitches. "Because we communicate with our fans, we know they're not happy about taking out that access and having to go somewhere else and having to walk further, so that didn't work." Eyes on Walton Street home to Hull Fair The biggest stumbling block to any development surrounds the political - and historical - hot potato that is the Walton Street car park, and finding a solution to that dilemma would essentially present the keys to the development. It's understood there is a growing desire from both Hull City and Hull FC to access the majority of the Walton Street land to build the 'Sports Village', but there is a reticence from the council given the long-standing tradition - and agreement - it holds with the Showman's Guild over the historic and legendary Hull Fair. Other potential sites across Hull have been sounded out to house the traveling fair, but none have been deemed suitable for the yearly event and thus, it remains a significant stumbling block and its permanent residence at Walton Street seems likely. "In the end, it comes down to Walton Street, and that's not going to change," Kesler said. "It's a huge piece of land being used for 15 days a year for a fair, which, by the way, is amazing because I've been myself, that comes in - it's symbolic to many people, who, we're trying to understand - and then they disappear. "Why not build something there with the city council which is a joint venture, or whether it's just us trying to come up with the plan. "Why not build something that's a signature sports village instead of it being used for just 10 days of entertainment? They can come here 360 days a year and use the facilities, stay away from bad habits and stay away from trouble. "For us, we have been in the city for more than one year. We're talking to every stakeholder involved and I want everyone to communicate with each other for the development of the city, we're talking with the NHS, we're talking with all the big local developers who do residential and commercial projects - I'm talking to city planning and councilors. "This piece of land (Walton Street) is key to the revitalisation of this part of the city, and everybody admits it, but nobody wants to touch it because, maybe, of long-time habits. please log in to view this image The view over Hull Fair from the 50m-tall Giant Wheel(Image: Donna Clifford) "From the culture we come from and with respect to English culture, change is imminent. To improve things, we need to change. To be successful you need to change yourself, and change your own comfort zone in a way to get somewhere better. "We're trying to bring the club into the Premier League whether it be this year or next year - in the future. We're trying to be a good football-playing club, one where we make our fans proud because they are engaged in the club. "We need to have a facility that everybody is also proud of and has access to." It remains to be seen if that's a stumbling block that can be overcome, or whether City, Hull FC and the council have to find other, creative ways of making space in and around the existing footprint of the stadium and admit defeat in the quest to utilise Walton Street to its full potential. Kesler is keen for City fans and the wider public to come forward and express their views on what should happen to the space around the stadium, and how best to build an environment the whole city can benefit from for generations to come. "If you ask most of our members and our fans, the last thing they would say is the club doesn't communicate with us, that we don't know what's going on. "Everything we're doing, the fans are fully aware of and even the mistakes. We have a development project and I want our fans to respond to whether they're happy to go to a fair for 10 days instead of having a sports village, that they want to be a part of it on and off a matchday, and all around the year. "What would they feel about it? Maybe we should go out and ask our fans, ask the rugby fans and all the other citizens who support other events or maybe don't. "The council are really keen on asking us to draw up the blueprints for the projects, what we want to do and where we want to do the things, so we're at that point." please log in to view this image The MKM Stadium (Image: Getty Images) City are also keen to refurbish the MKM Stadium, which, unsurprisingly, after two decades of heavy use, is showing its age and is in need of maintenance. That work will almost certainly fall upon City, Hull FC and the SMC to fund given the council's significant budget constraints, and that schedule of works will form part of the quest for a lease extension and a significant one at that. 'New MKM Stadium lease is key to progress' "There's other things that need to be taken into consideration, with the stadium being 20 years old and in another 10 years, there will be further wear and tear issues which constantly need to be focussed on - we're discussing who is going to be doing what," he continued. "Based on that we have the sports village project. The lease is a massive piece-mover in a way. If we're not going to have a long-term lease on the stadium then bringing everything back to the stadium is maybe not reasonable, and it would just kill the whole idea and vision." While the council are keen to extend the lease to enable meaningful development on the site, before essentially committing the publicly-owned arena to private control for the foreseeable future, the authority want to see detailed and structured plans from the club. "Yes, they are (receptive to a lease extension)," Kesler says. "I'm not going to lie, they are very receptive but at the same time, they expect us to come back with what we want to do with the additional land that would be required, what are we going to do with the warranties?" So, who is going to fund what is a substantial development at a time when everybody's budgets are being shrunk significantly, and money is sparse? please log in to view this image Acun Ilicali pictured with Murat Ulker inside the MKM Stadium (Image: Acun Ilicali) Well, Kesler admits that is the biggest challenge in getting the project off the ground, but he says a raft of funding will be tapped into, and so too private investment. It's understood some money would come via owner Acun Ilicali's war chest, and the involvement of Turkish business billionaire Murat Ulker is sure to raise one or two eyebrows while selling the club's current Cottingham training facility would help contribute towards what he believes is a project that would cost in the region of £25m. "It will be private funding, and some Premier League funding which we're looking into," City's vice-chairman explained. "We also have some assets like the training ground, that's our own asset.
Here we go again…. There’s no way they can develop Walton street to the point there is no home for the fair.
A one week fair once a year shouldn't be stopping a development like this, but the fact it probably will is criminal. The stadium should have been a springboard for that area of Hull 20yrs ago and the the fact it's had almost nothing added bar ridiculously expensive "rusty" lamp posts is a sign of just how poor the previous councillors/council have been. It's time to look past a one week event and do something positive for an awfully run down and underfunded part of the city.
Local businessmen have plans for new fairground site in the East Riding. please log in to view this image
The indignant comments on Hull Live about the precious fair have started immediately, we are at war with these people, don't let them hold us back again, a once a year fair could easily be put on Pickering Park or Costello.
I support the vision and think the Fair should be moved if they do want it here. But I still think it’s the wrong place. Lack of opportunity to develop in the future. Poor road infrastructure around. Not much privacy. But at least it’s a real nod to a long term plan and that’s exciting.
And where are all the fans expected to park? The fair is older than the football club and should keep its traditional, historic home.
Blue touch paper lit by this interview being published by the HDM. The local elections are upon us soon and the local labour party will be itching to get back in power. They will use this as a vote winner, vote labour and keep the fair. I sincerley hope the locals see these plans as a wonderful opportunity to develop this site and bring some investment and job opportunties to a site that is used for one week a year to host a travelling fair and twice a week for a failing outdoor market. Both of which could be re sited and possibly new life breathed into them by doing so. It is a very sensative subject, when in reaility it should be a straight forward one, because, take a seven day travelling fair out of the equasion and it would become a no-brainer. The timing is very questionable by the HDM, this could have been put on the back burner until after the local elections, because announcing these plans now has turned it into a political football. I'm sure the ruling Liberals would have prefared not to be answering questions about this until after the elections. The local media and indeed our selves as Hull City supporters should do all we can to persuade those who see keeping the fair on Walton Street as somehow looking after or selling the family jewels , when it is nothing of the sort, Hull Fair was on Park Street for longer than it has been on the Walton Street site. Including Hull Fc and getting Adam Pearson on side is instrumental in these plans coming to fruition, but personally I think the timing of this announcement has already blown these plans out of the water. I sincereley hope I am wrong and the people of Hull can see beyond some nostalgic memory of visiting the fair as kids when it was sixpence a ride and toffee apple was tuppence, those days have gone. This city needs a boost, it needs the investement and it needs the jobs, and this could be the cataylst.
Hull Fc. Under 21 games, Hull City ladies, Fc ladies for that matter, local finals, Fc and City academy games, the current pitch at the MKM cannot accomodate every request to play there
Thing is the days of the fair being important to people aren't gone. It's still hugely popular with today's young people just as it was in the past. Obviously a solution needs to be found because it would be wrong for this proposal to not get off the ground due to the fair, but I don't think we can get there by just saying the fair doesn't matter at all, because to many people it does. As for the council, whoever is in charge I think they will know full well that the development would be very good for the city, it seems they've said as much. The problem is that losing the fair would be a vote-loser. It's one of those political hot potatoes that even though they know something is right, the party daren't say it and risk pissing off a vocal section of the electorate. I still don't really know what this new council actually believe in but they do seem to be good at telling the electorate what they want to hear without doing very much beyond maintaining the status quo.
This sports village should have a rollercoaster It can span the width and length And itd automatically have a better ride than the whole fair combined
If those fans commenting are worried about loss of parking, they could have loads of bumper cars too to ferry people from P&R drop off to the turnstiles?
