To be honest, we can sell out Stevenage at 27,000 in tier 3 , so why shouldnt we sell 40,000 to Man U,Spurs,Arse,Wham,Liv,Man C, etc ?? Especially if the ground is located where it is right opposite Canary Wharf - our fanbase will increase massively - there are a lot of transient (maybe foreign , yes) fans out there who maybe work in CW - why not convert them to Charlton fans ?? You cant stand still in life and be introverted, look outwards, attract other customers (ie fans) thats how all successul businesses become more successful - they keep trying to attract new customers - we shouldnt be any different- and we are, in effect, a business - a very special business, but a business albeit. Stand still - you die (and you end up watching Bury and Rochdale).
'We all know what happens to those who stand in the middle of the road...' Aneurin Bevan I refuse to see any football club as a Business; which is where my point stems from. Obviously I'm probably 40 or 50 years late with my argument. I have no-problem expanding the fan base (and certainly no problem with foreign fans ?) but I highly doubt it would ever go to plan.
I can guarantee you something now, we would have 40,000 capacity crowds for over three quarters our games in Prem league at this new stadium, and we would become THE club of Canary Wharf - which would bring in other huge financial benefits such as getting sponsorship from American Banks etc. Imagine being an American coming to work in CW and seeing this stadium across the river from his office - he's gonna wanna go and see it.To be honest i dont care if the guy sitting next to me is from New Eltham or New York - if he's wearing the red of Charlton and cheering us on ,i dont care. This would turn us into one of the top 3 clubs in London, only maybe behind Spurs and Arsenal. An incredible opportunity to take a huge leap forward - to me, its a total no-brainer.
Honestly, there is not even any reason for us to move ground. We're not exactly selling out atm are we? Charlton is the valley. Especially considering all that has occurred in the past. I'd be distraught if we moved.
a) this is a vague proposal, and the stadium element may never happen anyway b) it may not be a football stadium, but rather an open air arena for concerts and occasional sporting events - it would cost vastly more to produce a PL standard ground, with all the boxes and corporate facilities needed. c) there's no danger of another club moving in d) it would be in the wrong direction for the majority of Charlton fans who live towards Bexleyheath and Kent, who currently have trains to Charlton station, and plenty of street parking. e) the area would be gridlocked by any problem in the Blackwall tunnel f) we don't need a new ground. we have adequate capacity, and space to expand. g) I'm sure we will get back to the PL within the next few years, but will probably also get relegated as well.
a) yes, but that shouldnt stop us staking an interest. b) What is a PL standard ground ? This is a brand new stadium - how many boxes did Fulham have ? c) Prob not - but Whammers would like to have a say if the financial bits were very beneficial. d) Its right on A2 and Jubilee Line - what else could you want? its 2 miles away from Valley and parking will be much easier than now. e) How often is the BT gridlocked at 3pm on Saturdays? f) We dont need one - but , again, this would enable us to expand in a huge way, very quickly. g) remind me not to interview you for a job !
I admire your optimism Stu, but I do not think it is guaranteed that we would get 40,000 crowds in a new stadium if we reached the Premier League. It would be a heck of a gamble if we were to move and not achieve the success needed to come close to filling it. Maybe I am a historical stick-in-the-mud, but it's the way I know and love it.
Thanks Captain, I really dont think this is a gamble TBH, i see it as an incredible opportunity to move forward - something that we would totally regret should we turn it down- if it were offered , of course.
This is one of the reasons I have had reservations about this takeover... Every time a substantial piece of news breaks, I never know what to make of it, due to the mystery surrounding our backer... What is his goal, ambition & exit plan...? Having said that a move could be good, depending if it's to truly propel CAFC forward? Even if it moves us up a tad from the "little Ole Charlton"tag, then I'm for it... I'm with with Stu, on the face of it. it's a no-brainer, but our mysterious financial backer, along with his equally mysterious motives, leaves me with a backside full of splinters. We maybe enjoying our current success, but we have total uncertainty about where we could end up, and not just in location.
I've just set up an ISA and I will buy The Valley afterwards. AFC-CAFC anyone? 27,111 attendences FOREVER.
Getting away from football, an interesting comment on how attitudes have changed. Nowadays, dwellings are investments in real estate. For the past five decades "you cannot fail to make money" investments although that has changed a bit in recent years. When I was young, and for the previous 1000 years, there were things called "homes" and by no means did people "always" want to move on to something bigger or better. More usually they wanted to maintain their homes, improve them, and pass them on to their children. Now apply that latter thought back to the football situation.
I read this thread before I read the article on the website and ended up very angry. I'm a Valley man and, despite the very well articulated arguments about progress from friends on here, I think I will find it difficult to feel the same way about the club if we move (much water and many bridges before then though!). However, I have now read the piece and I believe it's says little more that "there is something going on that we need to keep ourselves aware of". I certainly don't see it as a premeditated expression of a desire to move to a new stadium. So I'm not as angry as I was about that. But I am fcucking furious about Paul Hayes!
Lest we forget, this is why we love The Valley so much - because we almost lost it forever. Reading this thread has deeply saddened me, as it must have saddened anyone who took part in the ground clearance, and this will be my one and only post on it. Progress is one thing, the destruction and abandonment of our heritage for which we fought so hard, is something else altogether. Tewkes
The plans were submitted to increase the valley to more tan 40,000 so this must be an attempt to forestall any move by palace, whammers or evyen orient to take the site. But an open air 20,000 seater stadium on an a footprint which would be difficultto expand and which would have little parking from the look of the plans - no thank you. The Valley hias been part of my life for to many years to contemplate going to a small open air arena by the mouth of the tunnel. That is the head speaking. The heart says no b/#*%y way
Whilst i am full of admiration for everyone's heartfelt longings for clinging to our heritage (i really am) - i really get the understanding now why we are regarded as 'liddle ol Charlton' - its almost quaint. Maybe we should ask the likes of Arsenal,Swansea,Southampton,Coventry,Derby,Leicester,Sunderland,Middlesborough et al, and ask the fans if they have any pangs for Highbury etc. I think i know what the answer will be. I am really incredulised(dunno, but it sounds good) that I appear to be the only person who thinks this is a good move for us - truly gobsmacked. It just seems so obviously a great move for us, that it makes me wonder about my fellow supporters and their ambitions for OUR club - it really does - it has been a real eye-opener. Dont forget the past - but always look for the future !
Its a 40,000 stadium- more than our current capacity. So, less parking than currently at The Valley?? - Dont you realise there will always be copious parking for 1) O2 and 2) North Greenwich Station.
