Interesting article on the future of the Canaries on 'Vital Football' - http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=293180&utm_source=TweetDeck&utm_medium=twitter. Somewhere down the line, I can see that we'll either sell 'naming rights' to the ground, or move to a new ground on the outskirts somewhere. I'd prefer neither to happen, but I guess if extra cash is needed then it is 'when' rather than 'if'.
I would fully support a move to a new ground and selling the naming rights but on the condition that ticket prices in some areas come down and stay down. This would make the club more accessible to a new generation, would make it more likely that we continue to get big crowds. It would be emotional to move away from Carrow road, but it could be the making of our club in the modern world of football. if we could get say 40,000 into Carrow road, weather through extension or a rebuild, then this would of course be my first choice.
I have to say that I would be totally against a new plastic stadium. I accept the need for expansion for the points raised above but if you drive around the country the new grounds all look the same and while Carrow Road has changed so much over the years (for the better) the thought of moving to Costessey or anywhere else would be wrong. It is like Cardiff playing in red, it is not right. Also many teams who have followed this blueprint for success have come a real cropper, look at Coventry for example, smashing new ground and a **** team. Let us expand what we have to say 35,000 and guarantee our status before we start following the sheep.
In terms of ground size I see no reason to move. We can extend to 35,000 and I'm not sure we could consistently fill much more than that. There are other issues of course such as parking and more luxurious facilities that many newer stadiums now offer. I like the current location of the ground as it feels part of the city unlike some new stadiums which are stuck on the outskirts. Sadly money seems to be forcing these practices through, however in the long term unless we have been consistent in the prem for a number of years or are desperate for cash say to prevent administration, I'm not sure if there would be a huge number of long term benefits and may even put the club at more risk.
Some excellent comments and whilst I could accept a renaming to bring in some cash, I like going to Carrow Road, as opposed to some faceless monstrosity on the outskirts. It's easy to get to being near the train station and there numerous buses stop nearby, there is a good selection of pubs within easy walking distance so that both sets of fans can be segregated quite easily, it's easy to nip into Morrison's on the way to the ground to get a bite to eat rather than queue up at half time etc, etc. I'm fairly confiddent we could get 35,000 for the the visit of 'top 6' teams, but for the likes of Stoke, Wigan etc, then I wouldn't expect much more that 25,000. I do like the idea of cheaper tickets and we could copy what some other teams do and offering 'deals' for say a 'family ticket' eg - 2 adults and 2 children under 16 at not much more than what the 2 adults would pay!!
I'm sure with the new financial fair play regulations to be implemented over the next few years (which won't work) we will see more and more clubs selling the naming rights for their ground as it would increase club income, also allows very rich owners to pay way over the odds for the rights therefore pumping money into the club within the new rules.
On the topic of naming grounds, it does become a bit stupid. Already my local rabble have been called The Walkers Stadium (or crisp bowl) and is now The King Power Stadium (on the back of some Thai Bonking shop company) Next year it could be something else, it's all cr*p and should be stopped. Carrow Road is special and should be kept forever!
Norwich is a well laid out and functioning City. And the football ground is conveniently situated. And it must bring in a fair income to the City on match day. Sticking it somewhere else eg Costessey would diminish its effect. The current stadium capacity can be increased and it is expected to happen soon.
This is a great debate, I've advocated before on here that sentiment must be put aside for us to progress as a football club. The City is growing and so is the population of Norfolk as a whole. While we are far from a 'small' club (I would put us easily in the top twenty biggest English clubs), if we are to grow we may have to accept the inevitability of a move away from Carrow Road. Time stands still for no man as the saying goes, 'needs must when the devil drives' ! OTBC
I am not saying we should or shouldn't but what reasons do you feel mean we may have to move? I'm not sure capacity would be an issue, although there are other things that could be addressed by moving. Personally I dont see a move being required in the near future, but naturally if it were to happen it would have to be impeccably planned to prevent just another soulless, corporate stadium.
I'd prefer to see Carrow Road grow as a Old-Trafford-Esque monument to the way in which the club has progressed. Theres loads of land behind the Barclay and Jarold into which to build. You could fit a 50,000 seater on the current site, which would be more than we would probably ever need. I hate modern stadiums (wembley and emarites aside) and it'd be soul destroying to leave CR. My favourite stadium has to be Goodison park with its quirky jumble-sale feel. That's proper football - not the generic plastic Cardiff/Coventry/Doncaster bowl.
I quite agree, but I'm not saying "near future", I'm thinking more long term. Some people just don't realise how 'big' our club could be with the right management on and off the pitch. We are always going to struggle to find serious investment purely because of where Norwich is situated within the UK, 'the country's biggest cul-de-sac', but if we can retain top flight status for several seasons who knows ? Having said that, I'm extemely proud of the fact that we have got where we are today without a foreign 'sugar daddy' and with the new massive TV deal we might just be able to grow and become successful without that investment
Completely agree with this, new stadiums particularly the budget bowls of monotonous seats in an oval. If we ever moved, that is what we'd end up with because they are sold as generic stadium plans, I think Leicesters and Southamptons are practically identical. I'm much more in favour of building on what we have and sticking to the rectangle. Those bowls are awful, even the Emirates is a wholly dull experience when inside, theres nothing to look at.
I think the problem with staying where we are is that the developments would interfere with a season, we would probably have a 17,000 seater if they pulled down the city stand and hadn't built a replacement by the start of the season, not to mention the lack of dressing rooms or dugouts. it would no doubt cost far more money to get the stadium to a good size than moving. if we did build a new stadium i would like to see anglia square pulled down and have it built there
I think the location is great, away fans often remark how it's great to get off the train and straight into some quality pubs and then your 5 minutes away from the stadium. I love it too and I don't think it's inevitable we'd move to another site. Some teams do it and others don't, I just feel we have what we need to expand and the main problems, mainly access problems, aren't going to eased by moving to the outskirts, as the roads are crap pretty much everywhere. I think it's likely Carrow road will remain for a long time and I'd imagine naming rights wise we'd be amongst the last of the current crop to do it and, lets face it, we'd just call it carrow road anyway in the same way every still calls newcastles ground st james park it's a joke lol.
The City stand has not been refurbished too much recently because the plan is to tier it. And I don't think that is too far away. Maybe the guarantee of yet another season in the Prem will be the catalyst.
Iv said this to my fellow jacks when they talk about extending our stadium that its far to soon, we both need to be classed as established clubs for at least 5 seasons first before we start spending millions on extending or new stadium....nobody better than norwich fans should know how quick things change in football because one minute you are in the premiership and the next you are down to div1 where a 35k stadium would be a white elephant that will still cost money every home game.....The best thing to do is for the club to open an account purposely for a future extension or new stadium in 5 or so seasons should we still be in the premiership. by that time all the ground work planning permitting and red tape will have been sorted and work can begin....If the worst of the worst happens and we do go down then we wont have wasted millions on a white elephant and will still have the money in the bank for the future....
I love Carrow Road never ever want a plastic stadium called something weird don't want a half empty 40 k stadium can't we just appreciate what we have and cherish it? If the PL brings that then I hope we come 18th this year could not give a monkies about being a big club just want to keep what we have I ain't going to watch football at the show ground
I didn't think you 'owned' your stadium, but that it belonged to the city council and is shared with Ospreys. Apologies if I've got it wrong.
