That's a really good question. Firstly though, I wouldn't claim we have a big fanbase, I'd argue we have the potential to develop one though. It was a massive bone of contention at the time. The owners wanted 35,000 but Sport England, who were supposed to fund an element of it, said it should be 15,000. Ironically it was Trevor Brooking at the forefront of that, and the last time he played here was in front of something like three times that number. We also suffer from small minded local politicians that favour the local rugby, who don't need a big stadium. So between them, we were allowed 25,000 with a built in design to increase it over 30,000 if/when needed at the risk of all Sport England money being pulled from this area if we disagreed. Unfortunately, when we needed the expansion, nobody had the money. Our current chairman has proposed some schemes, but there's been a major falling out between him and our local council, to the extent thy won't speak and the chairman's threatening to build his own stadium for us. The problems are made worse as the club has no control over the stewards and concessions, so the match day experience can't be improved without a lot of negotiations.
the stadium was built using council money. The main ****ing councilor was a rl supporter. He could not envisage getting crowds of over 15K. It was Adam Pearson who basically said 25k or he pulls out of the deal. He was in charge of the stadium managenment company. At the time city were in the 4th division. The Allams have gone back to the council to buy the stadium and the land. He wants to increase the attendance. ****ing council arent budging. He may take City away from the KC and build a new stadium (I cant see that myself). I have grown up with school mates supporting Lpool, ManU, Leeds etc. (this was early 70s). Over the last few years young kids are now wearing HUll shirts and are not glory supporters like their ****ing dads. Our attendances are ****e this year solely due to economic times. The football is entertaining (apart from lack of goals). I hope that helps explain your query.
The whole point of building a new stadium is to increase the potential of the club. You need to build it a little bigger then your current fan base so that you can grow as a club and eventually fill the stadium. Having a new stadium that is too small will eventually hold you back. Our Stadium was built intially with the idea of being 40K but in the end we went for 32K with the potential of increasing 3 sides of the ground bringing the capacity to 45K and that is the plan once we manage to get back into the premiership
A fine theory and one that we hold, unfortunately, the budget holders disagreed. With hindsight the club and the Council should have ****ed them off. To rub salt in the wounds, they gave the lions share of the money that could have come our way to Manchester to help fund the City of Manchester Stadium!!
And thats what I meant by you have grown massively over the last 10 years. You have gone from an average divison 4 side to one of the best divison 2 sides with a very good chance of getting into the prem
An average division four side, that's spent the bulk of its life in Division Two. That's why I'm pointing out the ignorance of your position. It's understandable you know less than me about it. All you need do is face that fact.
10 years ago you finished 13th in divison 4 13th means you finished mid table. Therefore you was an average divison 4 side Further proves my point you are here looking plainly for an argument
So because YOU picked a low season, that's where we've always been? You're either an idiot or you're on a wind up. We're a few places above our lifetime average and with less assets than we've had in the past as we don't own the ground and have a higher debt than we've ever had, albeit manageable and owed to someone that in reality can't claim it. I guess you see that as argumentative, what with it showing why you're wrong.
