http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Excl...urpose-built/story-20843435-detail/story.html Think Shane's dive on Satdee might be persuading them theres some acting talent up here. But nah its just another pie in the ****ing sky load of bullshit from HCC. HULL is bidding to host the Baftas in 2017, the Mail can reveal. Hollywood A-listers could descend on the city during the UK City of Culture celebrations, with talks already under way about hosting the international showcase at a new purpose-built venue. Along with theatre and conference facilities, it is hoped the city centre venue would also include an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Councillor Phil Webster who sits on Hull City Councilâs cabinet, said talks over the ambitious plans were at an early stage but that he was âhopefulâ it would happen. Cllr Webster said: âIf we can pull this off on the back of the City of Culture victory, it would be monumental. This is a brilliant time to be living in Hull. âThere are no guarantees, of course, because we are clearly in the early stages, but the signs are very promising. âWe want to show people what Hull is all about and what better way to do it than host one of the biggest international events going. âI am proud of this city and there is no reason why we cannot achieve this. âWe know that 2017 is going to be a massive year â this could make it incredible with all the biggest names in the film industry coming to Hull.â The Baftas are one of the most prestigious award ceremonies for film and television stars across the globe and Hull could become the first city outside London to host the ceremony. It is televised by the BBC and watched by millions of viewers around the world. It was hoped music ceremony the Brit Awards would also be held in Hull after city MP Diana Johnson called for the annual event to be moved from London in December. Ms Johnson asked Culture Secretary Maria Miller to help take âgreat cultural prizesâ to the city in 2017 to coincide with its tenure as the UK City of Culture. The Mail understands that this is now unlikely to happen because of the cityâs lack of a large enough arena. But the council is in talks about building a multi-purpose venue on a derelict city centre site, suitable for staging the Baftas. During times of austerity for the Labour-run authority, the councilâs aim is to secure a sponsorship deal that would fund the project and create hundreds of jobs. Cllr Webster said: âWe really want this to happen. âThere is still a lot of work to do before this is signed and sealed and finding a venue is high on our list of priorities. We will work extremely hard to get a sponsorship deal.â If the red carpet does come to Hull, movie stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett would be among a host of names who could attend, depending on nominations. Since 2008 the ceremony has been held at the Royal Opera House in Londonâs Covent Garden, having previously been held at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square since 2000. And it has been announced the event will be staged at the Royal Opera House again in 2015, on February 8. Richard Clark, 71, has lived in and around Hull all his life. He said: âThis is the most brilliant news. âMore than anything, this will be inspirational to the young people of the city. We really need something like this to happen for everyone.â
Purpose built venue with Olympic size swimming pool and conference facilities? What planet is our council on? Fair enough they want sponsorship money to pay for the building, but what about maintenance? We can't even keep the facilities we have open! And what are we going to do with it afterwards? Our council live in a complete dreamworld.
I would've thought the ice arena would've been big enough. Don't rule it out completely; now that we have those capable people from the CoC bid involved, as well as our ****ing useless Councillors, there's a chance it might come off.
They could build an arena made of cocaine and chocolate and have champagne coming out of the taps, and still Hull wouldn't get to host the Baftas. Pointless pipe dream.
I think it needs modernising. It would appear that Assem Allam's meeting with Geraghty may bear some fruit, at least for the City Council.
Albion Street Car Park according to Geraghty. The council own the biggest facilities in the city, yet they're all massively under-utilised. I think the last gig at Hull Arena was November 2012! Ed Sheeran. I went, and the Arena looked like it hadn't had any maintenance work done on it since it opened. Derry/Londonderry got a derelict army barracks site brought back to life/use through major renovation and hosted the Turner Prize there - Turner Prize at a renovated Lord Line?
Listening to the radio earlier, and Walton St. was mentioned. Personally I'd like to see it on the west bank of the river Hull, opposite The Deep.
Things change, so people on here keep telling me. The same article says the Council have £9 million to spend on the development if my memory serves me correctly.
Walton Street and what do you think that means? Who do you think could be a major part of that development? Do you think it is possible to involve expanding the KC and allow Hull City AFC to increase its turnover?
My thoughts exactly when I heard it. However, I seem to recall the council stressing over the relocation of Hull Fair the last time redevelopment of that site was mentioned. Edit: I don't remember it being an issue when it was a proposed site for a new school though.
"Mr Geraghty, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, told the Mail the council must protect the interests of all the people who use the stadium and enjoy Hull Fair every year. He said: "We wanted to clear the air and explain that we have no intention of getting rid of the KC Stadium or the fairground. "We believe the land is traditionally for the fair and there is no other place we can put it. "It draws in a million people each year. "We want to safeguard the other people who use the KC Stadium."
Those folk were idiots who didn't understand the ethos behind the UK having a City of Culture, then. Hull fitted the bill perfectly for the CoC bid; it does not fit the bill of a Baftas host city.
