please log in to view this image Am I the only one who thinks building these so close to the stadium makes our stadium look ****e. The Aquatic Center looks ****e. Clearly for money making purposes we're going to let people build right up the stadiums arse. It looks ****. Great for the area but it would still be great an extra 20 meters back.
If you're gonna exploit it, you might as well make it something for the fans to enjoy. The Hilton, although often a decent enough hotel, is not related to a football club in any way and would offer very little in terms of revenue for the club. Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are opening Hotel Football by Old Trafford, which really should lead the way for this type of thing, hotels outside of Stadia. http://www.hotelfootball.com/home.aspx What would you lot have in your hotel? Surely you'd have a Kevin Phillips Suite, and a Niall Quinn Lounge?
I think the aquatic center would look great ten to twenty meters back, where it's at now is far to intrusive for me. It's bad enough that end is north facing, so to close it in is bad from a design point of view. Anything north facing needs to let the little light available in as it's already set in the shadows. It creates a closed in illusion making the buildings look closer together than they actually are. Same would amply to a south facing building as it would block out direct sunlight making the buildings look closer. I find it a dark dingy and unattractive corridor and hate walking between the two. The hotel wouldn't too bad because it's off the east side of the stadium meaning light will stream naturally between the two buildings opening it up. It can still be a developing area without building up the stadiums arse imo.
The city has needed a quality hotel for years. Whilst the Marriot is a decent name it needs some money spent on it. I got married at the Sol last year but stayed at The Raddison in Durham. The Hilton should really have gone on the Vaux site instead of the GREYvyard they've wasted millions on. Then have a fancy artistic footbridge over to the stadium.
I think they have to maximise the land in the area with a greater eye on people feeling it's linked to the city, akin to Newcastle & Gateshead quaysides. I'm not sure it's a great location for a hotel of any description unless there are further leisure plans earmarked, it will do well out of the SOL concerts etc but in reality, will it serve a year round purpose? I personally feel the club should have developed that space into space to coach kids etc in the shadow of the stadium, but that boats long since sailed.
Was talking to a mate who works in the Audi garage next to SOL and he reckons all the old factory units round that area are earmarked for demolition and future rejuvenation. Didn't elaborate but he did say a hotel and that was about 5 year ago now. Can only be a good thing in my opinion, more building work jobs plus staff to run whatever is built.
It'll drag on like the Vaux site did. Nowt will happen for years. Sunderland council are piss pots imo.
Always have been mate, that's why the town is a **** hole, the ****s won't spend any money unless it involves lining their pockets.
Agree 100 % "thats the commission fee", as for the "aquatic center" take a trip to S.Shields and compare theirs. The artistic impression of the new "hotel" does not bode well, as it is obviously ill sited, talk about clueless. The "tall ships" another lost opportunity. A re-developed South Docks would be the perfect location, but it is being deliberately run down, to be turned into a bit of real estate. I fail to see how the river can cope with the tall ships event but we can always impress our visitors with a re-float of "ambit", if we can cut short its "world tour".
Happy about this we normally stay at The Marriott but its not walking/staggering distance from the ground like this will be
If you're gonna exploit it, you might as well make it something for the fans to enjoy. What would you lot have in your hotel? Surely you'd have a Kevin Phillips Suite, and a Niall Quinn Lounge? How about the Lee Cattermole suite where you get shown to your room and the porter then kicks you in the bollocks.
It's going to be like Chelsea village. Sports amenities, shops etc. there was gonna be an away bar built for the fans. That's not likely now tho considering where they moved them to. Don't think its the council this time, agreed they are w*nk tho, but SAFC buying up the properties.
What could be better than having a few cocktails in the Colliery, then staying the night at a Hilton Hotel, , then on a morning after breakfast a leisurely stroll up southwick road to sample the atmosphere and ambience of southwick green with its al- fresco cafes and fashionable boutiques, we want for nothing I tell you, maybe a quick game of bingo then down to the wheatsheaf for a tapas lunch.
I worked down the south dock years ago mate and there was plans in place back then to back fill the dock and build luxury apartments. There was one company trading down there that had the clout to block the plans and for the life of me I can't remember who it was. Same deal though, narrow minded, tight fisted politicians, useless ****ing pricks the lot of them.
