I have been going to the Gate since the late 50's, through all the highs and lows, spent most of my life with City in the lower tiers, I think it's a great place, traditional, functional and has served us well, if the suits decide Ashton Vale will be our new home so be it, if they decide to modernise the Gate and not make it into a moronic food hall, I know where I stand.. Do we want this.... please log in to view this image or this.... please log in to view this image or this.... please log in to view this image I know which one I prefer....
I will have to wait to see the official plans for the redevelopment first before deciding It would be sad to leave the gate to go to the vale, but at least we are not going far away.
Ashton Vale if we can get it AG will not be any good if we reach the Prem we just can't expand the capacity
Personally would love it to relocate to Exmouth,(would make travelling a lot easier), but seriously, my heart says stay at AG as that was where I have followed City since a young boy, but like lots of other clubs, new grounds usually mean a short move and everyone soon seems to get used to it- I bet if you asked Arsenal fans if they would prefer Highbury back or Sunderland having Roker Park, that they wouldnt want to go back there-
This is just what I wanted to read a thread without all of the moaning and technicalities, just the way we feel and what choice of stadium each of us want, brilliant lets keep it that way, nice and simple...
Of course, if it transpires that SL has been buying up all the houses on Ashton Road behind the Atyeo, then we could stay and still get more capacity there. Liverpool FC or their city council have been doing that at the Anfield Road end.
I know we've got to move into the 21st century and I'm all for it but I've been thinking a lot about it with all of the discussions of late, My granddad stood on the Eastend, my mum and dad stood there, I have stood and now sit with my wife (Williams), daughter and son, my grandsons come down to see us play plus all of my relations, that's 5 generations of my own family.. Ashton Gate means a lot to me, it's in my blood, I can't explain it....
Just suppose we were to move in to Ashton Vale for the start of next season, in a brand new 30-35,000 capacity stadium and open with a home game against say Notts County, and if we are lucky we get 20-22,000 fans eager to see the new stadium that creates a great atmosphere, then next home game is a cold wet Tuesday night against say Carlisle, and all of 8-9,000 tip up and the noise generated is barely audible in such a large stadium, how long before the moaners and naysayers are wishing we had never left AG as it had soul and "at least 8-9,000 could make some noise in there". My point is I have followed City since about 1984, and I reckon it is probably around the 20-30 mark of times we have fully sold out AG at its varying capacities, so why do we need such a large stadium? I see a lot of post that IF we got to the Prem we would need it, well right now that is a fu***ng big IF!! In fact in our entire history how many seasons have we been in the top flight, and thus require a large stadium, not many is the answer. Ashton Vale residents don't want a stadium there, so lets re-develop AG and stay in our spiritual home. Then set up Ashton Vale as England's largest gippo camp, and invite every pikey in the country to come and reside, that will teach the green site people!!
"Then set up Ashton Vale as England's largest gippo camp, and invite every pikey in the country to come and reside, that will teach the green site people!!" Keep them out of Keynsham too!! hmmm You're on to something here..!!
I'd take Ashton Vale over Ashton Gate any day of the week. It would take a lot of renovation to make Ashton Gate the kind of stadium the club needs moving forward. To be frank, it would be insane for SL to ditch Ashton Vale now after all the money he has sunk into it. I think we can still get it, if he pushes for a result. Ashton Vale is more than a stadium for Lansdown, but a future way for the club to increase its revenue. Ashton Gate is our home, but if we want to get out of the Football League in the next ten years then Ashton Gate just won't do.
