I'm off to a meeting at Loftus Road on Wednesday evening with the following remit: We would like to focus during this meeting on giving you an update on the wider development plans around Old Oak, a stadium update as well as discussing how the fans can assist and play a really positive role during the next few months in particular. We are due to launch a wider consultation exercise on the wider development plans at the end of August/ early September so the timing works well. There will also be the opportunity to cover any other issues at the end time permitting. If there are any specific areas or topics you would like to ask about please let us know. A number of questions, such as the ownership of the new stadium, have been done to death (and will probably get covered again anyway), but are there any specific questions that anyone would like to be raised?
Sounds like they need lots of letters of support to go with the planning application. Q. Can CarGiant scupper any development?
I am sure it will be thrashed out.....but the Car Giant problem is obvious....is it an unsolvable problem? I have always wondered, as it is a completely new build, whether the council could be requested to name the main road to the stadium something appropriate from the start... for example:-"New Loftus Road", "Loft Street", "Stock Way".... a very good way to encourage supporter involvement.....
Q: why aren't the planning authorities helping push through the new stadium with Car Giant when it is a stated part of the regeneration vision? Q: what are the options if Old Oak falls through? Q: are you really expecting us to put up with the toilets in the Ellerslie for several more years?
In terms of naming the stadium, I think we should stick with our roots and name it St Judes. A fitting tribute to our founding fathers. Perhaps the club could allow ST holders and members to have a vote?
I think it's very likely the stadium naming rights will go to the highest bidder, there's far too much money at stake for sentiment to have a say, unfortunately... Perhaps you could ask whether there will be a major stadium sponsor? Nike perhaps? Not what I'd personally like but business is business...
My main question would be how long before we could move in, I'm fully aware that the Cargiant hurdle has to be negotiated first. The reason for my question is I don't see we can sustain a PL team on gates of 18,000 for an indefinite time period.
Even if we got the go ahead tomorrow, I reckon it is at least 2 years in levelling, preparing and building.
Tony already said we'd own the stadium. As for Car Giant I'd say they don't really get much of a say in this, it's Boris's baby and a compulsory purchase order will shut Car Giant up very quickly, plus it wouldn't be too hard to find them a new site. The councils involved have given their backing already and I think all parties involved, bar CG want this to go through at record pace.
I'm sure they'll find Car Giant a nice parcel of brownfield land off the A40, there's enough shyte along that stretch...
Probably the AirAsia Soccerdome or some such nonesense. Beth asked what we would call the road leading up the the stadium. St Judes Way sounds good. We could call the Stadium St Judes and the media can call it the AirAsia Soccerdome.
I worked at RLE (Rail Link Engineering) the shell company that was set up to build the high speed rail link from the channel tunnel to St Pancras. I remember chatting to some of the people that were in charge of getting the land sorted and from what they said to me if there is the political will to enforce the orders, then there is little that can stop it. Car Giant can scream all they like but their voice is not going to count for much.
Put it in a glass box, place it outside the new stadium and call it modern art. About as useful as it gets these days.
Wouldn't be quite the same, needs the packed, urine aromad atmosphere, with people queuing up to join in the first half analysis ...............
