Stephen Lansdown Was Sick of Bristol Being a Sporting Joke

How billionaire owner Stephen Lansdown has turned Bristol City from a joke to a Barcelona copy
The billionaire is now into the fourth year of his project to put England's tenth largest city on the map.

Stephen Lansdown was sick of Bristol being a sporting joke – so he did something about it.

The billionaire is now into the fourth year of his project to put England's tenth largest city on the map.

But he claims it is only 'the start of the journey' after pumping £47m of his cash into re-building Bristol City's Ashton Gate, propping up the rugby club and adding a basketball team to his portfolio.

Lansdown, 65, has modeled his vision on Barcelona. While he's not in that league – and admits he might never reach that level – he's made more than a good start.

He said: “I was at a prize-giving ceremony at my son's school 16 years ago when I realised that sport in Bristol was seen as a joke.

“I understood why, but I didn't like it.

“I wanted to get to the stage where people were proud of any sport played in Bristol. I asked myself: 'How could I make that happen?'

“It needed a catalyst. And it needed leadership. We stepped in because the council wasn't in a position to do so.

“Sport gets people talking. It's a focal point. It was an attempt to get the city to focus on sport.

“And it has done. But we are not there yet.”

Lansdown made his money in financial services. He had been quietly supporting Bristol rugby for several years. But then turned his attention to football.

He said: “Football is the greatest game on earth. It generates passion like no other. It's number one.

“It's an incredible business with incredible reach.

“People are now sitting up and taking notice of what we have done at Bristol City. We are doing what we said we would.

“We said we wanted a venue everyone could be proud of in the best possible surroundings.

“It became a logical step for Bristol rugby to move in as well. The city had to have a rugby club.

“That came within a gnat's whisker of going to the wall, too. We're now in a position where we are seeing Bristolians play for Bristol. And Bristol's players being chosen by England.

“There's no reason why that club cannot compete at the top end of the Premiership.”

But it is football's Premier League where the real money is. Lansdown is a self-made man. But his estimated £1.2bn fortune was not accumulated by frittering away cash.

He said: “We are too far behind the curve to ever be a mega-club. Perhaps in 100 years with sustained success that might be the case. But not now.

“Anyway, what's your definition of success? Reaching the Premier League would be a big success for us. But you have to cut your cloth.

“I mean, if I could change one thing in football, it would be the preferred creditors' rule where if clubs go to the wall, players' contracts are guaranteed.

“They carry no risk.

“Years ago, I remember listening to a radio phone-in. Leicester City had gone into administration owing millions - with some players earning huge sums of money - £30,000 per week.

“They were promoted back into the Premier League and the players' money was protected. Other people in the club lost their jobs.

“Anyway, this fella phoned in and said how delighted he was the club was back in the Premier League.

“He then added how much more delighted he would have been had he been paid for the fridges that he installed in the executive boxes.”

So why do it? Why take on such a burden?

“Sport has incredible social power,” he said, “we have walking football clubs, walking basketball clubs, we are active in Golden Memories, which is to do with dementia.

“There is so much going on underneath that football clubs do not always get credit for.

“That's a shame because sport puts smiles – and tears – on people's faces.

“I just hope that in 50, 60 or 70 years time sport in Bristol is still doing that.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/exclusive-how-billionaire-owner-stephen-12042551

 

Old article I know but with all that's going on in the world of football I still say thank god he's our's and he's one of our own.

 

When you think where we were 5 years ago, realise there are huge developments taking place now up at Failand in the present time and the massive plans for future developments at Ashton Gate it's unbelievable.

All of the involvement in communities, education, sporting developments, charities and hospitals I can't keep up with it all and it is all connected with Steve Lansdown.

I still dream of Premier league football for us but I am proud of our club and it's standing in the world, when I see the other offerings in our area I know there is a massive gap between us and them.

Now that's how I feel about our club, does that make me a Luvvie or a Hater? or could it be that I'm just a loyal Bristol City FC fan that's been going down the Gate, man and boy for 63 years plus.