I've heard it should be announced by the end of January. Potentially a couple of more signings as well. Good appointment yesterday..a very professional person..new culture..greater accountability..
Not complete bullshit as plans were submitted to the Council for the conversion of BCH, so they must have been serious at one point to incur that expense. Then again at that point they were probably still expecting promotion and it could have been part of the window dressing to show prospective new owners the plans they had for future development.
Or they thought they could do it, but when we didn't go up they realised that they couldn't really afford it so quietly dropped it and hoped we'd not remember.
Everything they did was based on promotion back to the Championship in that first year under Ross. Everything.That was the gamble.
Always think it's a shame that we can't do more with the concourses. Love our stadium to bits but it's one area that really let's it down. Competent staff at the kiosks, better choice, faster service, it would all help massively, but there's still just nowhere to go and you're crammed in. I know it's a bloody expensive stadium but the space in Wembley is amazing. In our league I went to Doncaster and (although I was pissed) seem to remember they had loads of space in the concourse. Don't think we can easily extend ours though. I do hope we take it all in house though, with competent people running the club full time we could easily organise it, and could deliver a service that would get people spending a lot more
Aye the space is tight, but that's because the first 15 rows are so are not built up as it were, but are below outside ground level. This means, that the concourse space above and outward is much reduced. This cannot be changed really, but could be improved by more imaginative use.
I was shocked at how little land the club actually own around the SOL. We lease most of it from the Homes and Communities Agency, which would make extending outwards difficult.
I did hear it said that FPP were studying an experiment whereby a system incorporating the 'fan zone' could be erected after kick off. The exit gates could be opened and supporters would go into a compound with bars/food. That would take the pressure off the concourse and toilet areas. I suppose its worth a try for a cup match to see if it would work then try a league match.
I suspect that things like policing cost and business rates are based on how much ground the club owns and when we moved over from Roker Park we weren't exactly rolling in money
I went to a London Broncos game a few years back, and their matchday experience was great. Properly trained and fast bar staff, nice hot food, and the entertainment beforehand in the concourse was a live band ( bit like we've had in the fanzone occasionally), but it really ramped up the atmosphere, and after the game the band were back on for another 2 hours, and the bars reduced their prices, it meant loads of fans were in the stadium early, and loads stayed behind afterward for the gig. I think it just takes a little imagination ( and decent food/drink/entertainment) and more people would make it a longer visit.
This has reminded me of german beer tents, along with Bayern having a beer hall in the Allianz. Big tent, band, big beers, local food and big bonny lasses and lads to serve the beer.