New Stadium Shambles

[Eastwood Red]

The City Ground isn't as bad as people make out. The away end at Pride Park for example is nothing special in terms of facilities etc compared to anywhere in the City Ground except the Main Stand.

In fact a lot of away fans rate a trip to us as one of the best in the league. We might not have the best tea & sandwiches in the country but we do have the best location.

If you stand on Trent bridge near the burger man before a match you will often see away fans taking pictures of the Trent End. Never felt the urge to photograph any away ground I've been to on some crappy industrial estate.

Exactly, In my opinion the Trent End is a work of art. It just looks brilliant when it's lit up at night with it's reflection in the Trent... Now let's compliment it with a lovely new Main Stand and make our ground one of the best away day's ;D

 

[Ken]

why do we have to have a brand new stadium?

re-do the main stand, jobs a goodun....

Great, a new main stand that will cost the club a fortune, burden us with debt and the restrict investment in the squad. Cherry on the cake is that by the time we finish it, the other 3 stands will be like something out of the 70's so back to square 1 and the club having to dip its hand in its pocket again.

For probably less than the cost of building the main stand alone we can can get a whole new stadium to last us well into the 21st century......know what I would rather do.

 

[normanton_red]

Great, a new main stand that will cost the club a fortune, burden us with debt and the restrict investment in the squad. Cherry on the cake is that by the time we finish it, the other 3 stands will be like something out of the 70's so back to square 1 and the club having to dip its hand in its pocket again.

For probably less than the cost of building the main stand alone we can can get a whole new stadium to last us well into the 21st century......know what I would rather do.

Have to agree 100%. The Bridgford End really is an eyesore that needs sorting. The BC stand is 30 years old and is looking very dated. Even the Trent End is looking older than its 15 years these days.

Billys vision is to have a team competing in the Prem so why not have a stadium to showcase it.

For the record I love the City Ground but times have changed, footballs changed and we need to move with the times.

 

[Forest_gal22]

It was on the news this morning that they are scrapping the gamston site plans. It wasn't well thought out tho, 1. The two councils can't agree and 2. it is on green belt land! I would have prefered the clifton site myself as they had plans to reopen an old train station which would create jobs and would only cost like 80p to travel to from town but also as it is nearer the motorway for travellers. But we can't have that either. I think the council are clutching at straws and will give up, the only reason they want us to move is because of the ££££ they can get from the posh appartments they will build on the current site, which ironically most our players will end up living in!

 

[george lyall]

It was on the news this morning that they are scrapping the gamston site plans. It wasn't well thought out tho, 1. The two councils can't agree and 2. it is on green belt land! I would have prefered the clifton site myself as they had plans to reopen an old train station which would create jobs and would only cost like 80p to travel to from town but also as it is nearer the motorway for travellers. But we can't have that either. I think the council are clutching at straws and will give up, the only reason they want us to move is because of the ££££ they can get from the posh appartments they will build on the current site, which ironically most our players will end up living in!

Its Dibley Parish Council (aka Notts CC) that are pulling out of the 'bid'. It begs the question were they ever interested in this project? It could be the nail in the coffin of the world cup coming to Notts!

 

[Forest_gal22]

I had huge reservations of having the WC at notts anyway. Look at who they will use I guess:

Old Trafford

City of Manchesrter Stadium

Emirates Stadium

Stamford Bridge

Anfield

Villa Park

The stadium of light

St James Park or

Riverside stadium

They all have a larger capacity then CG, although the atmosphere is not so good. And that is just clubs ground, there is wembley aswell

 

[george lyall]

I had huge reservations of having the WC at notts anyway. Look at who they will use I guess:

Old Trafford

City of Manchesrter Stadium

Emirates Stadium

Stamford Bridge

Anfield

Villa Park

The stadium of light

St James Park or

Riverside stadium

They all have a larger capacity then CG, although the atmosphere is not so good. And that is just clubs ground, there is wembley aswell

Agreed. This is why our bid had to be top quality just to compete

 

[Forest_gal22]

Agreed. This is why our bid had to be top quality just to compete

Totally agree! Without a new stadium it is impossible. I just hope whatever they decide doesn't financially cripple the club!

 

[EmJay]

I had huge reservations of having the WC at notts anyway. Look at who they will use I guess:

Old Trafford

City of Manchesrter Stadium

Emirates Stadium

Stamford Bridge

Anfield

Villa Park

The stadium of light

St James Park or

Riverside stadium

They all have a larger capacity then CG, although the atmosphere is not so good. And that is just clubs ground, there is wembley aswell

But your forgetting the Fifa ruling that only one city may have 2 stadiums. This rules out the City of Manchester and Stamford Bridge before you've even started

There WILL be a stadium in the East Midlands, it's just a matter of whether it's Nottingham or D*rby (or Leicester but I don't think they stand much of a chance)

 

[Forest_gal22]

If forest don't get it and the likes of Leicester or birmingham do it will be so embaressing! You never know they could go for Wigan lol

 

[earthworm]

When you hire "experts" to prove the point you want to make that's what they do, if we wanted to redevelop the CG I'm sure there would be "experts" who would say it can be done.

Indeed, I emailed the same company in Newark that MArthur mentioned to ask how feasible it would be to redevelop the City Ground to a Premiership, rather than WC, standard. No reply as yet, but you're dead right, its the way the question will have been asked that's got them that answer.

Really, all we want is a good enough ground for the Prem. You might even argue we already have that, although I think most would agree the Main Stand needs a lick of paint

 

[cknu]

I think people are confusing the issues. The World Cup is just the latest coat-tails the club is trying to hang onto to get the funding and plannign permissions etc. for a new stadium.

If we don't get some extra funding the club will be left with some major costs to redevelop.

Lets just assume we replace the Main Stand with a similar height/depth stand as the Clough Stand.

They will not get planning permission from the emergency services etc.. unless there is better access at the rear. The architects have looked at this and have said 39 houses and two boat clubs to go. This would open up the Main Stand car park onto Trentside and also allow access around the Bridgford/Main Stand corner.

Assuming (due to their prime commuter location) each house is compulsary purchased at £200K + the cost of moving the business + legal costs etc you are looking at about £9M to buy the land.

Now look at demolishing, many of these properties are old and no doubt places like the boat shed will contain nasty substances like asbestos. Demolition is big business - just look at the QMC multi-storey Car Park, nearly a £1M to demolish, clear away and clean up/landscape.

For these houses/business say at least £2M demolition and site clearance. So we are now at £11M

Now lets look at the stand, the Bridgford/Trent Ends cost £4.5M some 15yrs ago and hold around 7,000 with inflation, the size of the main stand and the fact they have to demolish the existing stand (which they didnt need to at Bridgford, only the terraces!)

Adding in temporary accommodation for changing rooms and offices, new floodlights etc.. etc your not going to get much out of £10M for the new stand. So we are at £19M

Now stands arent built overnight and so for at least one season that whole area will be a building site, this also stops the entrance to part of the Lower Bridgford. Realistically the ground capacity would be reduced by the 5,7000 main stand plus about 2,000 from the Bridgford Lower tier (health & safety and exits etc..)
So we play a season which could by that time be in the Prem at a capacity of about 22K, 3K for away and 19K for home fans. Not sure how we would televise any games so possibly also lose TV revenues.

So with landscaping etc.. we have spent £20M increased the ground capacity by 5,000 to 35,000. Still have the awful dip in the Bridgford End (which would look worse when the Main Stand is higher than it!) and still need to look at refurbing each of the other three stands


I've not even looked at how much legal and planning applications and subsequent appeals/re-designs etc..would cost

To stay put we are looking at best part of £25M, if we also correct the Bridgford end more like £35M, if we do an structual changes to BC stand more..

For the World Cup bid the Main stand would have to be over 20,000 seats or do a slightly larger one 15,000 and complete the Bridgford Upper Tier.

The whole £100M being banded about would be for the complete package, investment in hotels, local businesses, tourism, transport links, publicity, extra policing etc..

 

[Daniel]

If anyone here is able to obtain a rough copy of the plans for the CG and surrounding area, I will be able to arrange for a rough yet feasible proposal to be knocked up in little time...

 

[JoeBaker]

I think people are confusing the issues. The World Cup is just the latest coat-tails the club is trying to hang onto to get the funding and plannign permissions etc. for a new stadium.

If we don't get some extra funding the club will be left with some major costs to redevelop.

Lets just assume we replace the Main Stand with a similar height/depth stand as the Clough Stand.

They will not get planning permission from the emergency services etc.. unless there is better access at the rear. The architects have looked at this and have said 39 houses and two boat clubs to go. This would open up the Main Stand car park onto Trentside and also allow access around the Bridgford/Main Stand corner.

Assuming (due to their prime commuter location) each house is compulsary purchased at £200K + the cost of moving the business + legal costs etc you are looking at about £9M to buy the land.

Now look at demolishing, many of these properties are old and no doubt places like the boat shed will contain nasty substances like asbestos. Demolition is big business - just look at the QMC multi-storey Car Park, nearly a £1M to demolish, clear away and clean up/landscape.

For these houses/business say at least £2M demolition and site clearance. So we are now at £11M

Now lets look at the stand, the Bridgford/Trent Ends cost £4.5M some 15yrs ago and hold around 7,000 with inflation, the size of the main stand and the fact they have to demolish the existing stand (which they didnt need to at Bridgford, only the terraces!)

Adding in temporary accommodation for changing rooms and offices, new floodlights etc.. etc your not going to get much out of £10M for the new stand. So we are at £19M

Now stands arent built overnight and so for at least one season that whole area will be a building site, this also stops the entrance to part of the Lower Bridgford. Realistically the ground capacity would be reduced by the 5,7000 main stand plus about 2,000 from the Bridgford Lower tier (health & safety and exits etc..)
So we play a season which could by that time be in the Prem at a capacity of about 22K, 3K for away and 19K for home fans. Not sure how we would televise any games so possibly also lose TV revenues.

So with landscaping etc.. we have spent £20M increased the ground capacity by 5,000 to 35,000. Still have the awful dip in the Bridgford End (which would look worse when the Main Stand is higher than it!) and still need to look at refurbing each of the other three stands


I've not even looked at how much legal and planning applications and subsequent appeals/re-designs etc..would cost

To stay put we are looking at best part of £25M, if we also correct the Bridgford end more like £35M, if we do an structual changes to BC stand more..

For the World Cup bid the Main stand would have to be over 20,000 seats or do a slightly larger one 15,000 and complete the Bridgford Upper Tier.

The whole £100M being banded about would be for the complete package, investment in hotels, local businesses, tourism, transport links, publicity, extra policing etc..

It matters little as now the County Council have pulled out its over, Like I said they may not be required to build it but their withdrawal will go down like a lead balloon with the FA

 

[Ken]

I think people are confusing the issues. The World Cup is just the latest coat-tails the club is trying to hang onto to get the funding and plannign permissions etc. for a new stadium.

If we don't get some extra funding the club will be left with some major costs to redevelop.

Lets just assume we replace the Main Stand with a similar height/depth stand as the Clough Stand.

They will not get planning permission from the emergency services etc.. unless there is better access at the rear. The architects have looked at this and have said 39 houses and two boat clubs to go. This would open up the Main Stand car park onto Trentside and also allow access around the Bridgford/Main Stand corner.

Assuming (due to their prime commuter location) each house is compulsary purchased at £200K + the cost of moving the business + legal costs etc you are looking at about £9M to buy the land.

Now look at demolishing, many of these properties are old and no doubt places like the boat shed will contain nasty substances like asbestos. Demolition is big business - just look at the QMC multi-storey Car Park, nearly a £1M to demolish, clear away and clean up/landscape.

For these houses/business say at least £2M demolition and site clearance. So we are now at £11M

Now lets look at the stand, the Bridgford/Trent Ends cost £4.5M some 15yrs ago and hold around 7,000 with inflation, the size of the main stand and the fact they have to demolish the existing stand (which they didnt need to at Bridgford, only the terraces!)

Adding in temporary accommodation for changing rooms and offices, new floodlights etc.. etc your not going to get much out of £10M for the new stand. So we are at £19M

Now stands arent built overnight and so for at least one season that whole area will be a building site, this also stops the entrance to part of the Lower Bridgford. Realistically the ground capacity would be reduced by the 5,7000 main stand plus about 2,000 from the Bridgford Lower tier (health & safety and exits etc..)
So we play a season which could by that time be in the Prem at a capacity of about 22K, 3K for away and 19K for home fans. Not sure how we would televise any games so possibly also lose TV revenues.

So with landscaping etc.. we have spent £20M increased the ground capacity by 5,000 to 35,000. Still have the awful dip in the Bridgford End (which would look worse when the Main Stand is higher than it!) and still need to look at refurbing each of the other three stands


I've not even looked at how much legal and planning applications and subsequent appeals/re-designs etc..would cost

To stay put we are looking at best part of £25M, if we also correct the Bridgford end more like £35M, if we do an structual changes to BC stand more..

For the World Cup bid the Main stand would have to be over 20,000 seats or do a slightly larger one 15,000 and complete the Bridgford Upper Tier.

The whole £100M being banded about would be for the complete package, investment in hotels, local businesses, tourism, transport links, publicity, extra policing etc..

Agree 100% and good summary. I think people fail to realise that even to do up main stand (without World cup) is not going to be far off this cost and impact Thats assuming the local planning/access issues are sorted but would be rather suprised if they did.

The whole point of the architects report is that even if we extended the main stand, due to the 'right of light' issue with residents the club would face a massive legal battle (unless we build a like for like stand which is a waste of time and money).

 

[Daniel]

I think everyone is missing the point regarding the redevelopment of the City Ground...

The land on the City Ground is worth millions in development with the land surrounding it.

Mr Doughty owns the land around it the council own the land within it, no one is willing to sell their slice for fear of losing out.

Why spend 50million on an extension to a property you don't own. FFS I don't see people in rented accommodation installing hi spec kitchens or loft conversions? At present to redevelop the City Ground you might as well be pour the money down the drain.

I cannot see why very few can grasp this concept.

This is no conspiracy to get the council to build the club a new stadium, or at least it wouldn't be without major concessions from both parties. I see this as a simple case of either....

A) Council builds a nice new ground for Forest in agreement with all parties, and Mr Doughty exchanges the deeds and ownership of the shiny new stadium with the keys to the City Ground and the land surrounding it. Leaving the council a very valuable plot of land to develop on. As an added incentive they can build a World Cup compliant stadium and receive all the revenue from the event and a portion of say any future events or income etc. The option with added sponsorship income of that stadium will also pay dividends to, whilst the club get a nice new home.
or...
B) Mr Doughty leaves the council in a position where he can pay a nominal sum for the land the city ground sits on and then build on it. The plus side, the council receive monies for the land and don't have to expend taxpayers funds to make more!

I imagine the council are in favour of Plan A and have basically told the club What do you want and where.

 

[Erik]

I imagine the council are in favour of Plan A and have basically told the club What do you want and where.

I don't suppose for one second the response was 'Mark Arthur and a tonne of cement. North Sea' was it?
ray:

 

[bicknell]

I wanna Stay