** Sleeping with the Enemy **

[Shanks]

If we don't get the world cup in Nottingham (which is highly unlikely with the politics involved and election on the horizon) I have a hunch that ND has very firm plans to re-develop the CG and not move anywhere.

I must say that for years I have been completely against 'ground sharing' with anyone i.e. Notts, but to be honest having now gained a better understanding of the obvious economic benefits that are compelling and see how some of the German clubs operate, it makes me wonder whether this should be considered as a viable option. Many 'big' teams ground share with their biggest rivals i.e. Munich, Rio, Rome, LA etc. I guess in England it's just not the done thing and clearly some supporters have very strong concerns (and rightly so) over their clubs identity.

Personally I have mixed views over the subject but at the same time maybe I'm old enough and sensible enough to consider the option with a view to being convinced??? Allianz Arena anyone??

http://www.stadiumguide.com/allianz.htm

 

[Bridgfordred79]

Hmm, I had a glance at the title of the thread and I thought about PSR and Capello

 

[Annesley Red]

The only answer is to rebuild the Main Stand, you could make it a 40,000 all seater stadium, that would do. Lets not kid ourselves we are going to get more than 40000 these days , folk cant afford it

 

[Bridgfordred79]

didnt Nigel drop into an interview about our great ground?

Something along the lines of
"Um, Forest, great manager, great ground, and great supperters"

Im sure he said that a few months ago.

 

[Red Duster]

The only answer is to rebuild the Main Stand, you could make it a 40,000 all seater stadium, that would do. Lets not kid ourselves we are going to get more than 40000 these days , folk cant afford it

IMO - people choose what they can afford. They may come to a different conclusion if our opposition is Tranmere or Brentford (for £20) rather than Liverpool or Chelsea (for £more). We'll only ever get 20, 000 ish while in the 2nd and 3rd tier, i think it'd rise to 35,000+ if ever we get back to the first division.

 

[OnsideBrianRice]

The only answer is to rebuild the Main Stand, you could make it a 40,000 all seater stadium, that would do. Lets not kid ourselves we are going to get more than 40000 these days , folk cant afford it

Do we really need to rebuilt? Consider this....
How often do we sell out ?
When was the last time we averaged over 30,000 at every home game.....in fact when did we last average over 25,000?
Does anyone at the City Ground have a bad view?
And considering the only stand in need of re-development (based on its age and appearance and nothing else...) is the Main Stand...
Do you want to lose the A-Block?



"Oh mist rolling in from the Trent, my desire, is always to be here, oh City Ground"

 

[Annesley Red]

Re Attendances , 1979 Forest v Ajax European Cup semi final, brilliant team and we only got 31000. The Nottingham public are fickle.
Me I am a staunch Forest mad supporter, I'd go to watch them hang the shirts to dry if you know what I mean.

 

[outsider]

I think the success of ground sharing depends on why its being done, how long for, and also how far the fans would have to travel to follow their team.

In a hypothetical situation (ignoring the potential effects of the rivalry), supposing the City Ground was being completely rebuilt - and Nottingham Forest were to relocate to Derby County for a season or two.... I guess the proximity would mean that a lot of hardcore Forest supporters would make the regular trip into Derby. They would regard this as a temporary setback and know that next season, or the season after, they will be returning to the City Ground. Some of the more casual fans may defect to Notts County temporarily, and it would be expected to see an increase in their attendance during this time of transition

The worse scenario is what happened to Wimbledon FC, who relocated to Selhurst Park whilst a "suitable site" was being looked for. When they couldn't get a local site and started looking further afield, then the fans broke away. I think the problem here (before the move to Milton Keynes) was the fact that they moved out without having somewhere to move back to.

Well, this is only my guess....

 

[mjb1991]

Re Attendances , 1979 Forest v Ajax European Cup semi final, brilliant team and we only got 31000. The Nottingham public are fickle.
Me I am a staunch Forest mad supporter, I'd go to watch them hang the shirts to dry if you know what I mean.

Nottingham like to think that we are a footballing city like Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle... we aren't

 

[Randy Bumgardener]

Nottingham like to think that we are a footballing city like Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle... we aren't

Errm yes we are ! 2 of the oldest professional clubs in the country, 2 x European cups. What else could define a footballing city ? Making sucess by selling out to foreign investors ? (ok I know county have new owners) but the history will always be there ! Don't be daft !

 

[Annesley Red]

in addition to the relatively poor 31000 v Ajax in a vital European Cup semi final......
there wasnt so much live coverage back then only highlights in midweek until the final.
a 40000 all seater will do which is on bus train and tram routes, a ground out of the way would lose casual supporters.


REBUILD THE MAIN STAND!

 

[B Block Red]

With unlimited funds and a new stadium of their own rumoured, why would they want to share with us?

Not that Id want to.

 

[RRRREDUN]

The old 'couldn't fill our ground' red herring keeps getting trotted out. We've been getting 22,000 odd despite being totally cr-p for about 10 years. And despite the (let's face it) less than effective marketing of our club. In the Prem ( and that's where our ambitions must lie), away clubs will (on average), bring many more fans, the product (if we have a side to compete), will be better and facilities will be better. I've been to the CG when in truth there were well over 50,000 in the ground. Why? well the pricing was right, the opposition was attractive and our team inspired us. THAT is the challenge for our club. Get it right and the crowds will come. No to ground share.

 

[Hoax]

Errm yes we are ! 2 of the oldest professional clubs in the country, 2 x European cups. What else could define a footballing city ? Making sucess by selling out to foreign investors ? (ok I know county have new owners) but the history will always be there ! Don't be daft !

Even the fact that we have won two European cups would not define our city as a footballing city. Liverpool and Mancherster both have two decent premier leagues teams but I dont really believe Newcastle to be a "massive" footballing city either.

Anyway in reality how the f*** do you definae a footballing city? I would say at least a city with 1 or two football teams competing at the very top level, playing regular european football bringing through regular top league or world class home grown youth talent. With at least one stadium fit for european and international football.

 

[zigga-zagga]

The only answer is to rebuild the Main Stand, you could make it a 40,000 all seater stadium, that would do. Lets not kid ourselves we are going to get more than 40000 these days , folk cant afford it

The present capacity of the Main Stand is around 4500 so rebuilding would barely take us to 34000 with a double-decker stand and we would still not reach 40000 with a triple decker.

The facilities at the City Ground are disgraceful - the concourses are far too narrow, catering facilities are inadequate and the toilet facilities defy description - only football would provide these kind of conditions for paying customers. Anyone who has been to a major sporting event in the US cannot be content with what we have.

 

[clusternakker]

in addition to the relatively poor 31000 v Ajax in a vital European Cup semi final......
there wasnt so much live coverage back then only highlights in midweek until the final.
a 40000 all seater will do which is on bus train and tram routes, a ground out of the way would lose casual supporters.


REBUILD THE MAIN STAND!

Re Attendances , 1979 Forest v Ajax European Cup semi final, brilliant team and we only got 31000. The Nottingham public are fickle.
Me I am a staunch Forest mad supporter, I'd go to watch them hang the shirts to dry if you know what I mean.

There was also a crippling recession in 79

 

[tricky_tree1982]

Even the fact that we have won two European cups would not define our city as a footballing city. Liverpool and Mancherster both have two decent premier leagues teams but I dont really believe Newcastle to be a "massive" footballing city either.

Anyway in reality how the f**k do you definae a footballing city? I would say at least a city with 1 or two football teams competing at the very top level, playing regular european football bringing through regular top league or world class home grown youth talent. With at least one stadium fit for european and international football.

We are not a footblling city as not many kids in Nottingham where a County or a Forest shirt! They'd get bullied at school for it! On the other hand, you'd go to Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle and hardly see a single kid in another kit but that of their home town, that's how it should be!

 

[Spring Heeled Jack]

Nottingham like to think that we are a footballing city like Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle... we aren't

Tosh! We have a better history and pedigree than most cities in this country!