Bonalair
John Robertson
Gestapo? For a volunteer fan group? Really?
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The World Famous City Ground - Home of the PROPER WORLD‘S OLDEST LEAGUE CLUB
- Thread starter donny
- Start date
Gestapo? For a volunteer fan group? Really?
Yeah. I‘m not comfortable with this analogy either.
It’s a bit of a sleight on the Gestapo?
(Joke, obvs)
Our previous chairman when interviewed by the supporters Trust, expressed serious concerns about our playing in a 3 sided ground whilst the new stand was built. Hence my notion of extending backwards and leaving the existing seating as it is. A goal post supported roof I think may make that possible.
congo_red_49
Ale Ape
It’s not as simple as sticking an extension on your house.
Trents
John Robertson
If we have to go 3 sided for a season(or 2), just get on with it.
Well I think it is.
Otis Redding
Try A Little Tenderness
An issue with starting construction on the outer structure whilst potentially leaving the current seating in place would surely see H&S concerns involving accessing one side of the stadium via a building site, as along with the main entrance and office buildings, it's likely that the turnstiles and boundary wall would need to be demolished early in that process?
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Details. I'm talking about the main principal idea of building around the whole of the existing stand minus the sides and roof.
Otis Redding
Try A Little Tenderness
As that response suggest that you seem a little put out by my comment, just for the record I wasn't criticising your overall point.
You seem unnecessarily defensive at times.
Not put out at all, don't worry about that. I am not suggesting for a moment though that replacing our main stand whilst keeping most of it open is a piece of cake. Just doable.
Otis Redding
Try A Little Tenderness
If indeed that is the plan, access as the development proceeds would become a huge challenge, but I'd like to think you're right that it wouldn't be an insurmountable one.
I don't think it is the plan, just suggesting that in my opinion it could be.
Est.1865
Screw The PL
I reckon that is the plan.
First priority is getting a strong squad that is established. Newly promoted sides are so dependent on home game advantage.
Couple of seasons in, and more established , go 3 sided…..
Statto
Free Kick Specialist
The ground is in Rushcliffe, so maybe not.
They own the land the City Ground stands on I believe (dating back to when we defaulted on the Trent End construction loan they guaranteed) so perhaps they might consider a cut-price offer from the club to buy it back if they need some quick cash.
Redemption
Chief Eye Roller
We have a lease on it. They can't sell it. For the duration of the lease only Forest can sell the lease.
The lessor, the city council, could sell the freehold rights on, but with a sitting tenant for 250 years, it's not of much value. They would need give Forest the first refusal.
The lessor, the city council, could sell the freehold rights on, but with a sitting tenant for 250 years, it's not of much value. They would need give Forest the first refusal.
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I wouldn’t know where to start when it comes to land values to be honest, but we’ve still got something like 246 years left on the lease, and it was registered as an Asset of Community Value in 2017, so I can’t imagine it being of much use to anyone else unless the club decides to relocate, which I imagine might lower the value a bit. The attitude of Rushcliffe Borough Council and the local (boating) community towards our proposed high rise apartment development can’t help the site’s prospects for what would otherwise be prime riverside potential either, so that might give it less market desirability too, but as I say I’m an amateur in this field so I don’t really know.
Forest have never owned the land the City Ground sits on we have always been tenant's.
The club was forced to relocate from the old Town Ground in the 1890s when the council wanted to extend the old tram system to Trent Bridge and build a depot and repair works on the clubs ground.
The original lease was for 25 years but when that expired, the club were offered the freehold but could not afford to buy.
The next lease was for 99 years but the leases have been extended as the club as redeveloped the ground.
Information from Forest Centenary 1865-1965 book and the late Ken Smales Forest the first 125 years book.
I see you're correct actually; I thought at the time of the loan default they'd taken ownership of the land, but having looked back at the reports back then it seems they were actually looking at taking the stadium itself too in exchange for making our loan repayment (I'm not sure whether they actually did that or not in the end, but it was recommended). As you say, the council granted us the leasehold when they moved us on from the previous site, and gave us the option to purchase it outright for £7,000 in 1935.
Otis Redding
Try A Little Tenderness
If, in an attempt to raise funds in order to contiue providing vital services, the city council makes the freehold tenure available at a competitive price, I wouldn't be at all surprised if EM becomes interested.
REDDERS78
Jack Armstrong
You keep saying things are "possible" but what do you base these claims on from a construction and cost perspective?
How do you actually know it's possible?
I think you're right with that. Seeing as Marinakis is an all or nothing sort of guy as last few years shows I'm certain he'll be front of the que to purchase it.
I cannot think of anyone who might even dare to consider purchasing the freehold, other than „Big“ Evangelos, if it became available?
If anyone had the temerity to even think about it, they might somehow mysteriously catch fire, or something?
But - in all seriousness for a minute - I am confident the owner knows a good investment when he sees one, and perhaps securing the freehold would give him more value for the cash he’s already put in.
If anyone had the temerity to even think about it, they might somehow mysteriously catch fire, or something?
But - in all seriousness for a minute - I am confident the owner knows a good investment when he sees one, and perhaps securing the freehold would give him more value for the cash he’s already put in.