That Old Chestnut - Do We Move Or Do We Stay

[stv]

5 hours ago, Goggles & Flippers said:

Exactly, we would require two spaces to accommodate 18-20 stripped players plus 6-7 management team and a further room for officials. Add in showering/toilet facilities. Cost and logistics come into play for water/waste/electric hookups all for a space that will be redundant for only nine months of use. Personally I'd rather avoid anything temporary as it's money we'll never see back and put it into something we can use going forward.

Also worth highlighting that Liverpool's Anfield Road redevelopment had the primary contractor going bust when they were on the home straight but already overrunning. As it turned out they got the keys a good six months behind schedule and had a lot of compo/apologies to make for tickets sold. Hearts also had a sizable overrun on their main stand.

If we aimed for a one season build (mid May to Mid July the following year - 14 months) if there's any overrun say to Xmas then that seriously affects revenues when we assumed we'd be generating an increase on what they are now.

I'd suspect a good number of local residents would make the planning process a pain but even those not classed as busy could easily highlight the regular disruption in a residential area.

For me, Fir Park will always be limiting.

 

As for what I'd love to see and I appreciate it's very much lottery win territory .... I covered much of it in the presentation, get a planning consultant well versed in extracting every penny from government. Find an architect with a track record of frugal but quality builds, highlight the need for off the shelf opposed to bespoke components, while a Zaha Hadid ornate roof is captivating and wins awards, pragmatic-industrial should be our brief and feeds into our heritage.

Identify gaps in the market, at present there is only one covered football pitch in the UK, considering our climate that's both surprising and a bit wild but offers opportunity. The Northern Arizona Skydome was constructed in 1977 inexpensively, with it you have a unique space can be configured for indoor athletics to tennis, basketball, gymnastics, graduations, black tie banquets, exhibitions and concerts. NLC is in need of the latter, the area is in need of all the others, however the issue remains with the pitch, the easier option would be rails to allow it uninterrupted wind, rain and sunshine when it allows or wheeled inside if frost forecast. The alternative is permanent grass indoors that is managed with grow-lights, don't think that is feasible however.

I'd look to have a 18,000 capacity, the reason for this is two fold, allow for an increase in our home gate over what we presently have (you have to have some ambition of growth) and exploit the away support (especially the OF). Chapman and Dickie realised and then maximised their visits with the McLean Stand in the early 90's. At present we sell 4,800, double that and the club has the ability to earn in excess of £20m over 20 years for those extra 5,000 seats. Jeopardy ensures if we are relegated or there's another Covid like event. However we can leverage borrowing based on future income without touching what we currently earn with our 13,000 stadium.

Finally, the fear that FP can already feel a bit cold and echoey in mid-winter hosting Livi or Ross County, that is true, 5,000 extra seats to an 18,000 seater does not help that in the slightest unless you manage that seating. Moveable partitions based on the projected crowd to ensure supports are not spread out and any unused seating minimised on the TV coverage, helps alter perception.

It would already be a novelty for locals and away fans due to it being indoor, streetfood pop ups to cater on matchdays in addition to traditional offerings, I'm sure we get an uplift in home support and away support off the back of the best stadium to visit, currently held by Tynecastle where demand outweighs supply.

 

Stress testing/Devil Advocate:

NLC is looking at closing sports centres and libraries to save money. I also don't know if the concert hall was a revenue generator worth the hassle of having it. Holyrood/Westminster is broke too thanks to stagnant/minimal growth. The Regional Sports Facility, NLC may not want its potential revenues harmed with a similar space next door. Thanks to the Commonwealth games in 2014, the Emirates beside Parkhead also offers an indoor venue for multiple indoor sports. Cost overruns are inevitable. As a club in the past we've often under-resourced initiatives and then surprised they didn't work. What I outlined is both pragmatic but also has many complex facets to it. It can be achievable and done on a budget but often contractors bill for perceived complexity regardless.

 

And yes, I've got a Euromillions on.

Typical architect.