That Old Chestnut - Do We Move Or Do We Stay

[Goggles & Flippers]

14 minutes ago, 0Neils40yarder said:

The school playground doesn't stop the east stand from functioning 

Not sure what the cooper issue is?

And as for the main stand, I dont think it needs to run full length for it to allow us to rebuild it 

Everyone is funnelled into a 4m wide gate to leave. Theres no scope for any ancillary sales or expansion. The space under us can’t be used. It is limited for disabled access and its roof will need replaced soon.

Due to the curve of Knowetop Avenue it cuts the corner off the Cooper (it’s stepped in) the. If massive wall has to be maintained, we looked to demolish it 15 years ago and told no. WS looking at funding a lift. The Cooper bar is a particularly uninspiring space.

The POD has a very narrow footprint, the width of the centenary interrupted by columns define it. Upstairs rooms such as the 91 suite can effectively fit 12 chairs abreast with an access corridor down the middle. boardroom Even smaller. above the sponsors lounge is now taken over by the media team I understand. None of these facilities are enough or fitting for a club looking to close its operational funding gap.

[wellfan]

The constraints of the current Fir Park site are plain to see. But with the principle of development for a football stadium already established there, nobody will ever convince me there isn’t a viable proposal that responds to those constraints in a creative yet pragmatic way. Whether that’s a complete demolition and redevelopment or a phased approach of continually replacing and upgrading the stadium bit by bit, I’d take either of those over relocating to an identikit plastic shithole on a soulless brownfield site on the edge of town.

Every realistic option at Fir Park has to be exhausted, and sensible compromises made where necessary, before we consider something as drastic as leaving our home for Ravenscraig. 

[0Neils40yarder]

1 minute ago, wellfan said:

The constraints of the current Fir Park site are plain to see. But with the principle of development for a football stadium already established there, nobody will ever convince me there isn’t a viable proposal that responds to those constraints in a creative yet pragmatic way. Whether that’s a complete demolition and redevelopment or a phased approach of continually replacing and upgrading the stadium bit by bit, I’d take either of those over relocating to an identikit plastic shithole on a soulless brownfield site on the edge of town.

Every realistic option at Fir Park has to be exhausted, and sensible compromises made where necessary, before we consider something as drastic as leaving our home for Ravenscraig. 

Aye probably said it better than I could 

[Goggles & Flippers]

I really don’t get why anyone defaults to think that if we do move we’ll endeavour to build the single worst thing we can devoid of any merit or atmosphere. I’ve only ever see St Mirren but our sloppy seconds than the other way round.

I think to convince people it’s more about human nature. I’m often drawn to something I studied while at uni. The Golden Gate Bridge was initially opposed be literally everyone. Today it’s inconceivable to imagine San Francisco without it and it’s universally loved as a cultural icon.

Groups:

U.S. War Department

Feared the bridge would obstruct military operations or, if destroyed in war, block the entrance to San Francisco Bay.

Shipping companies

Thought it would interfere with navigation and large ships entering the harbour.

Southern Pacific / Golden Gate Ferries

Didn’t want to lose their profitable ferry monopoly.

Sierra Club and conservationists

Argued it would scar the natural landscape and damage the environment.

Taxpayer groups

Believed it was far too expensive and financially reckless, especially during the Depression.

Board of Supervisors and civic leaders

Worried about debt, toll revenue and political risk.

Engineers

Claimed it couldn’t survive the currents, winds and fog. Strauss’ original design was mocked as an “upside-down rat trap.”

Residents and preservationists

Felt it would ruin the beauty and character of the Golden Gate and Marin Headlands.

More detail here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldengate-opposition

[weeyin]

There are plenty of counter examples to that, but that's not really the point. I vistied Wrigley Field last year, and they did a fantastic job refurbishing their classic building to keep its character, but bring it into the 21st century.

However, as I said, I'm in favour of a new build, but there are legitimate concerns about its design. I honestly can't think of any Scottish team that has moved stadiums (stadia?) in the past 20 or 30 years where I was impressed with the new one.

Forest Green Rover's plan for "Eco Park" is quite an attractive proposition, but that is budgeted at 100 million.

I also have less faith in the local authorities or government in providing the necessary levels of support it may need.

I do have faith in the current board to make good decisions, but any new build still carries mutliple risks, and mitigating those risks can lead to compromises we might not like.

 

[Kmcalpin]

A minor side issue in the great scheme of things I know. A family member told me tonight that the owner of the Steelworks is going to reopen Club 100 as a sports type bar.  That should kybosh any talk of the club taking over the site or premises. 

[weeyin]

4 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

A minor side issue in the great scheme of things I know. A family member told me tonight that the owner of the Steelworks is going to reopen Club 100 as a sports type bar.  That should kybosh any talk of the club taking over the site or premises. 

Good. 

[Onthefringes]

4 hours ago, Kmcalpin said:

A minor side issue in the great scheme of things I know. A family member told me tonight that the owner of the Steelworks is going to reopen Club 100 as a sports type bar.  That should kybosh any talk of the club taking over the site or premises. 

Club realised it wasn’t viable decades ago and it’s believed same recently.

Complex ownership issues and the extensive building work never mind refurbishment compound the problem.

They’ve ran the Steelworks into the ground, I’d be amazed to see them turn this white elephant around.

Bowling club seeing the benefit as the club/society pay lip service to their beer garden and Cooper Suite.

[wellfan]

5 hours ago, Kmcalpin said:

A minor side issue in the great scheme of things I know. A family member told me tonight that the owner of the Steelworks is going to reopen Club 100 as a sports type bar.  That should kybosh any talk of the club taking over the site or premises. 

The owner of the Steelworks couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. A big crowd was expected last night, yet they only opened the small bar and left it understaffed. I was told they kept the larger bar closed because they wanted to keep it clean and tidy for the next morning. Apparently, even if they had opened it, they didn’t have enough staff to run it.

It’s another example of a business owner failing to grasp that investing a bit more in staffing can generate greater profits through quicker service and higher sales. And don’t even get me started on trying to cater for a crowd with a single gents’ urinal and one cubicle.

[Goggles & Flippers]

On 7/22/2026 at 7:40 PM, Spiderpig said:

The sums of money mentioned to me would back up that statement.

It's a massive investment and while this summer is an eye-popping perfect storm, three years ago selling K** for £550k was seen as a coup, it would be a brave supporter of this football club to suggest we can mimic it again in the near future. But maybe a Watt style £2m here or there is a new datum thanks to our style and approach.

I get within our psyche there is a need for a rainy day mindset, the WS was created to offer it after all. It's a thing in this part of the world because we're no stranger to economic upheaval and a feeling of few sunny days to make our hay.

The overall cost is at first glance potentially frightening, we have the jeopardy of relegation always hanging over us, our new found wealth is in theory an insulator and in worst case scenarios, a January slush fund to buy our way to safety.

Un upgraded POD is upheaval for 15 months ideally so a whole season lost of its hospitality offering and temporary costs to relocate changing rooms and other functions held within the stand. After completion, there would be an uptake on hospitality going forward, maybe we can make the building sweat its assets seven days a week if it's restaurant is open the same as Tynecastle. We won't alter the capacity of Fir Park or the general aesthetic. Then we move on to the other stands assessing their triage order.

A new stadium offers it to be built and commissioned similar to Everton with Goodison and the Hill Dickinson, where you move without upheaval or penalty. I've tried to illustrate how every extra 1,000 seats made available to OF or Hearts supporters realises approximately £2m over the 20 year life of any finance arrangement.

I think what's important, we sell someone for say £2m in future, we can dump that into our mortgage, financing the stadium isn't solely down to increased attendances, hospitality and additional uses, player trading will always be part of the club and if co-located with our academy/training facility can be very much justiifed.

However, the main thing which I haven't highlighted yet is when the stadium is paid off, early or on time, from that day forward the increased revenues generated flow directly and solely into the football department and academy in perpetuity.