New stadium to start

[Deleted]

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/work-start-fc-uniteds-new-6223023

[Boomer]

I'd be interested to know how long it took to get planning permission granted.

[cheshuntsaint]

I suppose it does help if you've got 2000-3000 fans each week

[Deleted]

does it?

maidstone were getting 200

[asaintreborn]

I have to say that looks a very impressive stadium for just £5m. Everything is cheaper in the north! Just go to show what can be achieved when you have the backing of the council. Someone spoke about a club in the MLS at the forum that is community based and the success it has been having. I believe there must be ideas from these two clubs that we can incorporate into our structure. Again they are both backed by councils or equivalent. Which I get the impression we are currently not when I attended the forum.

[Deleted]

www.supporters-direct.org/news-article/fc-united-of-manchester-building-work-commences-in-november

[bob666]

Looks impressive. In terms of St Albans I not certain the new ground has the backing of the majority of fans let alone the council- if club cannot convince the supporters what chance the wider community?

I think a saint reborn makes a good point about community based clubs. In legal terms St Albans FC is (as I understand) a normal business unlike supporter owned club like FC United of Manchester. This open up important questioning regarding who ultimately owns any new stadium (the club itself or the club owners). Also it seems reasonable to apply slightly different standards, as a council, to development by a community group and a private business, at the very least i argue that the later should not be subsidized expect in extreme circumstances (eg. in a economically depressed area with high unemployment) .

To build a sports complex with, in certain plans I have seen (which may themselves be entirely inaccurate), the development being effectively subsidized by the construction of private housings, a 5000 seat stadium at heart on greenbelt land is a massive ask. Given the clubs present legal status in one sense there little difference between club asking to do so and Tesco seeking permission to build a huge supermarket on greenbelt land. I think it is legitimate for the council to ask for clear guarantees regarding ownership, the use of profits from related developments and the governance of the club before swinging behind the proposal. I not suggesting transforming into a supporter/community owned entity but giving these stakeholders some veto capacity over key decisions. I not aware that these have been given so would not criticize the council.

On final point people look at examples were the financial stability of club secured by placing (the football) at the centre of a much larger development and these clearly exist. However, its clearly a double edged sword and we see as many examples of things going wrong. Given what I just said, how significant gate money may be (in the overall scheme of things) in a post-move environment may be questionable but one issue that might arise is that this is a football dense area. I live in the city center and currently walk to ground. I cannot drive as I have problems judging distance and I have a decent salary so ticket price is not a major issue so for me it be just as easy to get on Abbey Flyer to Watford as a bus to the proposed location and watch a much higher standard of football or even nip down to London for some premier league action. I not sure if this is a isolated experience but I wonder if a reasonable number of slightly fair weather fans who like City for the easy of theexperience who may decide if I have to get in my car/bus etc I might as drive the extra 5 miles and watch much better football

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

.

[Deleted]

a better short filum

[lcfc1]

Apparently St Albans City Fc are interested in buying Park Street rail freight site to turn into a football stadium. John McGowan has offered to buy the site. Taken from Herts Advertiser.