No new stadium

Looks like GTFC have no interest in moving to a new stadium.
The story seems to have slipped out with no supporting comment from the club.
Not surprised about the decision but thought the club would have wanted to make an official comment about it if true.

If you'd listened closely to Andrew and Jason's comments over the last 18 months you'd of realised a new stadium has never been on their agenda . New training ground ,  improving BP and the playing budget are their immediate priority.

Dont realy need a new ground. new main stand and extra seating is needed tho.

We do need a new ground. There’s no other way we can compete in the long term with the countless clubs who have moved ahead of us in the 30 or so years since the Taylor Report.

I’m talking about teams like Doncaster, Rotherham, Hull, Reading, Cardiff, Swansea, Stoke, Bolton, Wigan, Brighton, Millwall and other clubs who have rebuilt their existing stadiums in that time too. The clubs we once competed with and were well above in the football league.

While we remain at BP we will always be small fish unable to compete. We need a new stadium.

Long term and not the priority, as long as you haven’t been living under a rock for the last 12 months the board have been clear on this.

On a weekend when we’re about to play arguably our biggest cup game since before the 2nd world war I’m amazed why this has been dredged up again now.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Looks like GTFC have no interest in moving to a new stadium.
The story seems to have slipped out with no supporting comment from the club.
Not surprised about the decision but thought the club would have wanted to make an official comment about it if true.

Why not just enjoy this weekend, there will be ample time to be critical whenever we get knocked out!

Interview with  council leader on  Freeman St generally just regurgitating an old rejection of site under previous regime. Not new news at all. Of course we need a new ground but was never likely to be Freeman Street

Went to the MKM for the first time this week, I know this is a good one but what a different experience. I see we will never be able to afford a new ground but it will always be a terribly limiting factor for the club utm

Quoted from GollyGTFC

We do need a new ground. There’s no other way we can compete in the long term with the countless clubs who have moved ahead of us in the 30 or so years since the Taylor Report.

I’m talking about teams like Doncaster, Rotherham, Hull, Reading, Cardiff, Swansea, Stoke, Bolton, Wigan, Brighton, Millwall and other clubs who have rebuilt their existing stadiums in that time too. The clubs we once competed with and were well above in the football league.

While we remain at BP we will always be small fish unable to compete. We need a new stadium.

This. Although, we can compete at this level at BP, but a new stadium is a must beyond the short term. Everybody knows that.

Hopefully, we'll get one by 2030.

BP is not fit to host Europa league football! We need to get one built in the next 3 months!

Priorities first improvements at BP.
Expand if possible the Main stand
Then a new ground is a future priority (IMO)
In time I hate the word Stadium so American I do prefer Football Ground.
OK Hear me out come 2035 - 2050
Where would I plan to put a new ground let me put my body armour on and helmet!!
CAISTOR TOP Area past the little Chef ..Why global warming the sealevel rising etc.
I saw on a website sealevels rise and we loose so many football clubs.
There you go
AND IF we did something to the Main Stand then i would pay to have wood to make a fireplace surround from the heart and soul of BP!!
Here endth the lesson IMO
UTM See ya tomorrow.

Half past eight?  That's a bit quick isn't it?

If they've ruled out a new stadium then I'd bet my bottom dollar that Andrew has formulated a plan

Its something that hasnt been touched on -wouldnt it be possible to build upwards with the pontoon if they wanted to add capacity ?

Overshadowing the houses behind likely to be an issue if you start trying to greatly extend most of the stands.

Its a pity that the design of the Findus is (relatively) dated already. If that was able to extend across a little further and be more of a modern two-decker affair, I'd imagine a lot more seating could be installed. The other problem, of course, is that we even if we could work out a plan to extend some of the stands, it would mean even lower capacity during the construction period. It's not as though we could be like Spurs and play at a suitably sized stadium nearby whilst rebuilding was taking place.

At this moment in time, I'm thinking about tomorrow. At another time in the future, I'll think about increasing the capacity at BP.

But for now, all I can think of are the quarter finals and dream of a semi final place.

Quoted from jaygy

BP is not fit to host Europa league football! We need to get one built in the next 3 months!

Get the Chinese on that one. If they can knock up a hospital in days Im sure a football ground would be a 'little job' for them

Buy up all the houses along harrington Street that back on to BP, torch the main stand and build a new big stand in the same vein as the Findus, maybe even as big as to go over Harrington Street with a vehicle tunnel underneath. That could add many thousand seats.

A few points to consider.

If we were to build a new stadium somewhere else, what should the capacity be to start with and what should it's potential capacity be?

If we were to expand BP as much as we possibly could, what could the capacity be?

How much would each of those options cost the club, taking away any grants/other means of funding?

This is the only thing that marks the new owners down for me. We are in desperate need of a new stadium and as much as I love BP and the memories it's a really poor place to visit in terms of facilities.

The Freemo option was really exciting when it was announced and a genuine shame it hasn't happened there. It would lift that whole area.

Trying to rebuild BP is just papering over the cracks. Let's build new, and build it modern. I really hope the owners don't continue down the same route as the previous regime on this point.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Buy up all the houses along harrington Street that back on to BP, torch the main stand and build a new big stand in the same vein as the Findus, maybe even as big as to go over Harrington Street with a vehicle tunnel underneath. That could add many thousand seats.

HHmm " Torch the Main Stand!"...
Words fail me my first stand as a kid before i was deemed old enough to stand in the Pontoon when it was the Pontoon before the days of seating.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

A few points to consider.

If we were to build a new stadium somewhere else, what should the capacity be to start with and what should it's potential capacity be?

If we were to expand BP as much as we possibly could, what could the capacity be?

How much would each of those options cost the club, taking away any grants/other means of funding?

- starting capacity around 12k for me not too big that theres no atmosphere , potential to be 20k ish
- i have no idea about BP
- it woule be 40 or 50 mil + now for a new one at least i think .

Quoted from Yarborough Vaults

This is the only thing that marks the new owners down for me. We are in desperate need of a new stadium and as much as I love BP and the memories it's a really poor place to visit in terms of facilities.

The Freemo option was really exciting when it was announced and a genuine shame it hasn't happened there. It would lift that whole area.

Trying to rebuild BP is just papering over the cracks. Let's build new, and build it modern. I really hope the owners don't continue down the same route as the previous regime on this point.

Tbh the previous custodian if anything was over obsessed with relocation ,to the point everything else decayed beyond repair on a pipe dreams ; no danger of that with the  current primary funders in the building .

Quoted from Zmariner

Went to the MKM for the first time this week, I know this is a good one but what a different experience. I see we will never be able to afford a new ground but it will always be a terribly limiting factor for the club utm

A housing developer can afford construction of a new stadium.  The club will pay rent as tenants.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/3800-homes-shops-primary-school-5443612

Quoted from Mappers

- starting capacity around 12k for me not too big that theres no atmosphere , potential to be 20k ish
- i have no idea about BP
- it woule be 40 or 50 mil + now for a new one at least i think .

Colchester's ground  to big no atmosphere comes to mind ground capacity is something to take into consideration definitely.
BP a serious revamp we can talk about it but to
do it seriously  as i am not an accountant or arcitect  i will have to listen to advice not give it
Unless i win the euro millions then i will invest.
We all have a dream
UTM

Well I have read the whole article in the G.E.T and unless I have missed something there is no indication that the club do not want a new ground. Yes, they said they are no longer interested in the Freeman Street site and quote " They decided at the moment that they ( GTFC) want to stay at Blundell Park and make improvements there". That doesn't mean the club don't want a new ground but , and this been repeated several times by the new regime, it is not a priority and is on the back burner.

Quoted from The Caterham Mariner

Colchester's ground  to big no atmosphere comes to mind ground capacity is something to take into consideration definitely.
BP a serious revamp we can talk about it but to
do it seriously  as i am not an accountant or arcitect  i will have to listen to advice not give it
Unless i win the euro millions then i will invest.
We all have a dream
UTM

Yeah Colchester is awful i went once a few years ago a bit of a walk from the town to the ground and a car park with a souless stadium thats 1/3 full ,think it only holds 10k but for them its too big

Quoted from Yarborough Vaults

This is the only thing that marks the new owners down for me.

I’m sure they’ll be gutted….

What exactly did you expect them to do in just over 2 years, help get the club promoted back to the EFL at the first attempt? Or was it stop the standard 1 year deal policy, or was it massively lift engagement you could have really over expected them to help Paul and the lads to get to the 6th round of the cup?

None of the above I suspect but you sound like you’re expecting them to find what £30 million or similar when we haven’t got 1,000 locked out every week.

Maybe it’s me but I don’t get the rationale about regurgitating the same old sh1t on a thread when JS & AP have been clear on the plan. In reality like the posters on here I haven’t got a f****g clue what it would take to build a new ground but if JS says it’s not right I trust his word.

Quoted from White_shorts

A housing developer can afford construction of a new stadium.  The club will pay rent as tenants.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/3800-homes-shops-primary-school-5443612

So if a developer bought BP and built houses on it do you honestly believe there is enough space to build enough to fund a stadium from the profit.

In terms of renting a new stadium that’s another non starter as you need full control to make money from it 7 days a week and ensure it’s truly a community use asset. It’s a bonkers idea that.

I don't think every club that has built a new stadium has done it because 1000s have been locked out. Stadiums get old, buildings outlive their purpose and so it simply becomes time to move on.

I think it's fair to ask any owner why a new stadium is not a priority. The success you detail is more reason for a new stadium, not an argument against one.

Quoted from Yarborough Vaults

I don't think every club that has built a new stadium has done it because 1000s have been locked out. Stadiums get old, buildings outlive their purpose and so it simply becomes time to move on.

I think it's fair to ask any owner why a new stadium is not a priority. The success you detail is more reason for a new stadium, not an argument against one.

But they’ve been clear, did you watch the fans forum?

Quoted from HertsGTFC

But they’ve been clear, did you watch the fans forum?

Yeah they have made it clear on numerous occasions tbf
-concentrate on training ground
-Improve BP +infrastructure

I think they know we need a new stadium but havent got the capital of that nature to just throw at it ,and dont want to put the club in danger by trying to acquire one .

Stockwood & Petit are strategists so they have a long term plan no doubt ,behind closed doors -they arent going to be saying we will be here ,there and everywhere in X amount of time to everyone  .

But in a subtle way Stockwood is saying ,especially in the last few interviews about 'going right through ' and 'moving through the gears ' so its quite clear he doesnt see us sitting in league 2 at the current BP forever

Its not something to really concern us
Its not like before ,everything is in hand now
UTM

Quoted from Mappers

Yeah they have made it clear on numerous occasions tbf
-concentrate on training ground
-Improve BP +infrastructure

I think they know we need a new stadium but havent got the capital of that nature to just throw at it ,and dont want to put the club in danger by trying to acquire one .

Stockwood & Petit are strategists so they have a long term plan no doubt ,behind closed doors -they arent going to be saying we will be here ,there and everywhere in X amount of time to everyone  .

But in a subtle way Stockwood is saying ,especially in the last few interviews about 'going right through ' and 'moving through the gears ' so its quite clear he doesnt see us sitting in league 2 at the current BP forever

Its not something to really concern us
Its not like before ,everything is in hand now
UTM

👍👍👍

Quoted from HertsGTFC

But they’ve been clear, did you watch the fans forum?

Yes, not really impressed by the constant dodges on this issue. Feels like there will always be an excuse why it can't happen. Yet other, lesser, clubs seem to manage it.

Quoted from Yarborough Vaults

Yes, not really impressed by the constant dodges on this issue. Feels like there will always be an excuse why it can't happen. Yet other, lesser, clubs seem to manage it.

🙄

Quoted from Yarborough Vaults

Yes, not really impressed by the constant dodges on this issue. Feels like there will always be an excuse why it can't happen. Yet other, lesser, clubs seem to manage it.

You could argue though the majority of those 'lesser clubs ' have adequate but souless ,non armospheric stadiums for example :
Colchester (as above )
Burton
Shrewsbury
Oxford
Barnet
Boston
Been to all those and havent been that impressed ,obviously all done on a tight budget and just about functional but not much else .

Who’s flipping arsed? Really? It’s genuinely not a priory. We believe it is because the previous idiot was obsessed but in truth, it really isn’t.

They’ve made it clear that given the state of the club they inherited, money needs spending and investment is needed elsewhere.

1000s aren’t being locked out each week and whilst we may think BP is in a state, the people I hear go on about that, face to face anyway, very rarely go away or if they do it’s usually to the better stadiums…that’s doesn’t mean it’s ok, but it does make you realise that BP isn’t the worst stadium in the world.

All about priorities…and money…

I have to say arriving at Brighton if we had something a 3rd of the size it would be awesome and they’ve not even opened the gates yet.

If a new ground means waiting like this for a train every home game I’d rather stay at BP thanks

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

If a new ground means waiting like this for a train every home game I’d rather stay at BP thanks

But also it would mean more facilities for fans stay on at the stadium for an hour so and capture a bit more spend I’m still in the Amex - still a few Towns here at  nearly 5.30.

A new stadium for a club like us needs a competent council to help make a Community Stadium happen and not just land. It needs serious grant funding. At the moment a lot of councils can’t even deliver basic services.

We need to get BP to about 10 - 11k capacity for now.

I would welcome a statement saying we Will develop the ground to 10-11,000 capacity including upgrades.

At the present we have a statement from the council saying no new ground and a statement from the club saying nothing.

Maybe a case of burying bad/no news whils a quarter final is being played?

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

If a new ground means waiting like this for a train every home game I’d rather stay at BP thanks

Welcome to big crowds. 30k  people leaving at the same time. How many stadiums have a train station right outside there ground? An hour is reasonable for that size crowd

Yes, we do need a new ground. But in the short/medium term id rather we put everything into becoming a League 1 side competing for the playoffs. I am happy for us to stay at BP until that happens.  

Quoted from Mappers

You could argue though the majority of those 'lesser clubs ' have adequate but souless ,non armospheric stadiums for example :
Colchester (as above )
Burton
Shrewsbury
Oxford
Barnet
Boston
Been to all those and havent been that impressed ,obviously all done on a tight budget and just about functional but not much else .

The thing is Rotherham , Hull , Bradford , Brentford ect we’re lesser clubs than us 25 years ago when it become obvious that we needed a new ground

I personally think we missed the boat when it comes to benefitting from a new ground. The period from the late 90s until around 2010 was the ideal time to do it when enabling retail developments were still profitable and the increase in revenue made it worthwhile.

But if you look at the situation now, with soaring construction costs and a fragile economy, it's very difficult to see how it would benefit us at all to build from scratch. We would almost certainly be paying rent or interest on debt that would eat into our budget for everything else. Would the potential increase in revenue make up for that? I think the owners' stance on the issue suggests that they don't think so.

But it is clear that something needs to happen as BP in its current state won't be suitable for the sustainable League One club that we are aspiring to become.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Long term and not the priority, as long as you haven’t been living under a rock for the last 12 months the board have been clear on this.

I think everyone is aware a new stadium is "not a priority" for the owners.

I would just like them to answer these questions:

Do they seriously think the club can have a long-term future at BP?
Do they not understand the ground is not full for every game because most people dislike the Main Stand?
Will the council grant permission for new stands on the site?
Do they not think a Freemo arena would have been absolutely wonderful?

Quoted from White_shorts

I think everyone is aware a new stadium is "not a priority" for the owners.

I would just like them to answer these questions:

Do they seriously think the club can have a long-term future at BP?
Do they not understand the ground is not full for every game because most people dislike the Main Stand?
Will the council grant permission for new stands on the site?
Do they not think a Freemo arena would have been absolutely wonderful?

I have 2 questions for you.

What research has been conducted to prove that most people dislike the Main Stand?

Are you one of the enrolled Freemen?

Quoted from White_shorts

I think everyone is aware a new stadium is "not a priority" for the owners.

I would just like them to answer these questions:

Do they seriously think the club can have a long-term future at BP?
No

Do they not understand the ground is not full for every game because most people dislike the Main Stand?
More likely it's the sh1t home form

Will the council grant permission for new stands on the site?
Ask the council

Do they not think a Freemo arena would have been absolutely wonderful?
A free Freemo arena would be well wonderful

What if they replied thus?

I have never had a proper explanation of what a community stadium is. Can someone enlighten me please?

Quoted from realist

I have never had a proper explanation of what a community stadium is. Can someone enlighten me please?

It's just dressed up nicely so people don't object

Quoted from Maringer

It's a pity that the design of the Findus is (relatively) dated already. If that was able to extend across a little further and be more of a modern two-decker affair, I'd imagine a lot more seating could be installed.

The Findus was dated when it opened in 1982.  Scunthorpe built a stand in 1958 at the Old Show Ground that had unrestricted views.  24 years later, Town erected a monstrosity with 5 roof supports.  I suspect it was cheaper than cantilever.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I doubt the club would get permission to widen the upper tier, nor increase the overall capacity to more than 10k.

https://www.scunthorpetelegrap.....teds-renowned-314647

Quoted from HertsGTFC

So if a developer bought BP and built houses on it do you honestly believe there is enough space to build enough to fund a stadium from the profit.

In terms of renting a new stadium that’s another non starter as you need full control to make money from it 7 days a week and ensure it’s truly a community use asset. It’s a bonkers idea that.

I didn't say the sale of BP could fund relocation.  The Grimsby West developers intend to build a primary school, community hub and village store.  A new stadium can incorporate classrooms, meeting rooms and retail units.

How big is this stadium going to be if you think you can fit a primary school, community hub and retail units sufficient to serve 3500 new homes? You’re off your head.

Quoted from ska face

How big is this stadium going to be if you think you can fit a primary school, community hub and retail units sufficient to serve 3500 new homes? You’re off your head.

Assemblies in the concourse would be pretty cold after October Half Term until Easter.

Quoted from White_shorts

I think everyone is aware a new stadium is "not a priority" for the owners.

I would just like them to answer these questions:

Do they seriously think the club can have a long-term future at BP?
Do they not understand the ground is not full for every game because most people dislike the Main Stand?
Will the council grant permission for new stands on the site?
Do they not think a Freemo arena would have been absolutely wonderful?

The most important question is - ‘do you have £40-50m to put into building a new ground?’

Clearly the answer is no so there is no point in fixating on it or wasting money on artist impressions and feasibility studies.

The new training ground is a massive investment and will hopefully start moving soon, that’s seems to be the owners priority which seems sensible.

Quoted from ska face

How big is this stadium going to be if you think you can fit a primary school, community hub and retail units sufficient to serve 3500 new homes? You’re off your head.

3500 residential units at 17 per acre. Equals 200 acres with residential development value at 200000 per acre equals £40m of development value generated. Enough there to seed a new stadium development

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I have 2 questions for you.

What research has been conducted to prove that most people dislike the Main Stand?

Are you one of the enrolled Freemen?

I’m not a freeman, but would only use the main stand if I was very desperate. Probably only 4 times in last 65 years!

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Buy up all the houses along harrington Street that back on to BP, torch the main stand and build a new big stand in the same vein as the Findus, maybe even as big as to go over Harrington Street with a vehicle tunnel underneath. That could add many thousand seats.

turn the pitch 90 degrees...build a big home safe standing terrace opposite the findus...knock down the ponny and the osmond and tuck the new stands in so there is drive and drop off access...have a family/disabled supporter stand down one side with and away fans and additional home seating on the other....would solve the height of the stands issue...houses on harrington st would probably cost 2 million to start with,,,we can dream.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Buy up all the houses along harrington Street that back on to BP, torch the main stand and build a new big stand in the same vein as the Findus, maybe even as big as to go over Harrington Street with a vehicle tunnel underneath. That could add many thousand seats.

turn the pitch 90 degrees...build a big home safe standing terrace opposite the findus...knock down the ponny and the osmond and tuck the new stands in so there is drive and drop off access...have a family/disabled supporter stand down one side with and away fans and additional home seating on the other....would solve the height of the stands issue...houses on harrington st would probably cost 2 million to start with,,,we can dream.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Buy up all the houses along harrington Street that back on to BP, torch the main stand and build a new big stand in the same vein as the Findus, maybe even as big as to go over Harrington Street with a vehicle tunnel underneath. That could add many thousand seats.

I’m sure a modern designer would find a way of developing a stand with a much larger capacity Main Stand without needing to go back very far at all. That said, buying the Harrington Street properties between the two entrances would probably cost market value plus a percentage.

Quoted from HerveJosse

3500 residential units at 17 per acre. Equals 200 acres with residential development value at 200000 per acre equals £40m of development value generated. Enough there to seed a new stadium development

Unless I’m mistaken, Mr White Shorts seems to be under the impression a new stadium could, and should, be located within the new Grimsby West development itself. This is despite a master plan already having been put together and the relevant policy requiring: “ open space play and recreation provision, specifically the provision of three equipped play areas, an area of no less than 2ha of allotments, provision of three adult sports
fields including changing and parking facilities”.

Along with that would be a 500-place secondary school, 1.5ha of land for primary school provision and shops/community facilities provided within 2 separate hubs. I don’t think you’re going to be able to squeeze a 10-15k stadium and associated infrastructure in there too.

That’s not to say that developer contributions couldn’t contribute towards an off-site community stadium, in fact that’s probably our only realistic hope. Be interesting to see what comes out of these discussions around a 10-year strategy for the club. Think there’d be a bit more political will towards something like that if we’re able to embed ourselves more in the community, rather than what we were faced with under Fenty who just wanted to take, take, take from local taxpayers.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I’m sure a modern designer would find a way of developing a stand with a much larger capacity Main Stand without needing to go back very far at all. That said, buying the Harrington Street properties between the two entrances would probably cost market value plus a percentage.

We have missed the boat on buying the properties behind the main stand they should have been purchased yeas ago one at a time when each one became available to buy them all now would cost a fortune the owners would see pound notes and hold the club to ransom

Quoted from crusty ole pie

We have missed the boat on buying the properties behind the main stand they should have been purchased yeas ago one at a time when each one became available to buy them all now would cost a fortune the owners would see pound notes and hold the club to ransom

Lidl did that on Cromwell Road and Marklew Avenue, one of the owners dug their heels in and got a great deal apparently.

If that was done, a lot of the building work could be done whilst we played our games at BP like what happened with Spurs, but we would have to move away for a season you would have thought.

I like the idea of a new stadium and redeveloping BP. However, the one thing JS & AP have made absolutely clear is that any new stadium and major work at BP is on the back burner.

It is not that they don't want to do this but they don't want to put a massive financial stranglehold on the club by putting it into a massive debt situation. Probably, as posted above, a new stadium would cost £40/50 million and redevelopment of BP say half of that. I have no idea of the exact cost of either but I do know AP said at the forum the new training ground cost had gone up to about £6.5 million.

As posted by others we missed the boat on a new ground with the dithering of the Fenty era when development money was awash for a new ground etc. then. So unless we have a major benefactor then we have what we have. I'm not saying I like it but it is the reality of our current situation.

Do we trot out this conversation when there’s intercourse all else to talk about.

It’s not happening, it’s never been happening. Fenty kept the conversation going, Christ, he even allowed discussion about food outlets and the like without it ever getting past the post it note planning stage.

The current custodians have made it clear they serious and important investment is needed elsewhere before any mass development of BP or indeed a new stadium is built. You’d also imagine that right now, or at least the next couple of years is probably not the best time to build one.

There aren’t large numbers of fans locked out every week, there clearly isn’t too many that are ‘refusing to sit in the main stand’ because every home game, regardless of the small smattering of empty seats, it’s practically full and I’ve already said it, a new stadium isn’t a priority. That’s not to say it’s not a conversation that’s had internally but unlike the previous idiot, these guys don’t talk about stuff until it’s over the line or extremely close.

We talk until we’re blue in the face but it’s not happening and quite frankly, that doesn’t bother me or worry me. There’s a need to focus on other aspects of the club, years of neglect and lack of investment mean we need to get other things up to scratch first. Things that actually impact performance, ambition and aspiration…

Quoted from GollyGTFC

We do need a new ground. There’s no other way we can compete in the long term with the countless clubs who have moved ahead of us in the 30 or so years since the Taylor Report.

I’m talking about teams like Doncaster, Rotherham, Hull, Reading, Cardiff, Swansea, Stoke, Bolton, Wigan, Brighton, Millwall and other clubs who have rebuilt their existing stadiums in that time too. The clubs we once competed with and were well above in the football league.

While we remain at BP we will always be small fish unable to compete. We need a new stadium.

If Sunday wasn’t a wake up call about our need for a new stadium then nothing will.

It just happened to be 20 years to the week since our last visit to Brighton. They were playing at a 7,000 seat capacity athletics stadium. I went there twice. That season and the season before. The facilities were a shambles.

Now I appreciate they had lost the Goldstone Ground, but that was a squalid little dump of a stadium too. Far worse than BP was in the pre-Taylor Report days.

Of course Brighton had their little purple patch in the early 80s with a short spell in the top flight and an FA Cup Final appearance, but in reality they are a club that we outperformed for 100 years.

Brighton entered the Football League in 1920 and from then until the 2002/2003 season when we were last met we were in a higher division than them for 32 seasons and they were in a higher division than us for 16 seasons with 28 seasons at the same level.

But we’ve been left behind and our owners refuse to even acknowledge that BP is a huge part of the problem.

No one is expecting them to bankroll a new stadium from their personal funds, but we need one and when they come to sell the club if we’re still at a dilapidated BP then for all the good memories and football success they have and might achieve going forward they will have failed as owners. *Unless they sell to someone who builds a new stadium immediately.

Quoted from crusty ole pie

We have missed the boat on buying the properties behind the main stand they should have been purchased yeas ago one at a time when each one became available to buy them all now would cost a fortune the owners would see pound notes and hold the club to ransom

Wouldn't be a big surprise that any that do come on the market are quietly snapped up by a company linked to one of our owners

Quoted from bedders78

Wouldn't be a big surprise that any that do come on the market are quietly snapped up by a company linked to one of our owners

I’ve been saying that for the last 20 odd years

Quoted from GollyGTFC

No one is expecting them to bankroll a new stadium from their personal funds, but we need one and when they come to sell the club if we’re still at a dilapidated BP then for all the good memories and football success they have and might achieve going forward they will have failed as owners. *Unless they sell to someone who builds a new stadium immediately.

I wouldn't go that far, as they haven't come in promising a stadium. I think we all know that our stadium situation needs to improve, but most of the boats to deliver one have long left the harbour. Failure would be not delivering a new training ground, which I'm incredibly confident they will deliver.

A £50m stadium cannot cripple the club, I think one possibility is that the electric vehicle industry explodes exponentially and myEnergi become an absolutely huge player that can afford to stump up a considerable sum for a new stadium. A lot needs to happen for that, hydrogen is looking like being a competitor to EVs, and Toyota have a hydrogen car on sale, which can be refuelled at 12 locations in the UK currently.

Cannot get my head round people who think a new stadium or significant redevelopment isn't a priority.

We're swimming against the tide and the task at hand is getting harder and harder every single year.  We've got a self imposed ceiling of our own growth.  If we accept that, fine.  But we'll never progress beyond our current level, if anything we'll just get dragged back again.  Culture, ethos, development of people...all fantastic stuff and absolutely should underpin what this club is about.  But that alone won't move us forward, just like a new stadium alone won't.

It's also completely possible to have multiple priorities at once.  Said before and I firmly believe that 1878 are far to smart to just sit twiddling their thumbs, if there isn't a plan for significant change then I'll be incredibly surprised.  The perspex screen in the Upper aside, the investment in the ground is minimal.  Whilst expensive, the relaying of the pitch was a cheaper option.   Why invest significantly if you're not going to stick with it for the long-term?

Quoted from jamesgtfc

I wouldn't go that far, as they haven't come in promising a stadium. I think we all know that our stadium situation needs to improve, but most of the boats to deliver one have long left the harbour. Failure would be not delivering a new training ground, which I'm incredibly confident they will deliver.

A £50m stadium cannot cripple the club, I think one possibility is that the electric vehicle industry explodes exponentially and myEnergi become an absolutely huge player that can afford to stump up a considerable sum for a new stadium. A lot needs to happen for that, hydrogen is looking like being a competitor to EVs, and Toyota have a hydrogen car on sale, which can be refuelled at 12 locations in the UK currently.

I randomly got chatting to a guy at a family event who’s involved in the development of renewable energy . He told me once the problem of safe storage of hydrogen on the vehicle is solved he expects electric cars to relegated to second choice . He reckons this will be achieved by 2028 and told me not to bother buying an electric car .

Quoted from aldi_01

Do we trot out this conversation when there’s intercourse all else to talk about.

It’s not happening, it’s never been happening. Fenty kept the conversation going, Christ, he even allowed discussion about food outlets and the like without it ever getting past the post it note planning stage.

The current custodians have made it clear they serious and important investment is needed elsewhere before any mass development of BP or indeed a new stadium is built. You’d also imagine that right now, or at least the next couple of years is probably not the best time to build one.

There aren’t large numbers of fans locked out every week, there clearly isn’t too many that are ‘refusing to sit in the main stand’ because every home game, regardless of the small smattering of empty seats, it’s practically full and I’ve already said it, a new stadium isn’t a priority. That’s not to say it’s not a conversation that’s had internally but unlike the previous idiot, these guys don’t talk about stuff until it’s over the line or extremely close.

We talk until we’re blue in the face but it’s not happening and quite frankly, that doesn’t bother me or worry me. There’s a need to focus on other aspects of the club, years of neglect and lack of investment mean we need to get other things up to scratch first. Things that actually impact performance, ambition and aspiration…

The elephant in the room you are ignoring is that the new owners stated objective of moving sustainably up the leagues and staying in a  ramshackle 7200 home capacity stadium are incompatable.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I randomly got chatting to a guy at a family event who’s involved in the development of renewable energy . He told me once the problem of safe storage of hydrogen on the vehicle is solved he expects electric cars to relegated to second choice . He reckons this will be achieved by 2028 and told me not to bother buying an electric car .

Will manufacturers or consumers dictate that we will need better, quicker charging, smaller batteries or will it be something that falls by the wayside? With petrol/diesel sales becoming obsolete in 2030 (I think) for new vehicles, there’s got to be some kind of cheaper more affordable option, especially the way that prices are at the moment for electricity

Back to the conversation of new ground, couldn’t we have solar panels on the roof of each stand? Or some kind of wind/fan turbine within the floodlight pylons? Probably not viable but it’s food for thought (and I’ve got too much time on my hands today!).

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I randomly got chatting to a guy at a family event who’s involved in the development of renewable energy . He told me once the problem of safe storage of hydrogen on the vehicle is solved he expects electric cars to relegated to second choice . He reckons this will be achieved by 2028 and told me not to bother buying an electric car .

Toyota have solved it. This is non-football and there is a thread there titled Uni Survey which is about just this if you want to debate further  

Hydrogen isn't a competitor to batteries as things stand. It's an incredibly wasteful energy storage medium and we would need massive amounts of excess energy to make it worthwhile due to the difficulties of dealing with it. It is usable in some corner cases (for farm machinery, perhaps - JCB have bet on hydrogen combustion engines!), but for general transportation, it's unlikely to be a goer.

New technology will probably reduce the cost of hydrogen production in coming decades, but then there is the expense of setting up a new supply infrastructure whereas batteries can be plugged in anywhere, providing you have a grid connection (slow charging in most places, admittedly). Toyota has been talking about Hydrogen cars for decades yet there are still very few on the road anywhere in the world.

We just need better batteries and these are on the way so hopefully MyEnergi will continue to do well and not just because of their sponsorship of GTFC!

Quoted from GollyGTFC

If Sunday wasn’t a wake up call about our need for a new stadium then nothing will.

It just happened to be 20 years to the week since our last visit to Brighton. They were playing at a 7,000 seat capacity athletics stadium. I went there twice. That season and the season before. The facilities were a shambles.

Now I appreciate they had lost the Goldstone Ground, but that was a squalid little dump of a stadium too. Far worse than BP was in the pre-Taylor Report days.

Of course Brighton had their little purple patch in the early 80s with a short spell in the top flight and an FA Cup Final appearance, but in reality they are a club that we outperformed for 100 years.

Brighton entered the Football League in 1920 and from then until the 2002/2003 season when we were last met we were in a higher division than them for 32 seasons and they were in a higher division than us for 16 seasons with 28 seasons at the same level.

But we’ve been left behind and our owners refuse to even acknowledge that BP is a huge part of the problem.

No one is expecting them to bankroll a new stadium from their personal funds, but we need one and when they come to sell the club if we’re still at a dilapidated BP then for all the good memories and football success they have and might achieve going forward they will have failed as owners. *Unless they sell to someone who builds a new stadium immediately.

Sorry but that’s an absolutely ridiculous comparison. Brighton’s owner is a billionaire who has supposedly invested hundreds of millions into them, including £93m into the stadium project itself. I’d be surprised if Stockwood & Petit had a quarter of £93m between them, let alone going spare.

Falmer itself had already been granted planning permission in 2002 by the council. It then took another 5 years for permission to be granted by the relevant govt minister and further 6 before a match was played there.

It’s comparing apples with solid gold oranges grown in one of the wealthiest parts of the country. Think it’s disingenuous to make out that the new owners don’t acknowledge BP is a problem. They’re not stupid, but to come in and start talking about new grounds straight off the bat would be, given where we were 12/18 months ago.

Quoted from HerveJosse

Interview with council leader on Freeman St generally just regurgitating an old rejection of site under previous regime. Not new news at all. Of course we need a new ground but was never likely to be Freeman Street

Why was it never likely to be Freeman Street?  I think it's a great location. Within walking distance of a densely populated area and close to the A180.  It's a wonderful opportunity to have a modern stadium with a similar matchday atmosphere to Blundell Park.

Someone here said that a certain ex board member's in-laws own land off Peaks Parkway.  I shouldn't have to spell out what I think could have happened during summer 2021.  It would explain why Stockwood and Pettit have made no mention of Freeman Street or Grimsby West.

If you think Freemo is a better location than the bottom end of the Parkway, then I suggest you send letters or emails to the owners.

https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1536391691/s-0/vr-1/

Quoted from White_shorts

Someone here said that a certain ex board member's in-laws own land off Peaks Parkway.  I shouldn't have to spell out what I think could have happened during summer 2021.  It would explain why Stockwood and Pettit have made no mention of Freeman Street or Grimsby West.

Please do spell it out, I’ve got no idea what you’re on about

Just something my missus said to me the other night..... (no, not that)

She said if the club want some money to build a new stand, why not sell off six inch square pieces of the wood from the old stand to supporters as a souvenir?  Maybe charge a tenner per piece.  I'd certainly buy one as a keepsake from where I used to sit back in the day.  Any thoughts?

Quoted from Saudimariner

Just something my missus said to me the other night..... (no, not that)

She said if the club want some money to build a new stand, why not sell off six inch square pieces of the wood from the old stand to supporters as a souvenir?  Maybe charge a tenner per piece.  I'd certainly buy one as a keepsake from where I used to sit back in the day.  Any thoughts?

I am sure all sorts of memorabilia will be on offer - once we finally make a decision on whether we are going to rebuild BP.

Like you many fans might like to pay for a momento of the older parts of the stadium to raise money for the project. What we need is an action plan and off we go!

Even if the only thing they did was to build a new Main Stand the full length that would be sufficient for the foreseeable assuming ongoing improvements are made to the overall stadium.

The money needed would be substantial but this is where I thought we would really score with these owners - able to attract suitable investors for big projects.

Just a thought… I get NELC can’t help fund a new stadium, and probably ethically right considering the pot isn’t that deep and have more important things to fund locally in the current economic situation, but given the recent exposure the club has given the area this season would it be out the question to ask them for a slice of the funding for a new stand to replace the Main? It would satisfy the club and fans and be an excellent piece of PR for the council .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Just a thought… I get NELC can’t help fund a new stadium, and probably ethically right considering the pot isn’t that deep and have more important things to fund locally in the current economic situation, but given the recent exposure the club has given the area this season would it be out the question to ask them for a slice of the funding for a new stand to replace the Main? It would satisfy the club and fans and be an excellent piece of PR for the council .

'North East Lincs Stand'  sounds nice.

Quoted from DB

'North East Lincs Stand'  sounds nice.

It’s probably in the north north east direction wise so how about The North North East North East Lincs Stand?

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Just a thought… I get NELC can’t help fund a new stadium, and probably ethically right considering the pot isn’t that deep and have more important things to fund locally in the current economic situation, but given the recent exposure the club has given the area this season would it be out the question to ask them for a slice of the funding for a new stand to replace the Main? It would satisfy the club and fans and be an excellent piece of PR for the council .

The council could help with a new stadium. Plenty of other council's have. I appreciate that is probably unlikely until the Tories are removed from power nationally and locally.

Other council's have provided loans. Other council have helped with infrastructure improvements (roads etc...) which they can recoup by income from the newly regenerated area around the stadium attracting new business. Other councils have built and owned, either fully or partly, the stadium, As long as the tenant pays a fair rent that gives value to local taxpayers what's the problem?

A partnership between Grimsby Town FC & North East Lincolnshire Council seems the best way of delivering a new stadium.

North East Lincolnshire doesn't have a good quality cinema and entertainment complex. Such as the one at Rushden Lakes or Glasshoughton. Is a new stadium as part of a larger scheme viable?

The club's owners are in bed with AFC Wimbledon as part of the Fair Game initiative aren't they? The way they built the new Plough Lane is a great example of how to do it. They've built a fantastic Main Stand with all the facilities they need along side 3 smaller, good quality semi-permanent/long-term temporary stands that they plan to replace as and when they need them for the growth of their club. And when they do replace them they will be able to sell the existing stands to smaller clubs to reassemble elsewhere.

I think this "we're Grimsby, we can't a new stadium" line is a load of BS. I think too many locals in NEL have become institutionalised into thinking projects like a new stadium happen elsewhere, but not in Grimsby.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

The council could help with a new stadium. Plenty of other council's have. I appreciate that is probably unlikely until the Tories are removed from power nationally and locally.

Other council's have provided loans. Other council have helped with infrastructure improvements (roads etc...) which they can recoup by income from the newly regenerated area around the stadium attracting new business. Other councils have built and owned, either fully or partly, the stadium, As long as the tenant pays a fair rent that gives value to local taxpayers what's the problem?

A partnership between Grimsby Town FC & North East Lincolnshire Council seems the best way of delivering a new stadium.

North East Lincolnshire doesn't have a good quality cinema and entertainment complex. Such as the one at Rushden Lakes or Glasshoughton. Is a new stadium as part of a larger scheme viable?

The club's owners are in bed with AFC Wimbledon as part of the Fair Game initiative aren't they? The way they built the new Plough Lane is a great example of how to do it. They've built a fantastic Main Stand with all the facilities they need along side 3 smaller, good quality semi-permanent/long-term temporary stands that they plan to replace as and when they need them for the growth of their club. And when they do replace them they will be able to sell the existing stands to smaller clubs to reassemble elsewhere.

I think this "we're Grimsby, we can't a new stadium" line is a load of BS. I think too many locals in NEL have become institutionalised into thinking projects like a new stadium happen elsewhere, but not in Grimsby.

When Labour get into power it would likely be called the Suzy/Eddie (or what he/she/it is called this week) Izzard Stadium.

LOL! 😂😂😂😂👍🇬🇧

Quoted from arryarryarry

When Labour get into power it would likely be called the Suzy/Eddie (or what he/she/it is called this week) Izzard Stadium.

Can you expand on why this would be the case please. I am not sure I understand.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Can you expand on why this would be the case please. I am not sure I understand.

The 'War on Wokery' is obviously working on some people. Just like the billionaires want.

Quoted from arryarryarry

When Labour get into power it would likely be called the Suzy/Eddie (or what he/she/it is called this week) Izzard Stadium.

To be fair Labour never seemed to help much in the 25 years we was looking to move to a stadium while they was in charge .

Quoted from arryarryarry

When Labour get into power it would likely be called the Suzy/Eddie (or what he/she/it is called this week) Izzard Stadium.

Not allowed to use the word ‘stadium’ anymore due to fact that the woke arena’s, ground’s and the right wing showground’s get offended to the root of their foundations

You can’t even have a discussion about a new ground without someone trying to turn it into some sort of imaginary battle against wokeness. It’s a absolute nonsense word that seems to have replaced political correctness as the go to phrase for anyone who doesn’t want to be a d1ck about other people. I couldn’t care less what Eddie Izzard identifies as that’s up to them. I do know that they’ve shown more guts and determination that most people are capable of and would recommend anyone watching the documentary about their marathon exploits. Anyway hope nobody anti woke is offended by that because I guess that would make them woke.