Well, it looks like Oxford United are going to be playing their games in another new stadium come 2026 when their lease on the Kassam stadium runs out. No, this isn’t a dog at Jason, Andrew etc but more of shock that they are moving after only being there for 20 or so years!

https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/september/stadium-land-decision-reaction/

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Well, it looks like Oxford United are going to be playing their games in another new stadium come 2026 when their lease on the Kassam stadium runs out. No, this isn’t a dog at Jason, Andrew etc but more of shock that they are moving after only being there for 20 or so years!

https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/september/stadium-land-decision-reaction/

Complex back story to the Kassam Stadium, namely that they’ve never owned it and Firoz Kassam is a nut job.

Coventry are another club that were toying with moving to another new ground despite their current ground only opening in 2005, for not entirely dissimilar reasons. They appear to have got things in order there now, however.

My daughter lives in the next village so once built we need to get in the same league as them to provide for a great away day, for me anyway.

Another out of town stadium, that’s a thumbs down from me. I liked the Manor - good little ground with decent atmosphere.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Well, it looks like Oxford United are going to be playing their games in another new stadium come 2026 when their lease on the Kassam stadium runs out. No, this isn’t a dog at Jason, Andrew etc but more of shock that they are moving after only being there for 20 or so years!

https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/september/stadium-land-decision-reaction/

So how on earth have they/ will they pay for two brand new stadiums in 30 years or so?!

Quoted from toontown

So how on earth have they/ will they pay for two brand new stadiums in 30 years or so?!

They didn't pay for the stadium it doesn't belong to them :-


Several questions have been raised regarding the status of the Kassam Stadium Licence agreement and why Oxford United Football Club could not simply continue to use the Kassam Stadium.

The position is that after 30th June 2026 Oxford United will have no legal right to use or occupy the Kassam Stadium.

The Kassam Stadium is owned and operated privately by a stadium company “Firoka (Oxford United Stadium) Limited”. The stadium company is separate from the football club and owned by Firoz Kassam. Oxford United hold a license to use the stadium which ends on the 30th June 2026.

Oxford United are restricted under the terms of the current licence agreement to use the Kassam Stadium for first team home league and cup matches, some friendly games and specified testimonial games. Oxford United have use of some office space and the ticket office at the stadium and are not permitted to use the rest of the stadium outside of those allowed match days.

  

Quoted from arryarryarry

They didn't pay for the stadium it doesn't belong to them :-


Several questions have been raised regarding the status of the Kassam Stadium Licence agreement and why Oxford United Football Club could not simply continue to use the Kassam Stadium.

The position is that after 30th June 2026 Oxford United will have no legal right to use or occupy the Kassam Stadium.

The Kassam Stadium is owned and operated privately by a stadium company “Firoka (Oxford United Stadium) Limited”. The stadium company is separate from the football club and owned by Firoz Kassam. Oxford United hold a license to use the stadium which ends on the 30th June 2026.

Oxford United are restricted under the terms of the current licence agreement to use the Kassam Stadium for first team home league and cup matches, some friendly games and specified testimonial games. Oxford United have use of some office space and the ticket office at the stadium and are not permitted to use the rest of the stadium outside of those allowed match days.

  

Aah OK thanks, should have read all the link shouldn't I!

Oxford have to find a new ground/ ground share after 30th June 2226, in 2 1/2 years time. It would be interesting to know how they are going to do this on an average 8,000 gate.

Have they got the land?

Have they got planning permission, or plans drawn up?

And the biggie

How are they going to finance it all?

Quoted from DB

Oxford have to find a new ground/ ground share after 30th June 2226, in 2 1/2 years time. It would be interesting to know how they are going to do this on an average 8,000 gate.

Have they got the land?

Have they got planning permission, or plans drawn up?

And the biggie

How are they going to finance it all?

Re: finance; a combination of "shareholder equity" and "long-term funding". In other words, the owners are putting up the bulk of the funds with the remainder being bridged via a small mortgage. Oxford's owners have a combined net worth of about $3 billion, which helps quite a bit.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/23441371.oxford-united-finance-director-new-stadium-will-boost-club/

The question I’d ask is what on earth do the current stadium owners plan to do with it if Oxford United move out?! Surely a deal is going to be done here to extend the lease?

Quoted from Poojah

Re: finance; a combination of "shareholder equity" and "long-term funding". In other words, the owners are putting up the bulk of the funds with the remainder being bridged via a small mortgage. Oxford's owners have a combined net worth of about $3 billion, which helps quite a bit.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/23441371.oxford-united-finance-director-new-stadium-will-boost-club/

Thanks for that Poojah, it makes it interesting reading that the owners funded a £4 loss, which was more than JS & AP paid for our club.Unbelievable the money that's floating around; rich man's toy comes to mind, but they say they are in it for the long term, which I hope they are.

Quoted from Heisenberg

The question I’d ask is what on earth do the current stadium owners plan to do with it if Oxford United move out?! Surely a deal is going to be done here to extend the lease?

Exactly what I was thinking. As much as United need a stadium, they can ultimately build one and sodomist off. They have options. But that stadium is 100% dependent on United. Its not like some other football is going to take it over. Their best bet would be to sell the stadium to Oxford United

Quoted from DB

Oxford have to find a new ground/ ground share after 30th June 2226, in 2 1/2 years time. It would be interesting to know how they are going to do this on an average 8,000 gate.

Have they got the land?

Have they got planning permission, or plans drawn up?

And the biggie

How are they going to finance it all?

Maybe they should reach out to David Hilton for advice on how to deliver an unaffordable stadium within 24 months.

Quoted from Heisenberg

The question I’d ask is what on earth do the current stadium owners plan to do with it if Oxford United move out?! Surely a deal is going to be done here to extend the lease?

There’ll probably be another desperate Rugby Union team coming along at some point. There seems to be a few down there who are a bit nomadic.

Quoted from Poojah

Complex back story to the Kassam Stadium, namely that they’ve never owned it and Firoz Kassam is a nut job.

Coventry are another club that were toying with moving to another new ground despite their current ground only opening in 2005, for not entirely dissimilar reasons. They appear to have got things in order there now, however.

I can't be bothered to look into details, but there doesn't seem to be much common sense in Oxford and Coventry.  

Before leaving a historic old ground that they own, surely a club should have a cast-iron legal agreement to play at a new stadium for at least 100 years.  The company that paid for construction should accept a percentage of gate receipts.

Think Cov are sorted now with a Lease following the demise of the rugby franchise that bought the Ricoh off the council.

Quoted from White_shorts

I can't be bothered to look into details, but there doesn't seem to be much common sense in Oxford and Coventry.  

Before leaving a historic old ground that they own, surely a club should have a cast-iron legal agreement to play at a new stadium for at least 100 years.  The company that paid for construction should accept a percentage of gate receipts.

The Coventry situation is all different shades of complex, but at the heart of the Oxford United story is the simple case of a basket case former owner - Firoz Kassam (after whom the ground is officially named, but ne'er referred to as by Oxford fans themselves).

Ultimately, if you have ownership and full control of the club and the stadium they play in, you can make any lease for the stadium as attractive or as unattractive as you wish. See also: United, Scunthorpe.

I have been to Oxfords ground ...

I can see why they want a new one besides the lease implications

Awful

A close 2nd to Colchester on my least favourite grounds list

Giving this one a bump for our old friend White_shorts. Photos and video of Oxford’s proposed new ground. A black and white version of this on the docks would be spiffing; just need to find £40m or so stuffed down the back of the sofa.

https://oufcstadium.co.uk/

https://oufcstadium.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Creating-a-new-home-for-Oxford-United.pdf

Smaller version of Brighton then - hadn’t appreciated how close it was to Oxford Parkway station.

Greenfield site but with plenty of local facilities to be provided - looks a winner for Oxford, very high property value area and the other development will help fund it.

Quoted from Limerick Mariner

Smaller version of Brighton then - hadn’t appreciated how close it was to Oxford Parkway station.

Greenfield site but with plenty of local facilities to be provided - looks a winner for Oxford, very high property value area and the other development will help fund it.

Yeah, I’m no great fan of out of town grounds but like Brighton, the cost and availability of land in their respective city centres made / makes doing something there virtually impossible. Provided the necessary transport links are in place, it’s the next best thing.

Still, those things not being true in Grimsby, should we ever find ourselves in a position to relocate, it has to be central and regenerative. That’s a hypothetical problem only, though, at this moment in time.

Quoted from Poojah

Yeah, I’m no great fan of out of town grounds but like Brighton, the cost and availability of land in their respective city centres made / makes doing something there virtually impossible. Provided the necessary transport links are in place, it’s the next best thing.

Still, those things not being true in Grimsby, should we ever find ourselves in a position to relocate, it has to be central and regenerative. That’s a hypothetical problem only, though, at this moment in time.

Agree completely. This route works for wealthy southern towns and cities. If a new stadium ever comes to pass - we need to be Burnley not Brighton…

That tree branch tunnel is interesting, if seemingly a bit pointless.

Considering how some of our fans froth at the mouth because FGR don't sell meat filled pies with meat gravy and meat as a side, with the Rawhide of a live cow as packaging, I can't imagine it would go down well here.

Great news for Oxford.  It genuinely looks incredible.  







So bloody jealous.

If it is 2226 then none of us need an opinion on it as we will all be 6 foot under or scattered to the wind

Would assume the cost of land is slightly more expensive then north east Lincolnshire, so I presume it would be cheaper up here.