|
Post by scooter on May 16, 2005 19:38:57 GMT 1
I await the inevitable shouting down, but we don't all have kids, and I don't want to be sitting in a "family stand" whererever I am in the ground. Sorry
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 19:43:54 GMT 1
Paul, You make your point about the corporate side, but do you think the Gay Meadow experience is an attractive proposition for a family Of course not Foxie but Im not sure the NM will be. What facilities will be on offer to appeal to families there compared to the current GM? Again another factor is the location, I know of familes who might pop into town before/after the game, perhaps go to a couple of shops with the kids before going to a pub or getting something to eat. Does Meole Brace have the same appeal as a trip into town and then the game Will parents want to have to travel on a lot of public transport (from my house in Heath Farm it would be two buses) with kids as there is limited parking in the NM area? I know the NM will (eventually) happen so a lot of this is academic but I can understand why people are reluctant to move.
|
|
|
Post by Guest on May 16, 2005 19:46:45 GMT 1
Over the years there has been talk of wonderful facilities and transport links for the average fan, but lets face it, its not going to happen. Transport links, perhaps not wonderful but functional, will be in place for the first game at the New Meadow. A bus service will be provided from the Town Centre and park-and-ride from the Shirehall car park.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 19:49:49 GMT 1
Steady on our ground is NOT a sh!thole-its our home, I happen tohave many fond memories of the Meadow. Certainly it has fallen into disrepair over the past few seasons but that is due purely to the fact we are moving. I dare say if were'nt moving the board would be obliged to invest in ground maintainance-as a kid I always viewed the Meadow as being fairly smart & simple to maintain. Indeed with some work and the removal of that bl00dy TV scaffolding the ground would look just fine.
in answer to the earlier question about what is so special about our ground?-just look at it, its probably the most picturesque ground in the league-especially in summer. It's not like 90% of ground nowerdays which are units on industrial estates. In my view it is a 'proper' football ground unlike most of the all-seated, oversized, atmosphere-less, corporate shells i've visted recently.
The Meadow is designed for people to watch football, not host conferences etc, and in this era where club are falling over each other to make an extra penny there in lies the problem.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 19:54:27 GMT 1
Transport links, perhaps not wonderful but functional, will be in place for the first game at the New Meadow. A bus service will be provided from the Town Centre and park-and-ride from the Shirehall car park. What about the train station that was going to be built Fair enough about the buses being available but as I've pointed out on previous posts people aren't going to want to have to catch a number of buses to get to a football match. On many occasions Ive been in town with mates and after a few beers persuaded them to come down to the Meadow. I can't really see them waiting round for a bus before and after the match As I said I know its going to happen but the powers that be should be thinking about these issues. Potential deals perhaps with Arriva to get to the Meadow etc Theres a lot of fans in the North side of Shrewsbury and its a fair old walk to the NM
|
|
|
Post by SeanBroseley on May 16, 2005 19:56:10 GMT 1
To be honest we will miss the family stand at the Gay Meadow. I'll especially miss hitting my head against the roof supports at the back of the stand.
When I read kickin's question I though it was about the massively high hurdle of properly organising the use of the football club's facilities for commercial and community purposes once the move eventually happens. How is the club going to organise that and be up to the task?
|
|
|
Post by Guest on May 16, 2005 19:59:04 GMT 1
What about the train station that was going to be built Paul, that was never on the agenda. Its very much down as a nice to have at some point in the, probably distant, future.
|
|
|
Post by mattmw on May 16, 2005 20:00:06 GMT 1
A new ground is no guarantee of success, but look at the sides who have got promoted this season.
Sunderland, Wigan, Hull and Sc***horpe all in new grounds and promoted.
Torquay, Gillingham, Rotherham, Kidderminster and Cambridge - all in old grounds but relegated.
The old days of a couple of pints and a quick stroll to the ground at 2.50 are fast disappearing - people might not like it but unless town catch up and start meeting the needs of "new" supporters they are going to get left behind.
|
|
|
Post by scooter on May 16, 2005 20:11:33 GMT 1
A new ground is no guarantee of success, but look at the sides who have got promoted this season. Sunderland, Wigan, Hull and Sc***horpe all in new grounds and promoted. Torquay, Gillingham, Rotherham, Kidderminster and Cambridge - all in old grounds but relegated. The old days of a couple of pints and a quick stroll to the ground at 2.50 are fast disappearing - people might not like it but unless town catch up and start meeting the needs of "new" supporters they are going to get left behind. I hope we don't have to wait as long as Sc***horpe to get some success - "new" ground is 17 years old. In that time Gillingham have totally rebuilt the Priestfield Stadium and Kiddy's ground is much better now than when they came into the League. Hull is the best example, but they are in a big city and not comparable to Shrewsbury. Sunderland have not come close to filling their ground this season.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 20:13:33 GMT 1
I estimate they will sell an extra 500-1000 pints a game the dearth of local places to drink will help this The revenue streams that will be opened up are not hugely aimed at the average fan, it look very much like the corporate / exec market is where they hope to increase their revenue, along with hospitality during the week At the moment I get entry for £12, and maybe a programme at £2.50 If I get a ticket for £14, couple of pints at £2.50 each and a programme at £2.50, then a bag of chips at half time for £1.50 then the club can walk away with quite a bit extra than what they currently get Fair point, but think of the people that MIGHT start supporting us-priced out of preniership football? Games will become overun with appathy, while they attend a cold Tuesday night LDV game agsinst Colchester? No. They will not be supporters (not until they have/last a good half season under thier belt anyway) but spectators-you can throw any idea of an 'hostile' atmosphere for away teams out of the window if they attend games in any number, as I said early most of these new grounds you can hear a pin drop at times, at least our current fans produce some atmopshere-which adds to the whole matchday experience. I really don't care for 'corporate' football fans who turn up and ask 'which colour are we in today' or shout 'your not singing anymore' after the opposition score Whilst I accept attracting new supporters is vital I don't have to like it ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Also the cost-I went every Saturday away game (except Orient) last season-simply because the home games were costing me very little to go to after I had bought my season ticket. Whilst a price rise will be necessary to cover the higher running cost of the NM it will price many fans out of going to away games. I've found it hard to support my 'away days' considering I also have to commute to home games, work and even for nights out/visits to girlfriends, thats just me a 21 year old! What about the bloke with 2 kids, a mortagage, council tax and football habit to support. If prices rise to level we see at most new grounds we could see a fall off in attendances as lower income supporters, OAP's and kids find themselves priced out by higher entry costs and transport costs to the NM. £2.50 on the bus may not see like much to us but what about the kid who uses his pocket money to attend games-sounds like something ShrewsTrust could address once the move is complete! Ohhh for the days when football matches were attended by cloth capped men who payed sixpence to get in ;D Sadly those days have gone and if we don't adapt to the world around us we will perish!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 20:15:57 GMT 1
Most away fans consider the current Meadow to be a morgue.
We've seen an improvement in atmosphere in recent months but that's down to the fans, not the fact that we stand on a terrace.
|
|
|
Post by scooter on May 16, 2005 20:20:37 GMT 1
Most away fans consider the current Meadow to be a morgue. We've seen an improvement in atmosphere in recent months but that's down to the fans, not the fact that we stand on a terrace. There are plenty of away fans who come because of the location as well. They can enjoy the town and the match.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 20:21:49 GMT 1
When you get the chance ask the fans of,
Southampton, Sunderland, middlesboro, Hull City Northampton Walsall leicester, Derby Reading Bolton
if they would rather go back to their old stadium. you know the answer would be No. If you doubt what I say put up a poll on their site and find out.
Time to wake up to the future and stop being afraid of change
|
|
|
Post by mattmw on May 16, 2005 20:26:50 GMT 1
Sc***horpe probably wasn't the best example to use as its not got the facilities of most new grounds.
The point about new ground leading to more successful sides isn't necessarily about attendances, its to do with earning money 7 days a week, 365 days a year from the ground. Sunderland might not get a full stadium week in week out but the Stadium of Light earns them much more money each week than the old Roker Park ground ever did.
Gillinghams ground is a good example - the stadium itself may be new but the club has had to fund that through loans - which has led to less investment in the side and this season to relegation.
I know a family who used to sit in Towns family stand but have now decided to go to Telford games instead purely becuse the facilities are much better for families at the New Bucks Head - when we start loosing fans to Telford you can tell how bad our facilities must be!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2005 20:27:12 GMT 1
There are plenty of away fans who come because of the location as well. They can enjoy the town and the match. Scoot, I could argue with you until we're both blue in the gills - but what, in the end, is the point?
|
|
|
Post by Pilch on May 16, 2005 20:30:31 GMT 1
I hope we don't have to wait as long as Sc***horpe to get some success - "new" ground is 17 years old. In that time Gillingham have totally rebuilt the Priestfield Stadium and Kiddy's ground is much better now than when they came into the League. Hull is the best example, but they are in a big city and not comparable to Shrewsbury. Sunderland have not come close to filling their ground this season. we've won more there than they have ;D
|
|
|
Post by Guest on May 17, 2005 6:53:34 GMT 1
When the Council considered the plans for the New Meadow they accepted the point that the existing site was not the place for a football ground. If this was their view what was the chance of them accepting a planning application to redevelop the ground.
The capacity would still have had to remain at 8000 (perhaps lower) and there was no answer to the parking problem at the existing site
|
|
|
Post by Jonah guest on May 17, 2005 15:33:57 GMT 1
One for the anoraks. Just how many games have been lost because of flooding during the last 10-15 years?
Might be wrong but I think the answer will probably put the whole flooding question into context.
Also this big stampede of companies wanting to invest in the NM's new corporate facilities. Who are where are they from?? Even the chairman and MW's company have/are with drawing there sponsorship.
|
|
|
Post by meoleshrew2 on May 17, 2005 15:39:32 GMT 1
Also this big stampede of companies wanting to invest in the NM's new corporate facilities. Who are where are they from?? Even the chairman and MW's company have/are with drawing there sponsorship. That would make sense to me, they put money in anyway, why take away a position for other sponsers?
|
|
|
Post by Jonah Guest on May 17, 2005 15:50:15 GMT 1
Interesting reply.By the way who are the new shirt sponsors?
|
|
|
Post by meoleshrew2 on May 17, 2005 16:10:45 GMT 1
Interesting reply.By the way who are the new shirt sponsors? A no eyed deer
|
|
|
Post by Salop_Ian on May 17, 2005 17:40:26 GMT 1
One for the anoraks. Just how many games have been lost because of flooding during the last 10-15 years? Might be wrong but I think the answer will probably put the whole flooding question into context. Also this big stampede of companies wanting to invest in the NM's new corporate facilities. Who are where are they from?? Even the chairman and MW's company have/are with drawing there sponsorship. We've probably lost five or six games due to flooding. But it's not not being able to play matches that is the problem with the flooding - its the damage that it does to the ground and the buildings. When the ground floods they have to get the fire brigade in to pump the water out. Everytime the pitch goes under water it has to be chemically treated to make it safe to play football on. If the water gets into the the stand, offices, sponsors lounge and players bar then they have to be redecorated. There is a great financial cost and the club cannot insure against flood damage now because of the increased incidence of flooding.
|
|
|
Post by Jonah on May 17, 2005 20:41:55 GMT 1
So who pays for the bowling greens and the Quarry etc and all the other areas open to the public to be cleaned??
Very rarely do the fire bigade involved ifs left to nature.
|
|
|
Post by Link51 on May 17, 2005 20:46:33 GMT 1
Interesting reply.By the way who are the new shirt sponsors? Aren't that company that make sports lockers and the like still going? We always did well when they were on our shirts
|
|