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Post by theriverside on Nov 25, 2004 10:41:05 GMT 1
I think there is a possible gap in the market for a sports bar in Shrewsbury, could this supporters bar fill that, may be a good little earner, a sports bar with an STFC theme??? Obviously you would be looking at activities throughout the week. Live quite locally to the NM so would probably be interested. It's something I'd love to do if I had £100k to start it up. Me and a mate looked into it quite seriously a few years back. Minnesota Fats in Oakengates is the sort of venue we were thinking of copying, well a cross between that and the Phoenix Club Properly done this venue could be a goldmine for the club, I just cant see them putting enough money into it or having the foresight anyway, we will end up with an empty shell of a room like Chester have.
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Post by stainesr on Nov 25, 2004 14:31:38 GMT 1
riverside: I think you are being a bit negative. It could turn out like Wycombe's stadium, which I think is excellent. The fact it is not dumped in the middle of an industrial estate in the nasty part of town already works in the NM's favour. I would rather the club invested in modest but solid facilities than break the bank. Look at Chelsea: over-investment in Stamford Bridge means the club would make a loss without Abramovic.
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Post by theriverside on Nov 25, 2004 17:50:38 GMT 1
Just a little sceptical rather than all out negative. Sure lets wait for the plans, and I'd love to be proved wrong but we need to have someone so so switched on that can influence the club to spend at least a little cash on this. If we can get someone to take hold of this in the same way that Sib has with the clubshop then we have no worries but (supporters groups excepted) do we have anyone within STFC who will treat this as enough of a priority?
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Nov 25, 2004 19:10:47 GMT 1
We often come to Shrewsbury on a Sunday to see my Mum and take her to lunch.
A STFC themed comfortable place serving good roast beef and yorkshires would get our custom.
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 26, 2004 0:52:36 GMT 1
We saw the plans tonight at the Commercial Group meeting.
The plans show a public bar area of 90 and a players lounge/bar area of 58.
Bearing in mind - for example - the season ticket holder base - 148 on matchdays would be the minimum sensible figure. But 90 is only ten more than we have now, and this when the capacity of the ground represents a 25% increase on the Gay Meadow.
I tend to think that the players lounge should be kicked upstairs - where space is at a premium something that will be as under-utilised as the players' lounge has no place on the ground floor.
I have to say I think the ground floor looks a bit shoe-horned with the admin offices down there too. I'm not even sure that Whitters has a window.
On matchdays the second floor will be there for the executive boxes, but the rest of us are going to have to make do with plastic pint glasses in the concourses.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2004 9:36:57 GMT 1
And the away supporters as well Sean.....
Ah well, at least the pubs round Gay Meadow will keep a lot of their trade.
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 26, 2004 9:54:02 GMT 1
The thing is the overall dimensions are effectively set in stone, but the layout within has some flexibility. It seems very odd to me that the club has the offices on the ground floor. Ditto the player's lounge. The ground floor needs to be the area that looks out more to people coming in:
reception for executive boxes on match day and for seminars meetings on non-matchdays. The club shop. A reception for club matters/sale of tickets.
Now it has all that, Plus a bar and a players' lounge on the ground floor but shoe-horned behind that are the offices. It seems to me that there is too much dead-space being put into that ground floor.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Nov 26, 2004 10:19:22 GMT 1
if you can have a pint int he councorses willt here be decent seating?
If the councourses are large areas like stoke it is not so bad, and abit of thoughful design and it could be a laugh
but if they are like telford / chester then you might as well forget it
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Post by theriverside on Nov 26, 2004 10:21:08 GMT 1
Well hopefully something can be done to make this facility a sensible size. How can the club think a 90 capacity venue is going to be big enough? We dont want to drink under the stands for 90 minutes before the game. Fans want a level of comfort where they can meet their mates and have a relaxing pint before the game. The Brooklands are building a massive extension and they will be laughing all the way to the bank unless the club provide this facility. Queueing for 30 minutes for a pint (sorry 500ml) in a plastic glass served by someone who does not have the faintest idea what they are doing will lose STFC so much money. Is there any money available for a stand alone facility? If it is to be done properly, then a pub can provide a 7 day income for the club. It also makes the area less of a ghetto when the pitches/stadium are not in use. Whatever the council decide to do with the land (bowling centre?) it also gives us a chance of an income stream from that. 90 capacity? ? What were they thinking of? Hopefully they can be persuaded to change this around..................
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 26, 2004 11:31:42 GMT 1
if you can have a pint int he councorses willt here be decent seating? Almost certainly not. Especially with considerations with the Disability Act - which has already lopped off 600 from the capacity.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2004 11:59:44 GMT 1
A minumum for the concourse:
TVs showing Grandstand/Sky Sports News Bookies Beer
That will help with the funds.
I still can't get over the fact the club have planned a 90 person capacity supporter's bar.
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Post by rob on Nov 26, 2004 12:02:53 GMT 1
What a load of crap.
if its going to be that small i know for a start that a lot of people will not make the effort. Have spent to many matches quing endlessly for drink/and or food and a lot of people will just go elsewhere.
What are the chances of a stand alone structure at walsall (as someone else mentioned)?
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 26, 2004 12:14:10 GMT 1
A minumum for the concourse: Sky Sports News Beer That will help with the funds. I still can't get over the fact the club have planned a 90 person capacity supporter's bar. Those are the plans.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2004 12:47:07 GMT 1
The plans do not have to be set in stone. I have just been speaking to the architect who I used for my house, who has been involved with the development of several clubs, Liverpool, blackburn to name a few. Because of the size of the development STFC could go back to the planners and apply for a building amendment, and this can and often does happen during developments. Unfortunately it would appear the powers that be (Directors) are reluctant to do this. They have made no secret of the fact they would like to have 1M plus spare, but it wouldnt cost that much to increase the size of the block. I told the architect some of the details ie 90 capacity supporters bar, 58 in the players bar, and when I told him the clubshop was only 8 meters by 4 he laughed and said that he was'nt surprised because H Wilson was a crap architect and no one uses him twice, and he felt sorry for STFC using him. I am afraid STFC are blind to the earning potential that could be achieved and are thinking like small businessmen do
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Post by scooter on Nov 26, 2004 13:19:24 GMT 1
The building hasn't started yet and our worst fears are coming true. If there is a way to cock things up they will find it. How will they control access to this small bar ? Either by closing it as soon as it opens or charging a lot of money for membership, I assume. This has so many knock on effects in keeping people away from the ground until the last minute, and then access becomes jammed, and people park anywhere. Also, if people are not on site they are not spending money with the Club. Think again
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Nov 26, 2004 13:26:19 GMT 1
Its looking like a disaster waiting to happen - after sitting through the meeting the other night - i dont think theres a hope in hell of getting this sorted - if the club cant send even one representive to a meeting on the stadium with the fans then what hope is there They dont want to know Cynical but im sure someone must be making money out of this - have any of the directors/Board members recnetly invested in the Brooklands or any local pubs??? What ever pressure the fans can put on the club to look at this stupid - short sighted disision should be welcomed - The fanzine will be covering it cos untill now the general fans dont have clue whats going on!!! Literally everyone i told about the sixe of the room just laughed and said "typical town" Just pray it comes right!!!
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 26, 2004 13:27:47 GMT 1
How will they control access to this small bar ? Either by closing it as soon as it opens or charging a lot of money for membership, I assume. You're going to love this Scooter. The club asked the fans last night for suggestions as to who should use the bar on matchdays. With 90 its going to be a fairly exclusive group.
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Post by theriverside on Nov 26, 2004 13:32:25 GMT 1
he laughed and said that he was'nt surprised because H Wilson was a cr@p architect and no one uses him twice, and he felt sorry for STFC using him.( Always has been * poor. We need to do something about this quickly, did the working groups feel like there was any chance of the club amending the plans - even if it is a redesign of the layout rather than an extension/stand alone building. Even Chesters ground had a 250 (est) capacity venue
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2004 13:32:32 GMT 1
You're going to love this Scooter. The club asked the fans last night for suggestions as to who should use the bar on matchdays. With 90 its going to be a fairly exclusive group. LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!! I'd say if you restrict it to 35-45 year olds, who live within a 5 mile radius of the ground, with a surname beginning with S, who have both a season ticket and a Super Blues card, you may be able to restrict demand satisfactorily. As I've said on this board before, the club have one chance to make this ground move right. They've started in the worst possible manner.
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 26, 2004 13:39:17 GMT 1
did the working groups feel like there was any chance of the club amending the plans - even if it is a redesign of the layout rather than an extension/stand alone building. Redesign of the layout is possible, if not probable. Extentions were mooted but that does not appear to be on the agenda immediately. See my post above for the layout on the ground floor.
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Post by theriverside on Nov 26, 2004 13:44:00 GMT 1
riverside: I think you are being a bit negative. It could turn out like Wycombe's stadium, which I think is excellent. The fact it is not dumped in the middle of an industrial estate in the nasty part of town already works in the NM's favour. I would rather the club invested in modest but solid facilities than break the bank. Look at Chelsea: over-investment in Stamford Bridge means the club would make a loss without Abramovic. Prophetic was the word you were looking for. Or perhaps just used to our club operating in this short-sighted manner
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Post by gingashrew on Nov 26, 2004 16:04:46 GMT 1
Would on matchdays. (With Real Ale) Would for big sky games. Not at 90 capacity though
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Post by scooter on Nov 26, 2004 17:02:02 GMT 1
Best I have seen was Wycombe - called the Centre Spot or similar. Although it does not normally let away fans in, Chris Smith got some tickets one year. Bars at both ends of a large room, big screen, serving food (pie & chips etc), real ale (london pride) and even a bookie's in the corner. I was hoping for something similar, even if it did mean paying a few quid a year for a membership, but it does not look good. My Dad will not be walking from the Brooklands, or catching a bus, so if we want a pre match pint it will have to be very early somewhere else (he might qualify for a Disabled parking spot though
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Nov 26, 2004 17:51:06 GMT 1
This is really bad news, the main facility we were looking forward to was the supporters bar. After a 70 mile drive a comfortable room and a good pint is what's required, the prospect of leaving earlier, drinking in town and getting the bus to the ground is not an attractive one. Very difficult to believe that there are not facilities for at least 500 on match days.
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Nov 26, 2004 18:07:39 GMT 1
I wonder what will happen to the Crown (Abbey Foregate) without football crowds to boost the takings? My fantasy solution to our problem is to demolish the pub brick by brick and re-build it 5 minutes from the New Meadow
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Post by Dale on Nov 26, 2004 23:58:50 GMT 1
Bloody madness, surely the idea of a new, out-of-town stadium is to attract fans into the stadium complex as early as possible, like 12noon-1pm, surely a large venue with Sky and other facilities would help achieve this, or do they just want us to look around the club shop for an hour and a half before the game? I hope these plans get amended asap and if not I think the supporters are going to have to look at building their own social club building separate from the ground like Kiddy and Walsall, I dont mind having a pint in the concourses but if its anything like Telford then I could imagine it would get extremely crowded. COME ON STFC SORT IT OUT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO HAVE A DREAM HOME!
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Post by Dale on Nov 27, 2004 0:01:38 GMT 1
Another thing, Scunny have their own club bar at Glanford Park behind the home end called 'The Iron Bar', its worth checking out to see how big that venue is for when we visit on Saturday seeing as Glanford Park is in a similar part of their town compared to where the NM will be.
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Post by SeanBroseley on Nov 27, 2004 11:54:04 GMT 1
I wonder what will happen to the Crown (Abbey Foregate) without football crowds to boost the takings? My fantasy solution to our problem is to demolish the pub brick by brick and re-build it 5 minutes from the New Meadow Alternatively a co-operative scheme between the supporters and the licensee/brewery could see transport being provided to and from the pub. I don't know why I'm saying this because on Tuesday night I was given a dodgy 50p in change b the Crown, and now can't get rid of it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2004 11:18:29 GMT 1
I know of a few pubs around the ground that have said they would lay on mini-bus's to take people to the ground.
But a Derby mate said to me the pubs there did the same with their new ground to begin with but in time people found new places nearer the ground to drink and Im sure we will be no exception
Im still shocked that the club have plans for a social club only a tiny bit bigger than the current bar, laughable really
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Post by Bilbo on Nov 28, 2004 12:02:23 GMT 1
Is there anything we can do to persuade the Club that their plans are sh!te. ie. Petition, protest or mass letter/email writing?
I think they are missing out on a great opportunity by not having a supporters bar. There are bugger all facilities for drinking near to the New meadow and I can envisage people going to Sainsburys and buying cans of beer and generaly making a nuisance of themselves by hanging around the ground p**sed.
If you are reading this directors use you common sense.
Gay meadow to pubs ratio.......... Crown, Dun Cow, Bricklayers, Old Bush, Seven Stars, Globe, Castle, hen & Chicks, Crown (Coleham) Masonic, Boars head, Prince of Wales, Belle Vue tavern, Grove, Hop & Friar Nags Head and I could go on and on.
New Meadow to pubs ratio. Brooklands, Charles Darwin and possibly the Grove. All the above pubs get used on match days by fans, so where the bloody hell do you intend them to go.
FFS lets have some common sense!!!!!!!
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