Rick

No but the room holds 200 so we'd have a job to fill it!!!

I'll be there with my lad. He had a great time last time (end of season party) and really enjoyed himself. I'd recommend these events to anyone with bin lids of the correct age range.

Alan Hardy pointed out tonight that there will be people with clipboards outside BP on Saturday asking how people got to the game (should be an interesting question for our visitors from the USA ) this is part of the ongoing planning process to analyse traffic implications for a new Stadium. Alan asked for people to take some time out to answer the questions.

 

Simon Corney said that they had spoken to Metrolink about having a station built in Failsworth next to the stadium, it is possible but it will be at the cost of the club. When I got the chance to talk to Simon at the end, he told me it would cost £1.2M to build!!!! But he said if there was demand, i.e. the fans wanted it, or there was a need to serve a gym or retail development on the site they would do it even at that cost, park and ride facilities were even mentioned. I know I intend to look at getting to the game that way..... basically so I can have a beer So if you feel the same, and there is scope in the questionaire, mention you fancy going on the tram

I hope they have a tick box for "I came to the game today by Pogo Stick". I'm ticking that one if they have

taken from official sites updates last night.

 

Question:

 

One thing that concerns me is the limit of 12,000 at the new stadium. If we are aiming to reach the top level and are lucky enough to do so, you are limiting that future.

 

We can not have a future with 12,000.

 

AH:

 

Our current average is 5,000. A 12,000 capacity would be more than adequate, and the development would ideally be extendable to 16,000 and would probably be the maximum required when you look at our averages when we were previously in the Premiership.

 

Follow Up:

 

It was said last week that that would not be possible.

 

AH:

 

That was, if I'm honest, a misreporting by the Oldham Chronicle.

 

BO:

 

The furthest thing that I have seen is a lack of ambition. The owners could be long gone from Oldham by now. The sooner that this myth of lack of ambition is dispelled the better.

My quote of the night from the minutes as they happened last night was this......

"BO

We run the risk, with over-providing information, that we instil fear or negativity with too much information"

Big danger with that one from Latics at the moment El Presidente! The other option is called "Mushroom Management" - keep them in the dark and feed them on crap.

Voice of the Fans in the Boardroom?

also people who live in that area and dont have transport could easily get there by either walking or taxi.

Thanks for that

Just a shame that anyone living around where BP is at the moment wouldn't though eh?

Just to add what been said already by other posters....... the Latvian guy invested £5M in Blackpool which saved them from administration and now pumps in £1M a year.

 

Blackpool along with many others, noteably Huddersfield were identified to us as clubs whereby if the benefactors suddenly pulled out al a Chris Moore, would go straight into administration as they are not financially viable.

Yeah, but if we opened a Lap Dancing Joint, Bowling Alley, Hotel, "Private" shop and Indian Take-Away Restaurant as part of the new development, I'm sure that we could replace the missing £5m initial and £1m ongoing that has seen Blackpool do so well almost immediatley.

I might not bother getting a Season Ticket next year.

The reduced attendances that we will get when we are in League 2 and Rochdale are a division higher will lead to more of these types of offer. So it will probably be cheaper NOT to get a Season Ticket.

I can probably still sit in my usual seat, regardless of whether someone has forked out a few hundered quid in one go to sit there all season. They'll probably just move and sit somewhere else.

I may of course need to relocate to another stand when we play Bury and Shrewsbury, but hey, I know that already dont I?

PS Have we given the whole of the RRE to the Exeter fans tomorrow?

The official line is that when BP redevelopement was proposed the land was worth 1 million an acre. The last offer was 250K per acre. SC stated he expected now the real going rate is somewhere inbetween should a sale be struck. I would hazzard a guess the land would be worth more without a football ground as part of it. Now if a russian came along with a promise of 1 million a season for 10 years perhaps we could go back to plan A at BP, who knows?.

 

It was clearly stated Wardle wasn't interested, but that begs the question, why bother turning up to talk? another guess would say maybe he was interested a little if the right deal in terms of percentage owned was right (for him).

I agree with the comments about Wardle, I think that if he was willing to speak, he was potentially willing to do a deal, but only if the terms were right for him (this is only my guess).

As far as the value of the land goes, I still dont see the difference between the BP site and the Failsworth site. Surely the same rule will apply in relative terms?

BTW. Have a look at this.......

Now THAT would be something to be proud of eh? I would have LOVED that to have been our redeveloped ground

Depends. One would assume the cost of a night's stay, or gym membership, or cinema tickets would be cheaper outside of town, so people would probably choose Failsworth instead.

 

Also, even if it's only an extra ten minutes on the bus...it's still ten minutes away. If I had the choice between going bowling, to the gym or to the cinema in either place X or somewhere ten minutes further away, then I'd go to place X. There's no point travelling further if you don't need to.

Well I'd rather travel from Newhey (nestled neatly at the foot of the Pennines close but also comfortably distant from Shaw and Milnrow) to Manchester to watch a movie, do a bit of shopping and have something to eat than go to Sandbrook Park in Rochdale.

Whatever happened to the Roxy by the way? Hmmm.....

I think the point is Rick, SC was saying that the club could redevelop BP by selling off some land for housing etc, but would simply be unable to provide the infrastructure/off field income to allow the club to more or less support itself, meaning TTA would still need to keep writing the cheques for the shortfall, which they aren't prepared to do long term.

 

I'm not sure what your point about Blackpool is - I'm not sure if you are saying it's a good scheme or a bad one, but SC mentioned he'd had a meeting with Karl Oyston a while ago and without the Belekon money they'd have been screwed.

The Blackpool development is excellent Dan. At least from what you can see when they're on the telly.

I suppose that the problem that Blackpool have, that we may not, is that they are in a bad position so far as the amount of competition they are surrounded by. There wouldn't be much point them building a Hotel on to their ground would there? I suppose without this potential additional revenue scheme, they certainly would have been screwed without a wealthy benefactor.

Perhaps I just bought all of the Oldham Arena justification when it was given to us but still think that if we can do it in Failsworth, we should be able to do it on the bit of land inbetween the two Broadways and close to Clayton Playing Fields.

Just going back to the site of BP, he said that 18 months ago, (was that the time of the march and the redevelop BP? I can't remember,) he said that the land the was valued at £1m an acre - now, they had a recent offer of £250,000 an acre. This drastic drop in the value of the land at the BP site was a major reason why they shelved the BP plans, this plan was to be funded by the houses..etc.. as the expected revenue of this dropped dramatically the figures didn't stack up. In an answer to BB80 he said that this came as a surprise to them too, the developer they were in talks with suddenly dropped their offer by 50%. - Perhaps this could have been communicated better at the time but for all I know this could have happened on the same day as Dogs-gate?

I wonder what the cost per acre is at the Broadway site? How much per acre the BP site will be on the day we move into Failsworth?

I also don't understand how they can expect to have a hotel, bowling alley, bingo hall, gym, cinema or whatever so close to Manchester and expect people to go to Failsworth instead - surely moving closer to the Metropolis will only mean more competition. It must only be about 10 minutes on the bus. I'd expect there to be more relative demand and less competition.

It is good to hear though, that those that were able to attend last night came away feeling much more secure about the owners plans and long term commitment. I am just still not sold on the "Failsworth or rot at BP" principle and can't understand why this can all be possible in one place and not another (I am not necessarily talking about redeveloping BP itself here, but the site as a whole (although the Blackpool example looks absolutely first rate to me (with no club owned bowling alley, bingo hall....you get my drift)))

See what I did there? I got myself into a sprial of ever decreasing brackets

Brazil asked "Which of your team's players is the least likely to score?".

 

Bluddy hell, we could field 10 outfield and a full bench of players and still answer that question!!!

Ryan Brooke.

Oh wait. You can't score if you are sat on the bench can you?

Rick, I'm going and I want an answer to that question. Hopefully I'll get to ask it.

Cool. Cheers Ric. I will be there if I can, but am in Feltham tomorrow morning, and may need to stay darn sarf if I get the meeting agreed that I need to do in Chessington.

I am not sure if I'll be around tomorrow night (all depends on work commitments), but if I can go, I will go.

I need to know why the stadium is viable in Failsworth and not at BP.

One of our mates is a Villa fan. He didn't renew his Season Ticket before the deadline for early bird discount. Villa phoned him up, told him that his support was appreciated and valued by the club and the players and asked if he wouldn't mind telling them why he hadn't renewed.

He explained that living in Milnrow, he cant make it to ALL home matches, and now that the there are no trains from Milnrow, it just makes it that bit harder still. He was still planning on making as many matches as he could on a pay on the gate basis though.

They thanked him for his support and valuable feedback, offered him a small discount and a free home shirt, and he gladly renewed his Season Ticket.

The moral of this story = (especially in troubled economic times) treat your existing customers with dignity and respect, listen to what they tell you - and they are more likely to stay loyal and stick by you.

Well Done Latics.

it will kind of strengthen the case that the stadium is being built in the wrong place.

It IS!!

No offence mate, but you are being a bit of a tart on this issue, a big pink-wearing skipping in a dress nancy-boy tart who probably plays with dolls.

 

But no offence

Bothered?

The laughable thing is that you could have swapped your and your son's tickets for seats in the main stand for the leeds game. And you knew this was a possibility (in fact you knew it was going to happen) when you bought your ticket.

So, you want to sit in either the RRE or Main stand, and you can sit in either the RRE or main stand, but you're not going to - on principle!

 

Seems a bit silly if you ask. me.

 

I think you wanted a boundary blues deal in the main stand, but in line with the club's stated pricing they refused, so you're trying to find a contrived way to make an irrelevant point.

No, you misunderstand my point.

I buy a season ticket and want to sit in my seat. If I could have bought a Season Ticket in the Main Stand on the BB deal, I would have done.

What is stopping me from going is the feeling that I am getting from the club that they care less about loyal Latics fans (such as me) than they do about the money that they wll recieve for a few matches per season.

That is why I wont go - I don't feel that I should have to move to accomodate Leeds or Huddersfield fans. They may have stated that I might need to move if I bought a Season Ticket in the RRE, but it doesn't make me feel like my support is valued by the club, so why should I go? The way I feel that I am regarded by the people I pay my money to is not an irrelevant point.

Oh, and by the way. I DIDN'T ask you for your opinion - it means nothing to me. I simply stated my stance on this matter, in the hope that some of the blinkered posters on here could maybe understand one of the reasons we will be outnumbered by Leeds fans tomorrow night.

Anyone watching the Blackpool - Preston match?

Although it pains me to say it, but I think that Blackpool got it exactly right.

They redeveloped their own ground a stand at a time, moving the pitch slightly initially to make room (if I remember correctly). They have always treated their home fans better than the travelling support who have had to sit in an uncovered and freezing cold temporary stand.

5 years ago they had a similar sized fan base as we had and the end prodcut on the pitch was of a comparable level for a number of years.

Now look at them. Playing in the division that we should be playing in, with a lovely looking new stadium at their traditional home with a good atmosphere (if you like that sort of thing :-)).

They could even pay Eardley more money than we could and attracted Billy Clarke to join them.

TTA -> there is your magic plan and proof it can work.

Oh yeah. Finished capacity of Bloomfield Road? 16,000

I am annoyed that i can't sit in my seat on Tuesday night. I enjoy it in the RRE.

 

That said, I knew full well when I bought my season ticket that I was highly unlikely to sit in there for the Leeds or Huddersfield games.

 

The unfortunate position is that Leeds can fill more than the large section of the RRE and we will have enough seats in the rest of the ground to accommodate all the home fans. Financially, there is no alternative to what is happening. We have got to maximise revenue opportunities.

 

As for the suggestion of temporary seating - Why on earth would we pay to put up a temporary stand when there are already enough seats for what we require?

 

We also need to remember that the RRE used to be away supporters only for most games. We asked to be allowed to buy season tickets in there and the club agreed. I'm happier being able to sit in there 20 games a season than none.

 

For what it's worth, I reckon we have got a decent chance on Tuesday. Leeds were slightly the better team in the cup game but there wasn't much in it (certainly in the first half) and after today's cup draw, I think a few of their players may well not have Tuesday's game at the forefront of their minds.

Well, let's put it this way.

Out of what used to be a minibus full (and I mean full) of regular Latics fans, there is likely to be ONE will bother on Tuesday.

We can all spout as much rubbish as we want and try to justify club decisions financially, but if I feel that the club is more bothered about money than looking after their own supporters, I simply wont go.

I am not alone.

Don't worry we will, and we'll be none the worse for you not being there.

Good. Hope you enjoy it.

may i ask why? and is there anything that would change you mind Rick? is it just because you have been moved? Me too, but we knew that when we bought ST for the RRE

Yeah, stick up some temporary seating in the Lookers Paddock (like at Blackpool) for the away fans and let the loyal Latics fans sit in the best stand we have left.

Alternatively, let me buy a Season Ticket for my son on the terms of the Boundary Blues deal in the Main Stand and don't restrict it to Chaddy or RRE.

As for Tuesday, no there is nothing that can change my mind. It is a point of principle.

More a fear of not being able to spell the word analogy with any confidence. But it's a strange one to use ;) .

 

 

I would much rather an enhanced BP be the centre of footballing excellence in Oldham. But I am accepting of the inevitability of Failsworth.

 

 

Rick, I appreciate the depth of feeling that this has. Especially for those who have been watching Latics at BP for a lot longer than I have. I only found the discussion became pointless when 0000 started trying to be a smart arse, which it now appears is a status beyond any reasonable aspirations he should have.

Great. We agree then that what we would prefer is a redevelopment of the Boundary Park site.

It may well be inevitable as you say, but please don't just roll over and accept the explanations that are being fed to us.

My concern is that we will end up placating OMBC, giving TTA a chance to sell our land and get some of their money back (no bad thing in its own right)which will lead to them walking away and leaving us in a sterile new stadium with less fans than we have currently.

If TTA are going to walk away (which they will at some point in time), I'd rather they left us in a sound financial situation with a new stadium where we are currently situated. If we could also have Hotel / Gym / Conferencing facilities to ensure local jobs and busniess for local restaurants / shops / leisure facilities etc.

We've just come back from BP after exchanging our tickets from the RRE to Chaddy for Tuesdays game.

 

Tangerine dreams asked the lady in the office how the Leeds tickets for them have sold - 4,283 away fans are going to decend on BP on Tuesday. YES YOU HEARD 4,283.....

 

Somehow, I don't think we're going to match that target.

 

So, a plea, if you were thinking of giving it a miss or just umming and arring, please get yourself down to BP if you can. Beg, plead, borrow and sell your soul if you have to. Get some dosh - early Chrimbo pressie maybe off your folks, wife, kids

 

 

Your team needs you.....and my voice is not going to last all game.

I've got a Season Ticket (have had for many a long year) and I am not going.

I am not going to ANY home match (league or cup (what a joke - cup)) where they would rather take the money offered by visiting supporters over letting me sit in the stand where I bought my Season Ticket for.

They should put up temporary, uncovered seating in the Lookers Paddock (a la Blackpool) and stick away fans in there.

I reckon there will be less than 2,000 Latics fans there - so you'll be outnumbered 2 to 1.

Enjoy.

Not even going on there on that one.

 

 

Does this help?I used national data from Q3 1989 to Q1 1998.

I am not surprised that you are "not going there on that one" - I've got you banged to rights!!

I used the same source, but looked at Q4 1973 to Q3 2009. If you look at the graph (if someone can tell me how to post up the graph, we can all look at it) you can see that house (and therefore also property) prices were actually pretty static from 1989 to 1999. If you look at the data in its entirity, this can be clearly seen as an anomily. My parents bought a house in 1973 for £4,000! I was looking at a small terraced in 1988 for £22,000! Property values have always, over time, increased.

So just to clarify my view on this -

I am eternally grateful for TTA for coming in and saving our club when they did.

They have made financial contributions (again I am grateful), but will want to see a return (or at least break even) on this.

I believe that the land where BP is sited is worth more than it is in Failsworth.

I also belive that the redevelopment of BP is something of a political "hot potato" for the council.

If we relocate to Failsworth, it seems to suit TTA and OMBC. TTA would be able to sell the land at BP for redevelopment and OMBC seem to prefer the relocation plan to the redevelopment of BP.

If I was TTA, I'd probably do the same.

But I don't buy the reasons given for relocation and the stats seem to back up my view.

I don't understand the difference (apart from the difference in land values and aparent political pressures as previously mentioned) between building new in Failsworth and Redevelopment stand by stand at Boundary Park.

Ask yourself honestly, if all things were equal, would you prefer a complete move or a redevelopment at our current location?

If you would prefer a complete move, I am wasting my time discussing this.

If you would prefer a redevelopment, ask what is it that ISN'T equal. Then you will understand why I have a very uneasy feeling about all of this business.

You cant simply compare the length of time is took for house prices to return to the previous high without considering

Economic Stimulus, Rate of Decline and Depth of Recession.

You also need to consider that recent years has seen a significant swing in the UK economy away from Manufacturing towards Service related business.