Topic: Main Stand Expansion (U/C) Pics and Progress in here

[MarkR]

Is the work on the side exterior now complete? - no pics for a while showing this

[Redman0151]

Judging by the Ian Ayre comments today, don't expect the Anny Road redevelopment anytime soon. If it had as much corporate as the main stand, I guess it'd be done straight away

[CraigDS]

Judging by the Ian Ayre comments today, don't expect the Anny Road redevelopment anytime soon. If it had as much corporate as the main stand, I guess it'd be done straight away

What comments mate?

[Nessy76]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ayre-liverpool-wont-promise-new-11951725

Ayre - Liverpool won't promise new Anfield Road End until we're ready to deliver

    16:02, 28 Sep 2016
    By Ian Doyle

Reds chief executive says Fenway Sports Group will be cautious over further redevelopment

Ian Ayre has said Liverpool will not confirm plans to redevelop the Anfield Road End until they are “ready to deliver”.

The Reds this month opened up the redeveloped Main Stand which has added a further 8,500 seats, increasing capacity to 54,074.

It’s success has heightened speculation Fenway Sports Group are ready to fast-track plans to similarly reconstruct the Anfield Road End with an aim of taking the capacity up to 60,000.

But Reds chief executive Ayre says the club’s owners will not make promises over further improvements at the stadium until the right design is determined.

“The way we managed the Main Stand expansion was great and we will continue in a similar vein to be cautious and not promise anything until we are ready to deliver,” he said, speaking in the September issue of FC Business magazine.

“We will come along with planning if and when we have the right design and economic model.

“Once we have these parts in place, we will let people know.”

Ayre, who will leave his post at the end of the season to become general manager of TSV 1860 Munich in Germany , admits the Main Stand – which will be officially completed in January – has already surpassed expectations.

“The owners have made a shrewd investment in the Main Stand,” he said.

“It is a healthy economic plan that means we retain our Anfield home, enables us to pay back the cost very quickly and lift revenues to invest into all areas of the club that helps us win football matches.

“If we had built a new 60,000 stadium say, the extra 15,000 seats would have had to pay back the whole investment. We are pleased that the stand came in on time and on budget.

“In the case of the Main Stand the reality is more than we expected,” he said.

“(It is) far superior than our expectations from the point of view of the stadium design, the lounges, concourses and acoustics.

“Anfield has one of the most unique atmospheres in world football, so the design definitely considered how to keep that noise inside the stadium.

“The atmosphere in the opening game (against) Leicester was similar to the atmosphere I remember from watching games here in the 1970s when the capacity was at a similar level to now.”

[CraigDS]

So absolutely nothing we didn't know and nothing to get worked up about.

[Nessy76]

So absolutely nothing we didn't know and nothing to get worked up about.

No news until there's news, basically.

[riggerz]

On the subject of tunnels, the blue mancs are doing a glass tunnel. Not for me if i'm honest
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/manchester-city/story/2936407/manchester-city-to-install-glass-tunnel-as-part-of-etihad-stadium-renovation

[TheSpionKopNC]

I'd honestly like to see the AFR stand get done as soon as possible for sake of continuing on success.

But I also understand the balance between corporate hospitality and general ticket sales.  If you can get a marginal amount more from a corporate seat than a 35-40 pound ticket, of course they're going to do that to increase overall revenue.  Both to pay for the project and increase budget for reinvestment.

We all want the club to grow and recruit top level talent.  That takes money and they're trying to max their revenues.  Double edge sword sometimes.

[Kemlynroadite]

That stadium pic is from Qatar.
The design is one similar to the World Cup stadium proposed near Doha Port.
They do have one which looks like a fanny. That could be what there end game is.

[Espresso Bar]

They do have one which looks like a fanny. That could be what there end game is.

[TepidT2O]

Ahh, the vagisil stadium

[KiNki]

ooooooooohhh

[Lush is the best medicine...]

I'd honestly like to see the AFR stand get done as soon as possible for sake of continuing on success.

But I also understand the balance between corporate hospitality and general ticket sales.  If you can get a marginal amount more from a corporate seat than a 35-40 pound ticket, of course they're going to do that to increase overall revenue.  Both to pay for the project and increase budget for reinvestment.

We all want the club to grow and recruit top level talent.  That takes money and they're trying to max their revenues.  Double edge sword sometimes.

dont get why they can't put some kind of corporate boxes/skyboxes in the anny?

[cdav]

Apologies about the source but just seen this:

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2016/09/28/liverpool-reassesses-further-anfield-expansion-after-protest.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fsports+%28Internal+-+Sports+-+Mixed%29

Liverpool owner John Henry says fan protests against ticket prices are causing the club to reassess plans to further redevelop Anfield.

Henry's Fenway Sports Group apologized to fans earlier this year and reversed planned rises in ticket prices after a walkout during a game.

But having funded the redevelopment of Liverpool's main stand over the last year, the next phase of the expansion program might not make economic sense if the club can't recoup the construction cost. The Anfield Road stand had been next in line for rebuilding at the 54,000-capacity Anfield.

"I don't know if there is a next step because ticket prices are an issue in England," Henry said. "That may foreclose further expansion. We'll have to see."

Henry was speaking Tuesday at Yankee Stadium where his baseball team, the Boston Red Sox, was playing the New York Yankees.

Liverpool has opened its first full season with Juergen Klopp in charge by winning four of its six Premier League games. The German signed a contract extension in July through 2022.

Would be very disappointing if this is the case, you wonder what ticket prices they were envisioning if they needed to increase them to fund this second phase redevelopment.

[Nessy76]

Fox news?

[cdav]

Fox news?

Saw it retweeted and it has direct quotes, honest!

[Caston]

Think it's originally from here http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c4812ca65e6644429cecadad10a6c364/liverpool-reassesses-further-anfield-expansion-after

[Nessy76]

Think it's originally from here http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c4812ca65e6644429cecadad10a6c364/liverpool-reassesses-further-anfield-expansion-after

Right. AP is a reliable source at least.

[cdav]

It doesn't really add up that its over the lack of ticket price increases.

Say an additional 4,800 seats that they canot raise the prices by an average of £10- that equals a reduction in forecasted income of £1.2m for the year for a 25 home match season. Can they not get a sponsor to cover this shortfall or stretch the loan repayment profile for an extra year. Probably more that they cannot pack it with corporate seats to maximise revenue.

[CraigDS]

Oh dear, what a c*nt trying to pin that on us.

Pin what?

The stand has always hung on if the ticket income covers the cost to build. If he is acknowledging ticket prices can only be so high (which is hopefully a good thing) then the hope is the build cost comes in at a certain level and that the demand for tickets is seen as being consistently there.

[Redman0151]

It doesn't really add up that its over the lack of ticket price increases.

Say an additional 4,800 seats that they canot raise the prices by an average of £10- that equals a reduction in forecasted income of £1.2m for the year for a 25 home match season. Can they not get a sponsor to cover this shortfall or stretch the loan repayment profile for an extra year. Probably more that they cannot pack it with corporate seats to maximise revenue.

That's the real reason, he's a lying c*nt trying to shift it onto us. If the main stand could have had 8,000 corporate seats i'm sure they would have done it

[Nessy76]

It doesn't really add up that its over the lack of ticket price increases.

Say an additional 4,800 seats that they canot raise the prices by an average of £10- that equals a reduction in forecasted income of £1.2m for the year for a 25 home match season. Can they not get a sponsor to cover this shortfall or stretch the loan repayment profile for an extra year. Probably more that they cannot pack it with corporate seats to maximise revenue.

They will have costed every seat fully before a brick was laid, so it does make some sense. Not like they would have charged all that much for an upper tier GA seat on the Annie Road, though. It's not just the protest, of course, the agreement to cap away tickets would hit the Annie rd just as much.

I'm sure they'll find a way to do it eventually if it makes sense.

[oojason]

A bit-one eyed there from FSG. They could also factor in additional revenues from the possibility of having residential properties (was it plush apartments rumoured?) etc within the new Stand, or additional income from bars - not just on match-day, food and drink, and maybe even a sponsor for the stand?

Think SOS have mentioned the possibility of fan investment in the stand for a stake in the club as return?

Or they could, as a possibility, just highlight this 'ticket price / income issue' as a way/excuse/means to introduce corporate seating to a new ARE to help pay for it (despite previous statements that they wouldn't - but heh, things change over time) and help pay it off more quickly?

Got to hit the 60,000 sweetspot afterall? Maybe?



Ayre is being disingenuous with his statement of “If we had built a new 60,000 stadium say, the extra 15,000 seats would have had to pay back the whole investment.", technically it may be correct, though if they had built a new ground there sure would have been a lot more corporate facilities and premium seats and the like - at the expense of general admission seats) to help pay it back more quickly. As well as the obvious building a bigger ground than 60,000 results in extra seats to help pay it back (offset against the increase in price to build a bigger ground and requirements therein, of course - sweetspots, maybe?)

The club may have also found it slightly easier to push up the ticket prices that much more in a new ground where there is no restricted views or restricted legroom - and better facilities all around - every little helps, afterall.

Don't worry people who go into a huff when the topic of a 'new ground' is ever mentioned on here - it's just an opinion highlighting some not wholly accurate spin from Mr Be Careful What You Wish For.

[The Lord Admiral]

God forbid it cuts into their billion dollar profit when they sell. The numbers don't add up do they John?

They're greedy.

[Jonny-B]

If the price of getting the ARE done are them adding in some corporate seats to pay for it I couldnt give a monkeys.

[sminp]

I see the imbeciles have moved into this thread. Craig has it spot on below, people should read this before blowing a gasket:

Pin what?

The stand has always hung on if the ticket income covers the cost to build. If he is acknowledging ticket prices can only be so high (which is hopefully a good thing) then the hope is the build cost comes in at a certain level and that the demand for tickets is seen as being consistently there.

[The Lord Admiral]

The financials of the stand aren't the full picture though are they? Their equity in the club has risen from the 300 odd they bought us for to somewhere between 800 and 1.2 billion. If you want to look purely at cost vs ticket income, then the numbers probably fall slightly short over a very short term of 5 years. But over 20? Or compared against the 500m + they will pocket if they walk away tomorrow? Are they having it both ways? Are they 'Guardians of the club' or are they just going to milk it as hard as they can and then walk away with a huge, huge profit, having just done one stand?

Your logic is sound purely on the basis ticket revenue, you are not wrong. But there's a bigger picture here. It's like the bloke in the pub that's got 100 quid in his pocket but asks you to buy him a pint because the 100 is for something different!
 

[oojason]

I see the imbeciles have moved into this thread. Craig has it spot on below, people should read this before blowing a gasket:

imbeciles? really? fellow reds are imbeciles for having a different opinion, or look at it from another perpsective, on something that may differ from your standpoint?

[Nessy76]

The financials of the stand aren't the full picture though are they? Their equity in the club has risen from the 300 odd they bought us for to somewhere between 800 and 1.2 billion. If you want to look purely at cost vs ticket income, then the numbers probably fall slightly short over a very short term of 5 years. But over 20? Or compared against the 500m + they will pocket if they walk away tomorrow? Are they having it both ways? Are they 'Guardians of the club' or are they just going to milk it as hard as they can and then walk away with a huge, huge profit, having just done one stand?

Your logic is sound purely on the basis ticket revenue, you are not wrong. But there's a bigger picture here. It's like the bloke in the pub that's got 100 quid in his pocket but asks you to buy him a pint because the 100 is for something different!

You're assuming that they want to sell the club. There's no indication that they do.

[Jonny-B]

You're assuming that they want to sell the club. There's no indication that they do.

I have never really seen any indication that they do. Apart from in the mind of Tony Evans and in unrelated weird made up bids from China.

[The Lord Admiral]

You're assuming that they want to sell the club. There's no indication that they do.

Assuming they don't, does that equity not exist then? If it doesn't then again their numbers add up. No problem. We're a business. But that's not how it is is it?

I've got no issue with them eventually selling us for a healthy profit. That is how this will play out. That's how investment groups work. But if you go by Forbes valuation for example they could build the Anfield road and still treble their investment. Where does a healthy profit become against the best interest of the club and taking advantage of those who support it?

I don't have the answer to that Nessy, but I don't think the arguments they are giving us are quite the full picture. Do you?

[Nessy76]

Assuming they don't, does that equity not exist then? If it doesn't then again their numbers add up. No problem. We're a business. But that's not how it is is it?

We're talking about a cash investment here, an interest free loan. The value of the asset doesn't make cash pop out of thin air however much it rises.

I've got no issue with them eventually selling us for a healthy profit. That is how this will play out. That's how investment groups work. But if you go by Forbes valuation for example they could build the Anfield road and still treble their investment. Where does a healthy profit become against the best interest of the club and taking advantage of those who support it?

I don't have the answer to that Nessy, but I don't think the arguments they are giving us are quite the full picture. Do you?

Again, you're making an assumption I don't share, there. The same one, in fact. They are a sports ownership business. So owning Liverpool isn't a stepping stone, it's their core business. If they sold it, what else would they buy? Another football club? What's the point?

[oojason]

We're talking about a cash investment here, an interest free loan. The value of the asset doesn't make cash pop out of thin air however much it rises.

Again, you're making an assumption I don't share, there. The same one, in fact. They are a sports ownership business. So owning Liverpool isn't a stepping stone, it's their core business. If they sold it, what else would they buy? Another football club? What's the point?

Aren't they a sport investment company?

No worries, if they are a sports ownership company it's a little worrying then that in their core business they seem reluctant to build a half-new £60m stand - as the owner states ticket prices are not high enough to hep pay it off quick enough for them - whilst ignoring other possibilities of revenues to help pay off that stand.

Coupled with the knowledge they would likely have to invest and build a new ground (or improve the current one) to keep up with competitors when they bought the club.

Both Ayre and FSG are being disingenuous here, Nessy.


Are we sure it'll be another interest-free loan for the new ARE too?

[Uncle Ronnie]

I have never really seen any indication that they do. Apart from in the mind of Tony Evans and in unrelated weird made up bids from China.

[RedPat]

From the clubs position they're sold (just like STH who doesn't turn up and doesn't give his ticket to a mate)

It only becomes an issue if a vendor consistently has trouble selling them and decides not a to buy them anymore.

Which he will have I have two reds STs and the very rare times I can't go I would get nowhere near their face value so I either sell them at General admission price or give them away I never let the seats go idle.A friend of mine bought two dugout hospitality this season he sent around a generic email to all his contacts saying they were available for 150 euro each for 9 games he wasn't going to attend. I told him he had no chance of getting that.He gave away his Hull tickets and is giving away his West Brom tickets.

[owens_2k]

Pics and progress thread...

[BOBSCOUSE]

Is that a bunch of fluffy clouds in the top right corner?  And blue skies to the left?

Looks pie in the sky to me if I'm honest.  Never getting built.

[mikeb58]

Looks like its about to run away!

[PhilV]

Is that a bunch of fluffy clouds in the top right corner?  And blue skies to the left?

Looks pie in the sky to me if I'm honest.  Never getting built.

It's from the Qatar World Cup bid anyway, the Al-Shamal Stadium

[karl740]

Back on topic.... Are they going to be progress pics on what's left to do like changing rooms etc?