Topic: New stadium when we get new owners?

[TMOI]

Interesting debate lads. I'm firmly in TMOI's camp on this. In the future, keeping costs under control is going to be even more vital to keeping the club financially viable and competitive on the pitch. For many reasons, such as poor transport links, waiting list exaggeration, and historical figures, I doubt we'd regularly fill a 60K+ stadium. Any extra revenue could easily end up servicing the debts on the costs of building the thing, plus there's the costs involved in actually moving (new stadium procedures, staff training, safety certs etc etc), plus greatly increased maintenance/running costs (physical maintenance, increased stewarding/policing etc etc). Anfield is a relatively cheap place to run and in the current financial climate that is a damn good thing.

Seems we all agree on one thing though. Whoever the new owners are, and whenever that is, there has to be a proper costing comparison done, with all variables included. Anyone who simply says 'new stadium = more revenue' is seriously over-simplifying and in danger of backing the horse that turns round and tramples us to death.

Can't argue with that but I would look at redeveloping Anfield differently. It is not absolutely about restraint, it's not about doom and gloom and economic crisis. It's about prudent expansion - but also 'going to the next level' - in fact a greater and better solution than a new stadium.

There's more to filling a stadium than ease of transport but you could even look forward to the day when the Canada Dock Branch Line stations are opened and there is a 70,000 seat stadium at Anfield. It may be a way off but trying to build one today would be a disaster (vide Valencia).

[LiamG]

What about restricted views etc some of the problems we may counter on the re-developing anfield route.

[TMOI]

What about restricted views etc some of the problems we may counter on the re-developing anfield route.

A new roof would have no columns

[LiamG]

No collumns dosent necessarily mean no restricted views, In the Bernabéu they cant sell certain seats in the corners behind the goals because you cant see the whole of the pitch

[..Bruiser..]

Exactly. You can only see half the pitch in the corner of Anfield Road and there aren't any pillars in there.

[ElSheak]

If a deal goes through, are we back to square 1?

If the legal stuff from the council has 8-10 months left, will new designs etc have to be submitted or will the existing designs be bought up with the club? If Broughton is championing that NESV are the most 'sustainable' option for LFC, then surely all of this new stadium dead weight has to be part of that.

With Kenny and Kenwright talking 'groundshare' last week, you wonder whether that is also a 'condition' of sale and last weeks quotes we're just buttering us up to a groundshare happening.

If we're going to get on board with this possible sale, we might as well look at the ramifications. I'm not one for ticker tape and party streamers... these are the big questions that need to be asked of new owners.

[danwms]

They have only announced the takeover price. Why would the need to release details re stadium etc now.

The board have been looking for investors with the stadium as one of the main criterea, if this think this is an excellent offer lets see what comes out about it in the next few days.

[silver 5 star]

Broughton has been saying all along that he was looking for "the right owner" for the club - the new stadium being very much part of that.

His statement this morning refers only to "clearing debt and making money available to buy players".

No mention of the stadium plans?

After the recent reference to groundshare by Kenny Dalglish are we again to expect another drive to convince us all groundshare is the way forward?

The Boston Red Sox stadium is the oldest in MLB. A capacity of under 40,000.

NESV are buying the club at a low price. Will they want - or do they even have - the money to build the new stadium we were promised ( and need to compete)?

Or will they seek to drag us into the limbo of groundshare?

I'd like to hear Broughton's views on this issue to be honest.

[rossipersempre]

As far as I'm concerned, Stanley Park is at the moment off the agenda. What this means moving forward is unclear. And deeply worrying. But one step at a time...

[silver 5 star]

As far as I'm concerned, Stanley Park is at the moment off the agenda. What this means moving forward is unclear. And deeply worrying. But one step at a time...

I agree one step at a time, but I don't want those steps to be sleepwalking..

[toomanysteves]

As far as I'm concerned, Stanley Park is at the moment off the agenda. What this means moving forward is unclear. And deeply worrying. But one step at a time...

I was worried that MB statement mentioned team building rather than stadium building

"By removing the burden of acquisition debt, this offer allows us to focus on investment in the team."

No statements have been made to suggest the stadium is a priority, yet, MB had always stated that it was key.

[Spanish Al]

Who gives a fuck about a new stadium really? After these last three years I just want to be able to watch Liverpool and enjoy it again, knowing our football club is safe and sound, and will not cease to exist. This will be easier if we have investment in the team.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

NESV chose to regenerate Fenway Park rather than build a new ground and have won huge plaudits for it.

[7777]

NESV chose to regenerate Fenway Park rather than build a new ground and have won huge plaudits for it.

It isn't possible for Anfield though is it?

[Huytonian]

NESV chose to regenerate Fenway Park rather than build a new ground and have won huge plaudits for it.

I was of the opinion that regenerating Anfield was not possible. If that isn't the case and we can add to the existing stands, surely that is the best option.

[lookieman]

Was there any reasons as to why it is not possible?

[scared_person]

Am I correct in thinking that redeveloping Anfield isn't completely out of the question?

After all, the club own many of the houses around the ground don't they?

[sirjames]

I think the new owners see the brand as more important than a groundshare which would hurt the liverpool brand

[Spanish Al]

NESV will almost certainly look into redeveloping Anfield, even if it has been said it isnt possible before. We had bafoons like Parry at the club then, so these guys will try and find a way. And if they do, Ill bloody love them!

[horne]

I was of the opinion that regenerating Anfield was not possible. If that isn't the case and we can add to the existing stands, surely that is the best option.

i think anything is possible...its just down to price

[Rushian]

NESV chose to regenerate Fenway Park rather than build a new ground and have won huge plaudits for it.

Wasn't it more the caes that they struggled to get permission to build a new stadium so were forced to replenish Fenway?

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Our redevelopment plans have always hinged on making it much bigger.  The redevelopment of Fenway Park never made it bigger just better and more commercially viable (ie.  they put in facilities that allowed them to get top dollar for their corporate seats).

They may decide to pursue a new ground, they may not, I am just saying that at Boston they had a similar precedent in that they had one of the most famous grounds in baseball and they chose to stay there (it is the smallest ground in the league) rather than move.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Wasn't it more the caes that they struggled to get permission to build a new stadium so were forced to replenish Fenway?

It may well have been Steve, I don't know the finer details other than putting:

There is no mention of a new ground in the club statement
and
NESV have successfully redeveloped Fenway and stayed put

together and coming up with 5 which is that they intend to stay at Anfield at least in the short term.

[S24 LFC]

The thing i dont get about a new stadium, is it will cost circa £500m. Whoever invests this will want it back, so should redsox people be interested in building  a stadium, the extra revenue generated from ticket sales would surely go back into their pocket? Resulting in a new stadium being of no tangable value to us as a club. More beauts, more people after tickets for cup finals.....

What do people expect from a new stadium?

[l12ngo]

I had a bad feeling oer Hicks and Gillet and i have a bad feeling over this takeover. If this group are reluctant to invest in their baseball side, i really cannot see any significant investment coming our way.

Just get the feeling we're swapping like for like -would have liked to hear more about the other bid.

[MOZ]

OK, heres a question;

Would you accept the money being borrowed to fund a stadium? Would you be happy with a £300m + debt if we had a stadium to show for it?

This is the most  likely way of us getting a new stadium.

[incredibleL4ever]

When NESV purchased the Red Sox there was a plan to redevelop Fenway Park.  There was a Campaign by the fans against it because of the historic nature of the place.  After a few years the redevelopment plans were dropped indefinately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenway_Park

[Kopendscorer]

I don't know but would imagine the problem with developing Anfield is Anfield Road. I would imagine planning permission to build over an existing road is hard to get, and if it was possible surely it would have been done when the seats were added in a second tier, inside the old roof. Not sure how many the Anfield Rd end holds, but it must be small compared to the Kop.

[Surprise me.]

Broughton has just been on SSN saying that the owners are looking at a redevelopment of anfield as a possibility. Fine by me.

[jason67]

Who gives a fuck about a new stadium really? After these last three years I just want to be able to watch Liverpool and enjoy it again, knowing our football club is safe and sound, and will not cease to exist. This will be easier if we have investment in the team.

Whilst I agree with you 100% mate I also think that I would be more than prudent to investigate what these new buyers are going to do fo us in the future. The last thing we need is to wake up 3 years from now in a similar situation.

But like you said, it would be great to go back to the days when we thought only of what's happening on the field instead of off it.

[AlldridgeNPT2008]

     "By removing the burden of acquisition debt, this offer allows us to focus on investment in the team. I am only disappointed that the owners have tried everything to prevent the deal from happening and that we need to go through legal proceedings in order to complete the sale."

Note to editors:
The sale is conditional on Premier League approval, resolution of the dispute concerning Board membership and other matters.    

may be iam being a bit synical here but iam not getting carried away but the club is still in the hands of gillette and hicks untill legal proceadings are complete if this is true then

lets just hope this satisfyes the RBS which incidently is owned 86% owned by the taxpayer which means they will want there cash on the 15th october .

i guess we wait and see

[Spanish Al]

Broughton has just been on SSN saying that the owners are looking a redevelopment of anfield as a possibility. Fine by me.

Nice one. Never wanted to leave Anfield.

[Polo]

Afraid I am underwhelmed by all this.   One lot of Americans may be enough.
     I, and many others, would like to know who the Asian bidder was. 
      Henry is worth around 540 million pounds, not a lot compared with the Man Citys and Chelsea's of this world.   I know that doesn't mean much in the overall context of the bid but this looks as if it could run and run, especially if Hicks objects strongly and takes it to court.   Then you might find Henry withdrawing because he is tired of waiting.   On the stadium front,  if he succeeds in his takeover, don't be surprised if he doesn't try to share a stadium with Everton.   After all, it would be much cheaper for him.

[Mackeroo]

OK, heres a question;

Would you accept the money being borrowed to fund a stadium? Would you be happy with a £300m + debt if we had a stadium to show for it?

This is the most  likely way of us getting a new stadium.

Of course. Nobody in their right mind would pay cash for a stadium, if that was even a viable option.

If we get a new stadium it will be funded by a combination of debt and naming rights.

[jaffod]

Who gives a fuck about a new stadium really? After these last three years I just want to be able to watch Liverpool and enjoy it again, knowing our football club is safe and sound, and will not cease to exist. This will be easier if we have investment in the team.

Agreed. We can worry about a new stadium once we've sorted out the shambles on the pitch, let's not try to win before we can walk.That's the priority once H& G have gone.
 

[LadsPen]

Afraid I am underwhelmed by all this.   One lot of Americans may be enough.
     I, and many others, would like to know who the Asian bidder was. 
      Henry is worth around 540 million pounds, not a lot compared with the Man Citys and Chelsea's of this world.   I know that doesn't mean much in the overall context of the bid but this looks as if it could run and run, especially if Hicks objects strongly and takes it to court.   Then you might find Henry withdrawing because he is tired of waiting.   On the stadium front,  if he succeeds in his takeover, don't be surprised if he doesn't try to share a stadium with Everton.   After all, it would be much cheaper for him.

He's not the only one buying us, its a group of people.

[Frank.]

Redevelopment of Anfield would be the ideal situation really

[inky2]

Who gives a fuck about a new stadium really? After these last three years I just want to be able to watch Liverpool and enjoy it again, knowing our football club is safe and sound, and will not cease to exist. This will be easier if we have investment in the team.

 

[incredibleL4ever]

OK, heres a question;

Would you accept the money being borrowed to fund a stadium? Would you be happy with a £300m + debt if we had a stadium to show for it?

This is the most  likely way of us getting a new stadium.

A new stadium should bring in 40 - 50m per year extra in Revenue....naming right, corporate boxes and 28000 extra seats.  If half that goes to repaying a loan then its fine.

[Polo]

He's not the only one buying us, its a group of people.

   I know it is being done through his company.    Do you think Hicks took over Liverpool on his own?