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Saints future may depend on City Council....


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The City Council may ultimately play a huge role in Saints' future. The greatest liability is clearly the stadium finance which is largely through a bond with Norwich Union. However, any asset stripper keen on purchasing the stadium would need to obtain the support of Norwich Union (and other creditors) and clearly any change of usage from football to other (development) usage woudl be conditional on the City Council planners.

 

So, the City Council could play a crucial part in securing a footballing future in St Marys rather than a retailing or residential future. Its important that people understand this/influence the outcome

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I really can't see the council buying the stadium, really can't. How would they be able to fund it. My council tax would treble at the least.

Also would you really want other sports like egg chasing being played on our hallowed turf? I know I wouldn't. We have got one of the best pitches if the best in the South of England.

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I really can't see the council buying the stadium, really can't. How would they be able to fund it. My council tax would treble at the least.

Also would you really want other sports like egg chasing being played on our hallowed turf? I know I wouldn't. We have got one of the best pitches if the best in the South of England.

 

 

I don't think that was the point that he was making. He stated that if the asset strippers/administrators were to, god forbid, sell the 'asset' that is the stadium to property developers, for example, those property developers could not develop that ground (where the stadium is built) without prior planning permission from Southampton City council. Thus they may still have a say in what happens with St Marys stadium and in turn what happens in and around it.

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I really can't see the council buying the stadium, really can't. How would they be able to fund it. My council tax would treble at the least.

If they took over the mortgage that would be £2m a year out of their budget. That wouldn't treble your bill at all, in fact it might not increase at all if they decided to cut spending elsewhere. How about fortnightly bin collections in exchange for a football club?

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Slight tangent I guess, but anyone know of any research into how much subsidiary/peripheral business and jobs a professional football club the size of Saints brings to a City such as Southampton? i.e. local shops and pubs, transport providers, etc.

 

If this could be quantified then surely the council would be able to justify investing a proportion of local tax revenues in protecting these local jobs and businesses that benefit directly or indirectly from the Club's presence?

Edited by trousers
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Also would you really want other sports like egg chasing being played on our hallowed turf? I know I wouldn't. We have got one of the best pitches if the best in the South of England.

 

It could be a good source of income for the eventual owner of the stadium.

 

Croke Park which has earned €18.7m in rental income from rugby and soccer over two years

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I really can't see the council buying the stadium, really can't. How would they be able to fund it. My council tax would treble at the least.

Also would you really want other sports like egg chasing being played on our hallowed turf? I know I wouldn't. We have got one of the best pitches if the best in the South of England.

 

The council don't have to buy the stadium to influence the outcome.

 

If they were to let it be known that permision will not be granted for any change in use to either commercial or residential then the amount of money that a prospective purchaser is going to be willing to pay will fall through the floor.

 

Accordingly Nowrich Union (Aviva) will not be able to get as much money for it and will facing a bigger loss than they might be hoping for.

 

The Council can't force anybody to do anything but they can make life awkward for people.

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I really can't see the council buying the stadium, really can't. How would they be able to fund it. My council tax would treble at the least.

 

They could always do it under a shared partnership with a low sector housing company,that way the council liability will be low with big profits.

 

Does anyone know of such a company that builds this type of property in partnership with councils ;)

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The City Council may ultimately play a huge role in Saints' future. The greatest liability is clearly the stadium finance which is largely through a bond with Norwich Union. However, any asset stripper keen on purchasing the stadium would need to obtain the support of Norwich Union (and other creditors) and clearly any change of usage from football to other (development) usage woudl be conditional on the City Council planners.

 

So, the City Council could play a crucial part in securing a footballing future in St Marys rather than a retailing or residential future. Its important that people understand this/influence the outcome

 

 

Right...and you're the same bloke who said with "absolute confidence" that we would go into admin in the first week of February. And then said you were proven right!

 

Please just go away.

 

Nothing to see her, people....

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I really can't see the council buying the stadium, really can't. How would they be able to fund it. My council tax would treble at the least.

Also would you really want other sports like egg chasing being played on our hallowed turf? I know I wouldn't. We have got one of the best pitches if the best in the South of England.

 

OF course it would not treble your bill , they would just take over the mortgage at £2m or whatever a year, in fact do a deal with Hampshire County Council, jointly own it and in 15 years or time have a great asset in communtity use.

Same with Staplewood

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I don't think that was the point that he was making. He stated that if the asset strippers/administrators were to, god forbid, sell the 'asset' that is the stadium to property developers, for example, those property developers could not develop that ground (where the stadium is built) without prior planning permission from Southampton City council. Thus they may still have a say in what happens with St Marys stadium and in turn what happens in and around it.

 

Precisely - crucial we get this message out

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If they took over the mortgage that would be £2m a year out of their budget. That wouldn't treble your bill at all, in fact it might not increase at all if they decided to cut spending elsewhere. How about fortnightly bin collections in exchange for a football club?

 

My granny is not interested in football, so why should she forego a good refuse collection service so that 15k people can watch football once a fornight, many of whom don't even live in the city?

 

Do football fans spend a lot in the city on match days? Nope. Even visiting fans are encouraged to leave as soon as possible. Football is therefore already more of a drain on local finance than a benefit. (Devil's advocate, before you berate me for not being a true fan.)

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The news comes as the Daily Echo reveals how some of the biggest names in music have been turned away from performing at the stadium this summer.

Acts including Take That, Rod Stewart and The Eagles, were in talks to stage concerts at St Mary’s but none of the events will take place because it is not certain the stadium will still be in business.

 

Chicken vs egg?

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My granny is not interested in football, so why should she forego a good refuse collection service so that 15k people can watch football once a fornight, many of whom don't even live in the city?

 

Do football fans spend a lot in the city on match days? Nope. Even visiting fans are encouraged to leave as soon as possible. Football is therefore already more of a drain on local finance than a benefit. (Devil's advocate, before you berate me for not being a true fan.)

 

the fortnightly collection idea was very much tongue in cheak. However the idea that fans don't spend money in the city when they come is garbage. Parking alone is about £4 or £5, many many fans eat and drink before and after the game. Add to this people shop in town, stay in hotels and use public transport. I realise extra policing costs are a burden on the local tax payer, but make no mistake a thriving football club brings in a lot of money to the city.

 

I appreciate your gran might not like footbal so why should she subsidise us watching Saints but the reality is that the city council would pay £2m a year for 12 years and then would own the stadium lock stock. During those 12 years they could rent the stadium back to Saints for say £1m and make additional revenue streams from concerts etc. so the real cost to tax payers comes right down.

 

If you disagree then ask yourself why Leeds City Council bought Elland Road?

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