York City chief Jason McGill backs Monks Cross stadium move (From York Press)
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York City chief Jason McGill backs Monks Cross stadium move
11:38am Friday 25th June 2010 in News
York City have set their sights on a move to a new community stadium at Monks Cross.
The Minstermen's chairman Jason McGill says demolishing Huntington Stadium, the current home of York City Knights, and building a new arena to house both clubs is now seen as the best way forward for City.
City of York Council has today revealed the four sites on the shortlist for the community stadium, with one including the existing rugby league ground and the adjacent Vangarde land at Monks Cross previously earmarked for a HSBC data centre.
The other options are redevloping City's Bootham Crescent home, which would involve buying the neighbouring Duncombe Barracks, a Hull Road site next to the University of York's new Heslington East campus, and on the Nestle North and Mille Crux site off Haxby Road.
The council's executive will be asked to consider the four options at its July 6 meeting, with the initial proposals focusing on a 6,000-seat stadium with office space and health and fitness facilities. Athletics facilities would be provided at a separate site.
Residents will be asked to give their views on their preferred option over the next week, but the team behind the community stadium project has warned each of the options contains a funding gap which will have to be bridged and any scheme would have to be part-funded by contributions from developers.
"We have a preferred site, and that would be not a redeveloped stadium at Monks Cross, but a totally new stadium there," said Mr McGill.
"That is the option which will deliver the best timeline and economic generation facilities for the football club and help us prosper. But we would not support a purely refurbished Huntington Stadium."
* For the full story, see The Press on Saturday
Comments(50)
skeltonmike
says...
11:58am Fri 25 Jun 10
bill99
says...
12:00pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Utter joke!
fate
says...
12:03pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Of course they won't as this is in their favour.
invisibleman
says...
12:04pm Fri 25 Jun 10
DAVE FROM LEAM
says...
12:06pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
12:13pm Fri 25 Jun 10
fewster
says...
12:15pm Fri 25 Jun 10
bill99 wrote:I have to admitt that I now fear for the future of York city, in the city we struggle to gain a respectable attendance and wi a move out of town I think you'll see a further decrease in attendances to put us in financial trouble again!!
well done COYC1 finally driven the club out of the City! as long as the toursits are happy though ay!
Utter joke!
PeteN
says...
12:30pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
12:32pm Fri 25 Jun 10
fewster wrote:At Monks X I'm more likely to attend a footy match again if the parking is easy, the seat is comfy, and the facilities are more hygenic than in the 1930s tin-pot Bootham Crescent that I spent half my youth in.
bill99 wrote: well done COYC1 finally driven the club out of the City! as long as the toursits are happy though ay! Utter joke!I have to admitt that I now fear for the future of York city, in the city we struggle to gain a respectable attendance and wi a move out of town I think you'll see a further decrease in attendances to put us in financial trouble again!!
.
I spent the other half playing the game which is far more desirable for our unfit kids today.
Sir Alex
says...
12:48pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Will need to look at public transport.
So long as its redeveloped completely (ie something to be proud of) and not just refurbished.
More importantly - so long as we don't do a Chester!
Colin Pratt
says...
12:50pm Fri 25 Jun 10
voiceoreason
says...
12:55pm Fri 25 Jun 10
bill99 wrote:Errr, have you actually read the article?
well done COYC1 finally driven the club out of the City! as long as the toursits are happy though ay!
Utter joke!
The council have not yet made a decision. It is the Football CLub that have said they want to go to Monks Cross.
So please correct your comment
"well done COYC finally driven the club out of the City!"
And as for the rest, there is just no evidence whatsover. The move was not what hit the Rugby Club at all.
Just to consider facts. Distance from City Centre to Keep Moat Stadium in Doncaster approx 3 miles Distance from City Centre to Huntington Stadium approx 3.5 miles
And well that's been the death of Doncaster Rovers hasnt it
meme
says...
12:56pm Fri 25 Jun 10
voiceoreason
says...
12:56pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Garrowby Turnoff wrote:For one ... fully agree
fewster wrote:At Monks X I'm more likely to attend a footy match again if the parking is easy, the seat is comfy, and the facilities are more hygenic than in the 1930s tin-pot Bootham Crescent that I spent half my youth in.
bill99 wrote: well done COYC1 finally driven the club out of the City! as long as the toursits are happy though ay! Utter joke!I have to admitt that I now fear for the future of York city, in the city we struggle to gain a respectable attendance and wi a move out of town I think you'll see a further decrease in attendances to put us in financial trouble again!!
.
I spent the other half playing the game which is far more desirable for our unfit kids today.
voiceoreason
says...
12:58pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Let's not for example pay an attention to
land availabilty?
Funding?
On going revenue generation?
sciencefan
says...
1:02pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Dream On
on the bright side!
says...
1:18pm Fri 25 Jun 10
sciencefan wrote:thats right it wont happen CofYC throw some bait out to the press to make a non story and it looks as though they ere getting a move on.
It will still never get built. Where is the money for this "funding gap" gonna come from!
Dream On
it will be no further on this time next year!
douglas craig
says...
1:25pm Fri 25 Jun 10
That will NEVER be filled, they can't fill a city centre stadium let alone one out in the sticks. As already said this place killed the rugby club, it will do the same to YCFC.
If you are serious about this Jason you are as bad as my name sake and Batchelor before you.
McGill out will be the cry before too long from the Shippo.
Gladis Cheesepick
says...
1:44pm Fri 25 Jun 10
The first one is in regards to the first point about 'Shearers Bar'
-
If this is so I would advise we call ours 'Paul BARnes'
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Secondly Mr Cheesepick is barred from Monks Cross due to the theft of a Sainsburys Roast Chicken which he forgot to take out the trolley - would this allow be enforced to the football ground?
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I hear all to often the phrase 'I fear for the future of this club'....I've heard this for 14 years - we must have the biggest wimps as followers in the whole of the BSP.
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It really isn't that far to Monks Cross - no wonder we are the nations 3rd fattest city - get walking!
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This player we have on trail from Blackburn is a great move - well done the club.
-
England 2-0 Germany (Defoe 16, Milner 80)
Colin Pratt
says...
1:52pm Fri 25 Jun 10
For all it's worth my prediction is England 1-3 Germany...sadly.
bobcat4711
says...
2:00pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Mike Oxuge
says...
2:35pm Fri 25 Jun 10
bobcat4711 wrote:The "Full Stop" is the little dot on your keyboard, two buttons to the right of the "M".
they do some supporters get on the back of the McGills as a long standing city supporter it is past problems that got us in a mess we seem to be going forward at a rate that finance allows if we had got back in to the league things would have been a lot different please do not push the manager and the board out or we will end up in the ---- the cycc are the people to put more pressure on for a stadium push your local councillor 6,000 to me seems to small unless it can be extended It is not to long ago we gave Blackpool a few good hideings well lets hope for good season a head when gash comes on form
goreds
says...
2:41pm Fri 25 Jun 10
we have the opportuniy to expand BC and create a fantastic development that people can actually walk to - I CANNOT BELIEVE WE WILL THROW THAT CHANCE AWAY.
PKH
says...
2:57pm Fri 25 Jun 10
DAVE FROM LEAM wrote:The Rugby Club would have folded, as it could not afford Clarence St. The old York City Council did not help them. It was Ryedale District Council who did hence the Stadium at Monks Cross which was originally called Ryedale Stadium.
It all but killed off the Rugby club moving there and it will do the same for the football.
douglas craig
says...
3:41pm Fri 25 Jun 10
PKH wrote:City of York Council helps no one but itself i'm afraid. They have no desire to see a football club in the city. They want YCFC to go the same way as Scarborough.
DAVE FROM LEAM wrote: It all but killed off the Rugby club moving there and it will do the same for the football.The Rugby Club would have folded, as it could not afford Clarence St. The old York City Council did not help them. It was Ryedale District Council who did hence the Stadium at Monks Cross which was originally called Ryedale Stadium.
alimount
says...
3:51pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Also with regards to transport, it will affect away support as there isn't a local train station near the ground. I often travel to away games (and home ones) on the train and I am put off travelling if the station is miles away. I don't want the hassle of catching a bus to and from the ground in a place I don't know. Walking is much more reliable! Plus we should be selling the City with the football club in the heart of it.
Someone further up mentions we don't want to be another Chester, well Chester's old ground was just up the road from the current one but that too is miles from the station and more importantly, there isn't any pubs for the last half of the journey and that isn't good!
LibDem
says...
4:36pm Fri 25 Jun 10
uk/ including a 100+ page report (Council Meetings/Executive/6
th July). The Council are asking for comments on the options to be sent to a dedicated Email address community.stadium@yo
rk.gov.uk
by 2nd July.
voiceoreason
says...
5:04pm Fri 25 Jun 10
"Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow"
Perhaps the chant now needs to be changed
"Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow ... unless we have to get the bus"
Oh and as for alimount's station argument. What nonsense
Doncaster Keep Moat - distance from Train Station 1.7 miles
Leeds Elland Road - distance from Train Station 2.2 miles
Huntington Stadium - distance from Train Station 2.5 miles
Anfield - distance from train station 3 miles
markacombred
says...
5:14pm Fri 25 Jun 10
I will not be going to monks x to support city,so that is one empty seat already.
I have said many times before york council do not want anything in this city unless it is tourism based,just look at the engineering that has gone in the last 15 years.
We need to develop BC firstly by buying the barracks and turn the ground 180 degrees. I am sure the council would fully back this venture if a hotel were included in the plans.
Moving to monks x will kill this club mark my words.
Long live YCFC Long live BC!!
Minsterview
says...
5:34pm Fri 25 Jun 10
markacombred wrote:Bye then!
Hi All City fans. I will not be going to monks x to support city,so that is one empty seat already. I have said many times before york council do not want anything in this city unless it is tourism based,just look at the engineering that has gone in the last 15 years. We need to develop BC firstly by buying the barracks and turn the ground 180 degrees. I am sure the council would fully back this venture if a hotel were included in the plans. Moving to monks x will kill this club mark my words. Long live YCFC Long live BC!!
You aren't related to wolfie are you?Power to the people , Islington Popular Front and all that?
voiceoreason
says...
5:40pm Fri 25 Jun 10
markacombred wrote:"I will not be going to monks x to support city,so that is one empty seat already."
Hi All City fans.
I will not be going to monks x to support city,so that is one empty seat already.
I have said many times before york council do not want anything in this city unless it is tourism based,just look at the engineering that has gone in the last 15 years.
We need to develop BC firstly by buying the barracks and turn the ground 180 degrees. I am sure the council would fully back this venture if a hotel were included in the plans.
Moving to monks x will kill this club mark my words.
Long live YCFC Long live BC!!
Can see your really a true fan eh Mark?
"We need to develop BC firstly by buying the barracks and turn the ground 180 degrees."
Who exactly is going to stump up the cash for this? This would require land acquisition cost? Stadium cost? Clearing YCFC debts?
Not a true fan and generally dillusional
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
5:54pm Fri 25 Jun 10
PICKLINGTON in big type face. LOL.
.
Give the sub-editor a coconut.
Lizzie Browning
says...
5:59pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Those who use the York RL comparison forget the changes to rugby league which led to their demise and also forget that they moved precisely because they were so it debt they had to sell Clarence St and their training ground! Better comparisons should be made with similar clubs Doncaster and Scunthorpe, both of which prospered when they moved out of town.
Finally - YCFC average gate in the Conference is about 2600, in the League it would be about a thousand about that. Of course 6000 isn't too much, you have got to plan for the topmost likely gates, not just the average. I'd suggest 6000 is a little low given play off matches, cup games, etc all have the ability to achieve nearer 10,000 - but beggars can't be choosers.
As sciencefan rightly says - the worry is the funding gap, but if £44m can be found for council offices, surely, with a business partner along too, a fraction of that can be found for a community stadium.
Abstemious
says...
5:59pm Fri 25 Jun 10
I, for one, have no interest in football. I would rather lick pi55 off a nettle than go anywhere near anything to do with the "sport".
Any subsidy from CYC should be subject to thorough consultation with council tax PAYERS before they get a penny.
Will YCFC pay anything back if they ever admit to making a profit?
Having said that, it might be worth a few bob to get them out of the city centre
Lizzie Browning
says...
6:15pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Abstemious wrote:Not this old chestnut again! For heavens sake, its been answered countless times.
All the comments above seem to assume that everyone in York wants to see what is, after all, a private business (YCFC) bailed out by public funds.
I, for one, have no interest in football. I would rather lick pi55 off a nettle than go anywhere near anything to do with the "sport".
Any subsidy from CYC should be subject to thorough consultation with council tax PAYERS before they get a penny.
Will YCFC pay anything back if they ever admit to making a profit?
Having said that, it might be worth a few bob to get them out of the city centre
This stadium is a COMMUNITY asset - to be used for rugby and football, for concerts, for charity events, for leisure activities etc. YCFC will be ploughing money into it - where do you think the money from the sale of Bootham Crescent will go (albeit less loans)??? Add to that the £2m football league loan which will be converted into a grant.
Finally, YOU may not want a new stadium, but thousands of residents will. Council tax isn't paid by all of us just for the things YOU want - Abstemious. I rarely use public libraries, but I don't mind my council tax funding them. Its called living in a democracy - get used to it!
If you can't come up with sensible comment, Abstemious, please keep your views to yourself. And finally, why do you want the club 'out of the city centre'? More poisonous reactionary views about trouble which very, very rarely occurs and is far less than anything you'd see on a Saturday night week in week out in our pubs.
I really do despair sometimes. Really.
AngryandFrustrated
says...
7:17pm Fri 25 Jun 10
voiceoreason wrote:Oh, I just love the comparison between YCFC and teams like Liverpool and Leeds! Do you have any idea what happens in respect of transporting fans to Elland Road on match days? For a start, and I speak from significant experience, LUFC put on buses from just down the road from the station. Secondly, there are a plethera of various buses and bus companies that run from the station up to Elland Rd. Thirdly, any large groups of travelling fans that pass thru Leeds station are escorted on buses to Elland Rd by the police.
Most telling quote here though is still the first one "Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow" Perhaps the chant now needs to be changed "Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow ... unless we have to get the bus" Oh and as for alimount's station argument. What nonsense Doncaster Keep Moat - distance from Train Station 1.7 miles Leeds Elland Road - distance from Train Station 2.2 miles Huntington Stadium - distance from Train Station 2.5 miles Anfield - distance from train station 3 miles
YCFC (and it is up to the club to cover the police costs) and CofYC have neither the resources nor the infrastructure to put in place these sorts of arrangements. To compare the two is a bit like comparing the soon to be Palace of York with the Palace of Westminster!
Lizzie Browning
says...
7:27pm Fri 25 Jun 10
yc3mu0
says...
7:49pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Punk_Ian
says...
9:00pm Fri 25 Jun 10
Abstemious wrote:So if York get promoted thus increasing the amount of away fans coming here then I think you'll agree that you'll want none of them spending their money in the city centre on shops and businesses?
All the comments above seem to assume that everyone in York wants to see what is, after all, a private business (YCFC) bailed out by public funds.
I, for one, have no interest in football. I would rather lick pi55 off a nettle than go anywhere near anything to do with the "sport".
Any subsidy from CYC should be subject to thorough consultation with council tax PAYERS before they get a penny.
Will YCFC pay anything back if they ever admit to making a profit?
Having said that, it might be worth a few bob to get them out of the city centre
If the club do well then it brings in revenue for the whole City not just the club but small minded people like you don't seem to realise this
alimount
says...
9:28pm Fri 25 Jun 10
voiceoreason wrote:Find me one person who has walked from Liverpool City Centre to Anfield for a match?! They'd have to be either very brave or really tight! Yes it may be 3 miles but there is a Metro station 1 mile from the ground and trains run every 10 mins or so which is how everyone gets there. You must be tight and brave if you wanted to walk that far to watch that pile!
Most telling quote here though is still the first one
"Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow"
Perhaps the chant now needs to be changed
"Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow ... unless we have to get the bus"
Oh and as for alimount's station argument. What nonsense
Doncaster Keep Moat - distance from Train Station 1.7 miles
Leeds Elland Road - distance from Train Station 2.2 miles
Huntington Stadium - distance from Train Station 2.5 miles
Anfield - distance from train station 3 miles
Cold_as_Christmas
says...
1:09am Sat 26 Jun 10
What sort of new stadium will the athletics track be housed in. They didn't say!
If not better than Monks X then it needs to stay where it is.
Cold_as_Christmas
says...
1:13am Sat 26 Jun 10
How much has Atkins cost us to remove one of York's best facilities?
Minsterview
says...
9:16am Sat 26 Jun 10
Seems to me that the key to this project is the need to pursuade the Council to agree to give planning permission to the commercial development on the site at Monks Cross. Without that, the stadium where ever it might be located, can't be funded.
tonezzzznoddedoff
says...
10:01am Sat 26 Jun 10
Lizzie Browning
says...
12:55pm Sat 26 Jun 10
Minsterview wrote:Agree that planning for commercial development is the key factor. Do you think there is a developer lined up, or is the report just talking theoretically. That I guess is another 'key'.
If you read the report on the Council web site you will see that the provision of the new athletics facilities could be completed before 2012. I would have thought that the Olympic teams would be delighted to have the use of state of the art track?
Seems to me that the key to this project is the need to pursuade the Council to agree to give planning permission to the commercial development on the site at Monks Cross. Without that, the stadium where ever it might be located, can't be funded.
Tess21
says...
1:35pm Sat 26 Jun 10
The COYC argument would be that they need to be in the city centre - so do York City FC so fans from all over York can attend as it is easier to reach Bootham Crescent than Monks Cross for many. Also think of the traffic problems around November - supporters would miss the first half stuck in the jams around Monks Cross.
Finally would the name York City need changing to Monks Cross Red Sox or similar?
voiceoreason
says...
10:08pm Sat 26 Jun 10
alimount wrote:Sorry iut must be my imagination but I thought I remembered a big silver bus that runs from the train station to Monks Cross - adjacent to the stadium every 15 minutes?
voiceoreason wrote:Find me one person who has walked from Liverpool City Centre to Anfield for a match?! They'd have to be either very brave or really tight! Yes it may be 3 miles but there is a Metro station 1 mile from the ground and trains run every 10 mins or so which is how everyone gets there. You must be tight and brave if you wanted to walk that far to watch that pile!
Most telling quote here though is still the first one
"Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow"
Perhaps the chant now needs to be changed
"Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow ... unless we have to get the bus"
Oh and as for alimount's station argument. What nonsense
Doncaster Keep Moat - distance from Train Station 1.7 miles
Leeds Elland Road - distance from Train Station 2.2 miles
Huntington Stadium - distance from Train Station 2.5 miles
Anfield - distance from train station 3 miles
voiceoreason
says...
10:10pm Sat 26 Jun 10
Lizzie Browning
says...
2:30pm Sun 27 Jun 10
voiceoreason wrote:How do grumpy pensioners know whether to complain its 3 mins late, or 7 mins early? Its an OUTRAGE! ;-)
Sorry it seems I was wrong ... its every ten minutes
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Monkey2 says...
11:55am Fri 25 Jun 10
The YCFC Social Club is currently undergoing a bit of a revolution, in that it's going to be open through the day, through the week. If a new stadium included a nice social club/pub (something that's currently lacking from the Monks X area) that had similar opening hours, then this could also add value- a more bijou version of 'Shearer's Bar' in Newcastle perhaps?
As long as there are decent transport links, and some provision for drivers, then we should be able to make a good go of a new, purpose built stadium, out of town.
Afterall, we love you City, and where you go we'll follow