Call for community stadium talks to clear the air following criticism (From York Press)

The option of Huntington has always been a doubt in my mind especially considering that the 'infrastructure' was labelled as a positive thing. If Knights are suggesting that there's a lack of substance then the Council should look at alternatives. Given that the Knights weren't allowed to play in the Crescent, what's going to happen for the next few years at Huntington? Where are the Gambia going to train? And why are we paying someone so much money to come up with proposals that are no better than any avid reader of the Press could come up with?

I say switch to the Hull Road site, if it makes both YCFC and York City Knights happy (since it has similar benefits) and do the job properly from the ground-up instead of doing a dodgy renovation project.

kypzethdurron wrote:
The option of Huntington has always been a doubt in my mind especially considering that the 'infrastructure' was labelled as a positive thing. If Knights are suggesting that there's a lack of substance then the Council should look at alternatives. Given that the Knights weren't allowed to play in the Crescent, what's going to happen for the next few years at Huntington? Where are the Gambia going to train? And why are we paying someone so much money to come up with proposals that are no better than any avid reader of the Press could come up with?

I say switch to the Hull Road site, if it makes both YCFC and York City Knights happy (since it has similar benefits) and do the job properly from the ground-up instead of doing a dodgy renovation project.

1) NO money to buy the land

2) Will not get planning permission to build in the greenbelt

3) Will not be able to raise the circa £13 million from enabling development to fund the project.

Get real people. There is a unique opportunity to get the stadium York needs don't let muppets and sentimentality ruin anything.

PS

Lets not listen to people like Mr Guildford, only yesterday he was suggesting a part terraced stadium knowing full well that this will result in the loss of £2 million from the Football Foundation stopping the whole thing dead in its tracks

YUalwayswhinging? wrote:

kypzethdurron wrote: The option of Huntington has always been a doubt in my mind especially considering that the 'infrastructure' was labelled as a positive thing. If Knights are suggesting that there's a lack of substance then the Council should look at alternatives. Given that the Knights weren't allowed to play in the Crescent, what's going to happen for the next few years at Huntington? Where are the Gambia going to train? And why are we paying someone so much money to come up with proposals that are no better than any avid reader of the Press could come up with? I say switch to the Hull Road site, if it makes both YCFC and York City Knights happy (since it has similar benefits) and do the job properly from the ground-up instead of doing a dodgy renovation project.

1) NO money to buy the land 2) Will not get planning permission to build in the greenbelt 3) Will not be able to raise the circa £13 million from enabling development to fund the project. Get real people. There is a unique opportunity to get the stadium York needs don't let muppets and sentimentality ruin anything. PS Lets not listen to people like Mr Guildford, only yesterday he was suggesting a part terraced stadium knowing full well that this will result in the loss of £2 million from the Football Foundation stopping the whole thing dead in its tracks

I'm asking this as a serious question, not just trying to wind you up... but why does York 'need' a community stadium? As far as I can tell, and I may be wrong, Bootham Crescent is perfect for York City. It is about the correct size, it is centrally located with regards to the station/city center, and the biggest factor is that it is already built - requiring no multi-million pound spending. It is also the place most fans would prefer to watch City play. So why this drive to move the stadium?

YorkCityLuke, in my opinion, is exactly right with his questioning of why we should move from Bootham Crescent.
I live in Huntington and the new venue would be 5 minutes walk from my house but I would much prefer to make the journey into town to Bootham Crescent. Monks Cross is great for shopping but completely soul-less. Where to go for a pre-match drink? Where to go after the match to celebrate/drown our sorrows? Football is not just about the match its about the whole matchday experience and I believe a move to Huntington would more likely alienate existing supporters than attract new ones. Didn't York Rugby attract crowds circa 3,000 at Clarence Street but now they are well below 1,000 at Huntington?

YorkCityLuke wrote:

YUalwayswhinging? wrote:

kypzethdurron wrote: The option of Huntington has always been a doubt in my mind especially considering that the 'infrastructure' was labelled as a positive thing. If Knights are suggesting that there's a lack of substance then the Council should look at alternatives. Given that the Knights weren't allowed to play in the Crescent, what's going to happen for the next few years at Huntington? Where are the Gambia going to train? And why are we paying someone so much money to come up with proposals that are no better than any avid reader of the Press could come up with? I say switch to the Hull Road site, if it makes both YCFC and York City Knights happy (since it has similar benefits) and do the job properly from the ground-up instead of doing a dodgy renovation project.

1) NO money to buy the land 2) Will not get planning permission to build in the greenbelt 3) Will not be able to raise the circa £13 million from enabling development to fund the project. Get real people. There is a unique opportunity to get the stadium York needs don't let muppets and sentimentality ruin anything. PS Lets not listen to people like Mr Guildford, only yesterday he was suggesting a part terraced stadium knowing full well that this will result in the loss of £2 million from the Football Foundation stopping the whole thing dead in its tracks

I'm asking this as a serious question, not just trying to wind you up... but why does York 'need' a community stadium? As far as I can tell, and I may be wrong, Bootham Crescent is perfect for York City. It is about the correct size, it is centrally located with regards to the station/city center, and the biggest factor is that it is already built - requiring no multi-million pound spending. It is also the place most fans would prefer to watch City play. So why this drive to move the stadium?

If the council is to stump up £4 million of tax payers money then there has to be tangible community benefit. The council cannot just bung £4 million to a private company (YCFC)

You are wrong Bootham Crescent is not perfect. It is not able to generate the income necessary to support the club. They will go under if they do not get a new stadium.

It would require millions spending on it to be fit for purpose. Where will this money come from? The City Council cannot bail them out and they have no funds themselves.

What options are there then? Provide a new stadium that secures the needs of both professional clubs and provides tangible community benefit in return for tax payers investment.

Why Huntington? Because it is the only site that can generate the circa £13 million necessary from developers to make it happen.

Its simply taking the cheapest option by moving out to Huntington. There is not enough money available to improve Bootham Crescent, although obviously that would be the choice of the majority of York City fans. Already I have personally spoken to life-long City supporters who tell me that they will NOT be attending games if we move out to Huntington, sadly that is precisely what happened to the Rugby League team, when they moved from Clarence Street. Harmony needs to be restored or both clubs will face a very bleak future, if indeed they have a future.

YUalwayswhinging? wrote:

kypzethdurron wrote:
The option of Huntington has always been a doubt in my mind especially considering that the 'infrastructure' was labelled as a positive thing. If Knights are suggesting that there's a lack of substance then the Council should look at alternatives. Given that the Knights weren't allowed to play in the Crescent, what's going to happen for the next few years at Huntington? Where are the Gambia going to train? And why are we paying someone so much money to come up with proposals that are no better than any avid reader of the Press could come up with?

I say switch to the Hull Road site, if it makes both YCFC and York City Knights happy (since it has similar benefits) and do the job properly from the ground-up instead of doing a dodgy renovation project.

1) NO money to buy the land

2) Will not get planning permission to build in the greenbelt

3) Will not be able to raise the circa £13 million from enabling development to fund the project.

Get real people. There is a unique opportunity to get the stadium York needs don't let muppets and sentimentality ruin anything.

PS

Lets not listen to people like Mr Guildford, only yesterday he was suggesting a part terraced stadium knowing full well that this will result in the loss of £2 million from the Football Foundation stopping the whole thing dead in its tracks

No Planning? JoRo, and the University show you can build on green belt, in fact anywhere if you have enough money and influence. The real issue is that sport / community facilities are not high on most councillors agendas as they can make money from private business not public facilities. The Barbican is all the evidence you need of what any 'public' or otherwise enquiry or 'in the open air' discussion will achieve.

boyer4england is right. Clarence Street was great, a pint or 2 in The Punch Bowl then a short stroll down the road and another couple under the stand before going to enjoy the match. There was always a good crowd there, in the thousands every week. The move to Huntington destroyed the fan base.

I agree with some of the comments on here with regard to the financing of the new stadium. Bootham Crescent just is not a viable option anymore, those people out there that think of re-developing it are living in the past. Also, the same people who are threatening to quit following City should go to the Chesterfield F.C website and look at what that club have achieved with a new 10,300 all-seater stadium, built in another area of the town that fans there are really excited about. Yes, most Chesterfield fans were sorry to leave Saltersgate, but knew it had served its purpose a long time ago and are ready, willing and able to see THEIR football club enter a new era for THEIR town. Come on people of York! Take a leaf out of Chesterfield's book and see what can really be achieved. Remember, just about all the clubs that have moved grounds have had to move away from their old working class back street environments to new out of town developments (which is where the main money is now). Again, get your heads out of the past and start looking to the future, not just for us but for future generations, who just might say "well at least they got something right at the council in 2010!" By the way, just because I live in Huntington does not mean I am pro Huntington, I used to live in Holgate and I still would have made the trip to Huntington. If you are a true fan you will travel anywhere to support the team you love.

As a p.s. to my last post, Chesterfield's new stadium cost £17.5 million and is very similar to Huddersfield's Galpharm stadium (although I think it's called something else now), but on a smaller scale.

BC is 78yrs old and although legally 'fit for purpose' costs a fortune to keep that way. It also is of a design that doesn't allow for other income streams to plough money into the club when not in use one day a fortnight. The other issue for YCFC are the loans secured against it, largely as a result of Douglas Craig 'appropriating' the ground from under us and YCFC having to buy it back. The loan interest and upkeep make it difficult for the club to run at an even budget - although profit was made last financial year thanks to player sales and Wembley.
HS is the cheapest alternative - a lot cheaper sadly than transforming BC, not to mention the issue of being able to sell latter to finally pay off the debts.
As for out of town grounds - this is the way football is going and nearly all have flourished in their new homes - Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Burton, Morecambe, Scunthorpe and many more. But yes - a poorly put together ground out at MX wouldn't be ideal.
Money is the issue as always however and whilst we would all like an 'all singing and dancing' stadium, as Mr Guildford puts it, he doesn't seem to have any suggestions as to how the cash is raised. He decried the delay via the Press on one day and talked about waiting on the next. He voted for HS but now seems to want the Hull Rd option despite the huge difficulties over cost, land purchase, etc. He has now stirred up a hornets nest (wasps?) - which some might say was his sole intention.
As a YCFC fan - I meanwhile fear very much for the future.
Sorry this is so long, but people did ask various questions and I don't know about much, but after 30yrs at BC, I do know a little about the club. :-)

Lizzie Browning wrote:
BC is 78yrs old and although legally 'fit for purpose' costs a fortune to keep that way. It also is of a design that doesn't allow for other income streams to plough money into the club when not in use one day a fortnight. The other issue for YCFC are the loans secured against it, largely as a result of Douglas Craig 'appropriating' the ground from under us and YCFC having to buy it back. The loan interest and upkeep make it difficult for the club to run at an even budget - although profit was made last financial year thanks to player sales and Wembley.
HS is the cheapest alternative - a lot cheaper sadly than transforming BC, not to mention the issue of being able to sell latter to finally pay off the debts.
As for out of town grounds - this is the way football is going and nearly all have flourished in their new homes - Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Burton, Morecambe, Scunthorpe and many more. But yes - a poorly put together ground out at MX wouldn't be ideal.
Money is the issue as always however and whilst we would all like an 'all singing and dancing' stadium, as Mr Guildford puts it, he doesn't seem to have any suggestions as to how the cash is raised. He decried the delay via the Press on one day and talked about waiting on the next. He voted for HS but now seems to want the Hull Rd option despite the huge difficulties over cost, land purchase, etc. He has now stirred up a hornets nest (wasps?) - which some might say was his sole intention.
As a YCFC fan - I meanwhile fear very much for the future.
Sorry this is so long, but people did ask various questions and I don't know about much, but after 30yrs at BC, I do know a little about the club. :-)

Very good comment Lizzie! Yes, I fear for the future as well with various political and business interests in York vying for attention with a 'what's in it for us' attitude. Unfortunately, as the poor downtrodden folk of York look on in frustration at the delays and never-ending haggling, the day that a new stadium is built in York will be like looking through a telescope backwards with a horizon that never seems to get closer.

OLD - HEAD wrote:
Its simply taking the cheapest option by moving out to Huntington. There is not enough money available to improve Bootham Crescent, although obviously that would be the choice of the majority of York City fans. Already I have personally spoken to life-long City supporters who tell me that they will NOT be attending games if we move out to Huntington, sadly that is precisely what happened to the Rugby League team, when they moved from Clarence Street. Harmony needs to be restored or both clubs will face a very bleak future, if indeed they have a future.

Any proper City supporter worth his or her salt would support the club wherever they played - you must mix with some pretty fickle folk, Old Head - life long suppoters they say - what a joke !!!

Build the new Community stadium in the 'cultural Quarter' if you can remember that CYC waste of time.
We have a perfectly sound Athletics stadium for our future athletes to train on, as well as foreign nations preparing for the Olympic Games.
Only a fool would mess with this current facility.

sixtyfourfive wrote:

OLD - HEAD wrote: Its simply taking the cheapest option by moving out to Huntington. There is not enough money available to improve Bootham Crescent, although obviously that would be the choice of the majority of York City fans. Already I have personally spoken to life-long City supporters who tell me that they will NOT be attending games if we move out to Huntington, sadly that is precisely what happened to the Rugby League team, when they moved from Clarence Street. Harmony needs to be restored or both clubs will face a very bleak future, if indeed they have a future.

Any proper City supporter worth his or her salt would support the club wherever they played - you must mix with some pretty fickle folk, Old Head - life long suppoters they say - what a joke !!!

In a way though, surely the football club exists purely for the entertainment of the fans? So if the fans mostly want to stay at BC, that should be the priority. It would be a terrible shame to lose our home ground anyway - BC is the only constant aspect of York City, with players, managers, chairmen, kits and even the badge and stadium name having changed innumerable times over the past 15 years. If we move out of BC, it's just not going to be the same York City people have supported all their lives.

As someone involved in the property business I hold my head in my hands at the lack of financial understanding over this matter
There is talk about a huge suplus of funds from the sale of the existing ground............Wh
y COYC policy is for land to be restricted in value to accomodate the 40% affordable policy The days of £1 million an acre if CoYC policy is implimented are dead...More like £90K per acre
It is rumoured that CoYC are going to allow Monks cross south to develop retail rather than offices on their site in return for a huge financial bung to go towards the stadium. Given that this site was designated a premier employment site not so long ago and restricted to 'science 'type employment this is a huge about turn by CoYC. I suspect this is open to serious challenge as what has changed? I also suspect it may be illegal
This is pie in the sky unless CoYC changes all the rules to suit itself and not the majority of people in York {bit like the new HQ I suppose!!]