Jacksons Farm

[St Chalet]

We would be mad to leave SMS at this point in time. Despite the huge bank balance of ML there has to be an element of self funding in any move. Just look at the financial drain the Emirates has put on Arsenal in recent years.

 

SMS with a gradual expansion of more seats and improvement in infrastructure (such as bolting a railway platform to the railway track that runs alongside FFS) would deliver our needs medium to long term.

 

Fully prepared to review this stance when we qualify for the Champions League.

[saintwarwick]

Because Saints should be aiming to be around 8th-12th in the Premier League. With a capacity of 32k it will mean the club when it gets back to the top flight is likely to be a along way from the 8th-12th largest stadium in England. Same with actual average attendances. 32k simply isn't big enough as shown by the average attendances whilst Lowe was in charge.

 

What has Lowe got to do with this?

[Matthew Le God]

What has Lowe got to do with this?

 

Because the crowds still turned up over 30k with a team that Lowe didn't invest in. Saints have never in 125 years had proper investment whilst in the top flight. Investment and sucess in the playing squad attracts bums on seats. Hopefully this is what Liebherr will do. Thus 32k is not enough if investment in the playing squad continues in the Premiership.

 

Just read the interview in the Wembley program, Cortese wants the team to be challenging near the top of the Premier League and understands the investment required to do so.

[RonManager]

...

Edited 14 June, 2010 by RonManager

[stmusicdude]

2 questions do some posters sit in office at home thinking what can i post now to get a reaction?

and .. how long before the echo quote this lol

[Junction 9]

9-12th place finishes last year. Birmingham, Blackburn, Stoke , Fulham. All with smaller stadiums and fan bases with our can compete in the Prem quite happily.

In order to be left behind surely all these clubs would need to massively increase their garounds and fan bases too and they won't.

There's also at least another 5 clubs who'll be in the Prem next year even smaller than these. I'm all for ambition but to say we'll be left behind is nonsense, left behind by who?

[Ponty]

As for having it in an area out of town like Bolton, no thank you.

 

There's no way they'll build the new stadium in Bolton, so don't panic.

[NickG]

Because Saints should be aiming to be around 8th-12th in the Premier League. With a capacity of 32k it will mean the club when it gets back to the top flight is likely to be a along way from the 8th-12th largest stadium in England. Same with actual average attendances. 32k simply isn't big enough as shown by the average attendances whilst Lowe was in charge.

 

32,000 average would put us around 11th, behind Man U, Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sunderland, Chelsea - all 40,000 plus, and then Villa, Everton and Spurs who are around the mid 30s

[Scottie]

Because Saints should be aiming to be around 8th-12th in the Premier League. With a capacity of 32k it will mean the club when it gets back to the top flight is likely to be a along way from the 8th-12th largest stadium in England. Same with actual average attendances. 32k simply isn't big enough as shown by the average attendances whilst Lowe was in charge.

 

Actually averaging 30-32k would put have put us around 11th in the Premiership average attendances for this season.

[ottery st mary]

Just get Arizona to fly you in from Exeter, you could both watch the game then he could fly you home again. :wink:

 

 

Only if I can have a go with the controls.

[Matthew Le God]

32,000 average would put us around 11th, behind Man U, Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Sunderland, Chelsea - all 40,000 plus, and then Villa, Everton and Spurs who are around the mid 30s

 

Actually averaging 30-32k would put have put us around 11th in the Premiership average attendances for this season.

 

9-12th place finishes last year. Birmingham, Blackburn, Stoke , Fulham. All with smaller stadiums and fan bases with our can compete in the Prem quite happily.

In order to be left behind surely all these clubs would need to massively increase their garounds and fan bases too and they won't.

There's also at least another 5 clubs who'll be in the Prem next year even smaller than these. I'm all for ambition but to say we'll be left behind is nonsense, left behind by who?

 

Lot of clubs are expanding or moving stadium in the near to medium term.

 

Saints can't afford to stand still!

 

A few examples...

 

Wolves have in the last few weeks announced £40m revamp of their stadium. Upto 37k with potential for 50k

Newcastle not in the Premiership last season

Birmingham want to go upto 50k

Aston Villa plan to expand capacity

Man City plan to extend capacity

Tottenham looking for new ground after planning application problems

West Ham want the Olympic stadium

 

2018 World Cup Bid if Successful...

 

Elland Road improved

Hillsborough improved

Nottm Forest are going to move to a new large stadium.

Sheff Weds Ground go upto 45k

MK Dons go up to 45k

Plymouth go upto 45k

 

(some may happen even without world cup)

 

There are quite a few others!

Edited 14 June, 2010 by Matthew Le God

[Junction 9]

Lot of clubs are expanding or moving stadium in the near to medium term.

 

Saints can't afford to stand still!

 

A few examples...

 

Wolves have in the last few weeks announced £40m revamp of their stadium. Upto 37k with potential for 50k

Newcastle not in the Premiership last season

Birmingham want to go upto 50k

West Ham want the Olympic stadium

 

2018 World Cup if Successful...

 

Elland Road improved

Hillsborough improved

Nottm Forest are going to move to a new large stadium.

Sheff Weds Ground go upto 45k

MK Dons go up to 45k

Plymouth go upto 45k

 

(some may happen even without world cup)

 

There are quite a few others!

 

 

Yes! They simpy CAN afford to stand still as we have money behind us. Chelsea get 30k a week less than Man utd but still beat them to the title.

Newcastle get 50k every week but still got relegated. It doesn't go hand in hand that you build a big stadium and you'll suddenly finish in the top 10. Do you homestly think MK dons and Plymouth will be challenging for Europe just because they build a World cup stadium. We'll be perfectly fine with a 32k SMS, th biggest factor by far is the money backing us.

[Trader]

But they're not guaranteed bums on seats are they?

 

So there'll be a lot of large half-empty grounds - especially as the ticket prices keep increasing and Joe Public feels even more of a squeeze.

[Matthew Le God]

Yes! They simpy CAN afford to stand still as we have money behind us. Chelsea get 30k a week less than Man utd but still beat them to the title.

Newcastle get 50k every week but still got relegated. It doesn't go hand in hand that you build a big stadium and you'll suddenly finish in the top 10.

 

Did you not see the rules UEFA are phasing in over the next 5-8 years? Clubs won't be able to spend more than they earn. It is in Saints interest to have as many seats as they can fill and have the highest income possible.

Edited 14 June, 2010 by Matthew Le God

[Pugwash]

EBC won't allow it unless it's got a 1500-seater church attached...

[latter day saint]

EBC won't allow it unless it's got a 1500-seater church attached...

 

Marcus would love that !

[Huntingdon]

We would be ridiculed throughout the football world........and rightly so!

 

To build a stadium like St Mary's, then go into administration after only getting 14000 fans turn up in CCC, and then only 10-15 years after building it we decide to build a new 55000 stadium out of town

 

Perhaps someone should tell Cortese that the real football world is nothing like playing Football Manager 2010

[John B]

We would be ridiculed throughout the football world........and rightly so!

 

To build a stadium like St Mary's, then go into administration after only getting 14000 fans turn up in CCC, and then only 10-15 years after building it we decide to build a new 55000 stadium out of town

 

Perhaps someone should tell Cortese that the real football world is nothing like playing Football Manager 2010

 

I dont think Cortese is really involved i think it is Matthew Le God's idea

[Matthew Le God]

I dont think Cortese is really involved i think it is Matthew Le God's idea

 

I don't necessarily want a move to Jackson's Farm. But with ambitions of competing to a decent level for example in 4 years time in the Premier League, the stadium either has to be improved or a relocation required.

 

Cortese has said as much in interview.

Edited 14 June, 2010 by Matthew Le God

[Deano6]

What has Lowe got to do with this?

 

What's Lowe, but a second hand emotion?

[hamster]

I think that would be the ideal location. Good transport links e.g. Airport and then plenty of land around for car parking and other buildings (possibly hotels, casinos etc).

 

 

you forgot the A1 brothel down the road dan. If we are gonna make a serious attack on the PL we need to attract the best managers and the best managers need the best massagers.

[NickG]

What's Lowe, but a second hand emotion?

 

post of the day

[buctootim]

That move would increase capacity by 20,000 but reduce attendance by 10,000. Cant see it working. Not saying it isnt being thought about, but bad move imo.

[aintforever]

There is no doubt that the current capacity would be restrictive if were to get to the Prem, and SMS was done on a budget so it wouldn't surprise me if Cortese went for a new stadium option. Much would depend on how well SMS could be upgraded.

 

55k would be daft, even with Chelsea style investment we couldn't fill that. 40-45k would be about right.

[SaintRobbie]

He's stated that he wishes to build a larger stadium on a green field site before. It demonstrates ambition and I like the idea.

 

55000 will make us the Barcelona of the South!

 

Given the time scales associated, a couple of years to mute the idea with local councillors and police, seek planning permission, build access roads and whatever else needs doing, it is unlikely that we'd see a new stadium take shape for 5-6 years. In 5-6 years we could be a top ten Club fighting for a European place in the Premier League. We may need a larger ground by then. I think NC is right to mute the idea. I love the ambition and optimism something like this generates.

 

Also given that we have the fan base and with Premier League success we can sustain it; it's not a bad idea. Even Lowe had thoughts of expanding SMS before leading us into the CCC and latterly league 1. SMS was built in such a way to allow expansion to take place. SMS is paid for too, so its no drain on resources.

 

I suspect when we see the plans and art work for the proposal we'll be dancing around the City Centre. Wembley style arch anyone?

[SaintRobbie]

40-45K is right for a mid-table club in the Premier League, if NCs ambition comes to life 55K may be what we need as a top 6 Club.

 

Another possible scenario. When the money falls out of football - ie from TV et al - gate receipts could be the major revenue earner once more. To be competitive we may have to be big.

Edited 15 June, 2010 by SaintRobbie

[SaintRobbie]

One other point. Who would buy SMS? Would it become an athletics stadium? Would the club donate it to the Council? Could SMS become some sort of concert/athletics/cricket/boatshow venue?

[Pilchards]

deleted

Edited 15 June, 2010 by Pilchards

[saintwarwick]

Because the crowds still turned up over 30k with a team that Lowe didn't invest in. Saints have never in 125 years had proper investment whilst in the top flight. Investment and sucess in the playing squad attracts bums on seats. Hopefully this is what Liebherr will do. Thus 32k is not enough if investment in the playing squad continues in the Premiership.

 

Just read the interview in the Wembley program, Cortese wants the team to be challenging near the top of the Premier League and understands the investment required to do so.

 

I don't disagree with what you are saying but the crowds only got bigger towards the end of our time in the premier league. 40 - 45,000 as has been muted sounds about right to me, we don't have the population to get any more really. Let's not have a stadium which is tooo big for us, bad enough we can't fill the current one on most days and I know division 3 is not the best scenario but Leeds and Norwich showed last season how to put bums on seats in this league. Maybe time will tell.

[Smirking_Saint]

Looks like they've started building works already.....

 

 

No, that was a new substation to supply the new crematorium over the road

[saint_stevo]

and what a lovely smell i get from it

[Smirking_Saint]

and what a lovely smell i get from it

 

Bacon Sarnies anyone

[70's Mike]

You're wrong about Stoneham being EBCs fault, but I just can't be arsed to go over all of that ground again. But at least you're right that there is no way that they'd allow the stadium to be at Jackson's Farm.

 

Wes

I agree it was mainlt Rupert's fault but Mr House was just looking for the excuse which Rupert supplied

[capitalsaint]

i would LOVE a regeneration of an area like Portsmouth have done. LOVE it.

[trousers]

No, that was a new substation to supply the new crematorium over the road

 

Another of my theories goes up in smoke....

[Surman4no7shirt]

There's no way they'll build the new stadium in Bolton, so don't panic.

 

That made me laugh.

[LeBenali]

There's no harm in there being initial plans for something like this, or for different ideas/avenues to be explored. But anything more than that at this stage would be unnecessary.

[northam soul]

The answer is simple, get the armed forces to completely wipe out that town at the other end of the M27 and re claim that as a suburb of southampton. We could build a new stadium and associated hotels / cafes and shops all under an SO postcode.

It would have excellent transport links.

[SaintRichmond]

Where did this story originate in the office? They would find it hard to get planning permission for that site wouldn't they?

 

It does however fit in with the interview he gave the BBC where he said stadium relocation was a possibility. I think he is right, St Mary's long term isn't big enough or good enough and it also has traffic problems. It may be easier to start from scratch than to improve St Mary's to an equal level to a new stadium.

 

Listen from 36:40

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565161.stm

 

Stoneham would be ideal

 

Easy access to trains, Planes, and Motorway ......Bus services would be easy too

 

Can't think why it hasn't been thought of before ???

[SaintRichmond]

One other point. Who would buy SMS? Would it become an athletics stadium? Would the club donate it to the Council? Could SMS become some sort of concert/athletics/cricket/boatshow venue?

 

Bon Jovi would have it as his Spiritual Home ...... and later a Family Crypt

[SaintRichmond]

We would be ridiculed throughout the football world........and rightly so!

 

To build a stadium like St Mary's, then go into administration after only getting 14000 fans turn up in CCC, and then only 10-15 years after building it we decide to build a new 55000 stadium out of town

 

Perhaps someone should tell Cortese that the real football world is nothing like playing Football Manager 2010

 

Perhaps you should tell Cortese that he is useless as a Businessman:)

[Bourno]

Stoneham would be ideal

 

Easy access to trains, Planes, and Motorway ......Bus services would be easy too

 

Can't think why it hasn't been thought of before ???

 

and I could walk to the ground from my new house.

[Cabrone]

New UEFA rules mean the clubs with the biggest turnovers will be those likely to be challenging. There is lots missing from St Mary's in terms of potential revenue streams. Just compare it to the Emirates or Tottenham proposed stadium.

 

Something like this would create alot of revenue...!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXm2XuXPk6g

 

Interesting idea but I wouldn't be keen to sit in a stand that is as far from the pitch as that one is. I like the game to be as close to the fans as possible - really adds to the atmosphere (thats why I loved the Dell).

 

I'm struggling with the point of building yet another stadium out of Southampton just 10 short years after building the last one. It would be out of town - affecting attendances (IMO) and as someone said earlier it would have a massive carbon impact too.

 

Surely if SMS can be expanded then why not upgrade it to a 40-45K stadium and maybe make some cosmetic changes to make it look a bit more interesting?

 

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[saint1977]

I agree with this and also SaintMikey's and Toomer's earlier posts. Build the station at SMS and get Network Rail to re-install the line. Buy up the waterfront land and regenerate the area with new businesses and some new homes - ie a proper balance not an Ocean Village debacle. An expanded SMS would fit nicely into this and the views from the new Kingsland upper level would be great of the river so we could add new corporate facilities in there which would generate new income streams.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

To suggest that Southampton could sustain a 55,000 capacity stadium is quite frankly, pie in the sky.

 

We could possibly have the potential for a 40,000 capacity stadium in the Premiership, but certainly no more than this, otherwise the empty seat problems would be even worse than it is now.

 

To progress the club it would be much cheaper to obtain the land opposite from the businesses and redevelop that land with hotels, conferencing facilities and rental property, as well as some retail and increase the capacity to 40,000 and build corporate potential.

.

[holepuncture]

We would be ridiculed throughout the football world........and rightly so!

 

To build a stadium like St Mary's, then go into administration after only getting 14000 fans turn up in CCC, and then only 10-15 years after building it we decide to build a new 55000 stadium out of town

 

Perhaps someone should tell Cortese that the real football world is nothing like playing Football Manager 2010

 

Man City? League one a few years ago

[Saint Fan CaM]

What's Lowe, but a second hand emotion?

 

Sorry, but that is absolutely excellent - coffee over monitor moment! lol

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Man City? League one a few years ago

 

Who inherited the Commonwealth Games stadium, they are a much much bigger club than we will ever be which a much much larger fanbase. They were also averaging 30k in League 1, we are averaging just over 20k.

 

Lastly don't forget Maine Road was falling to bits, SMS is still very new.

[Smirking_Saint]

Who inherited the Commonwealth Games stadium, they are a much much bigger club than we will ever be which a much much larger fanbase. They were also averaging 30k in League 1, we are averaging just over 20k.

 

Lastly don't forget Maine Road was falling to bits, SMS is still very new.

 

It all depends on the ambition and predicted future TBH.

 

But i generally agree with the fact that 45k is prob our absolute limit, at least for a good few years yet.

 

But i do see the appeal to have other revenue streams.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Good location? Have you seen the traffic chaos that results from something as pathetic as 20:20 cricket at the rose Bowl?