Odsal Redevelopment, Council Finances, Council Services & The Private Sector

I recall seeing some stats a few years back on the demographics of where most fans travel from. Can’t remember exactly where the article was posted.
But it’s fair to say a very low percentage of our fans live in BD3,5,7,8 and 9

 

Off the wall partnership?

Stuart back , with Warnock as part time DoF.

They have worked together before as Manager / Assistant?

 

A very low % of fans live in Manningham West Bowling?

Both areas were heaving with City fans , certainly up to the 90’s .

You are right about an historical season ticket geographic spread , years ago though, certainly before cheap seasons….

@Bradford End , Can you help please?

 

City or the Bulls to be honest.

 

Not at first. Mid 90s they had the genius that was the late Peter Deakin who came in and changed the commercial side of the club. Brian Smith had started the ball rolling by making big changes to the playing squad and the reigns were then taken by Matthew Elliott. There was a hell of a lot to admire about what the bulls did, they took some of the Sky money to develop the off field matters and it paid dividends. Regularly they would take 4,000 to away games, you felt part of something special. But like all successful sporting organisations, the more successful you get the higher the wages go and the demands of the fans expectations rise. When they left Valley Parade to go back to a 'redeveloped Odsal' ( basically the hospitality suite behind the goal) Chris Caisley the chairman had bargained on bigger crowds coming in to finance the rising costs but they never materialised. And with Caisley taking out rather than putting in the writing was on the wall. Sad, they really were an amazing ten years or so.

 

Yes used to watch them myself inc some away games, but the bubble just had to burst because they became reliant on borrowed money to try and keep pace with Wigan , Leeds etc. As you say the crowd revenues and Sky money couldnt alone fund their sustainability.

 

Lol, when were you last in Bradford?

 

The Bulls fans whinged and moaned when they last played at Valley Parade so why should we do them
Any favours whatsoever !!!

 

If you have a mortgage on your house and sell it, the only way to keep the money is if you had a very bent solicitor. Your solicitor pays the mortgage off for you and then sends you the balance.

 

1996/7 I think we moved away. Only lived in Manningham, Bowling , Shipley and Bolton High House.

 

We'd be helping the Bulls but also helping ourselves they wouldn't get the facilities at Valley Parade for free, so if nothing else it would help pay the rent.

 

Fcuk 'em I say - The 10 or so years they had with moderate success while Caisley was at the helm, Plus the MP Sutcliffe and all at Bradford Council they had a great superior opinion of both themselves and their product , they looked down on us with great distain during this period. Boiled my p!ss then and still does

 

I guess from the rely you dont think its a good idea although as has been pointed out many clubs share facilities nowadays, with Rugby being more of a summer sport.
It would be interesting to know what it would bring in for our football club.

 

I'm Just an old bitter and twisted man @Bronco , hear what you say and I see the commercial sense but fcuk em anyway

 

Moderate success? 2 challenge cups, 4 sup[er league titles and 3 world club challenges in 9 years says they were very very successful.

 

All built on a house of cards , sorry never had an affinity with our peanut hugging neighbours and never will.
Bradford Clowncil have always had a more vested interest both in The Bulls and the slag heap that is Odsal. Booting the speedway out also doesn't help heir cause with me - Rant over

 

They didn't boot speedway out, it died on its arse. I'm a big city fan but it amuses me that some city fans are still so bitter and twisted about the success the Bulls had.

 

Yes sadly I agree with last point.

I don’t know the exact state of the clubs finances these days tbh Kev, but I can’t see any wealthy benefactors coming in to buy them as the game in general is in decline and less popular than football.

i know Brian Noble is involved in some way at the moment and they’ve just brought in the catalans assistant as new head coach, so it cant be as desperate as it has been. I think there were 3-4k there when I went to the last home game against York, though, and the board were issuing rallying calls for fans to return.

there were rumours a few years ago Marwan Koukash wanted to buy the club and his ‘wife’, Mandy, was supposed to be lining up a bid as he was owner of Salford at the time. Someone like him (big ideas, but reminded me of Richmond a bit…..and now bankrupt…..had loads of horses and each horse costs 20-25k a year to train) might have progressed things quicker.

Seems like the club is in a better place now again anyway. I hope they have a good year whether its at Osdal, VP, Batley/Dewsbury or wherever.

Bradford is a poor place. Anything that helps bring some pride to the city needs supporting in my book.

 

You aren’t alone with those views. Seems bit petty to me but, nevertheless, each to their own.

Bulls are not direct competition to City and in their peak many City fans supported both.

The lowest of the low are the fans who support City but then Leeds Rhinos. What’s that about? Wrong in the head!

 

What happens when the pitch needs relaying when the football season finishes though mate?? Can't play rugby then!