BBC Radio Leeds Fans 'Forum' 7th Feb 6-7pm

Just 98 likes on the video, they are a tin pot club and we are getting massively sold short here. Their owner is worth listening to and looks to be enjoying himself. Sparks is looking more and more like a broken man, miserable and out of fresh ideas(or unable to communicate them).

 

The pension trust has more than made its money back (and some) on the purchase of the ground. I would imagine the surplus has been reinvested elsewhere bringing in further income. Therefore, selling the ground for commercial storage, or the building of industrial units is likely to at least get their money back. I don't think losing Bradford City as a tenant would hit them as much as we'd like to think.

 

Agree.

 

As a certain poster likes to point out this discussion about none renewal has happened for the last few seasons.
And every season it fails to happen.

Do people genuinely think that the numbers being mentioned will actually not renew?

Im not doubting the unrest obviously but when push comes to shove will the numbers mooted be anywhere near accurate?

 

Sparks isn’t the owner, we need to see Rupp.

 

Will it heck, it’s low rent industrial land of which there is acres and acres in Bradford.

 

What value would you put on the land then?

 

I guess a lot will depend on what happens between now and the end of the season. If we continue in the same vein and end up finishing in the bottom half of the table then the drop off could be significant. If our form picks up and we end up finishing in the top 10 then some that are saying they won't renew now might have a change of heart and if we do the unthinkable and end up in the top 7, the damage would probably be minimal. Some might also be influenced by what happens in the cup run, so it's a difficult one to call at the minute.

 

Agreed, it depends on how the back end of the season pans out, even an upturn in form for the last 4/5 games could see season ticket sales at a similar level to last season. We might lose 1000 or so but like Bailiff Bridge says we hear this "I'm not gonna renew" stuff every year.

 

Financially no, but from a PR perspective I think it would.

Evicting a club with over a hundred years association with the ground, let alone the specific history for Valley Parade would be a national, possibly international story. I really hope that it doesn't come to that. As you say, they have done very, very well from the ownership of the ground.

 

The ticket price will determine to some extent the takeup of the last few seasons and will continue to do so. I'd imagine most folk aren't happy with the situation but that cheap price, for me, will mean take up will surprisingly be higher than folk think.

 

The fair weather fans who take advantage of seasons , just to say “ they have one” won’t renew as the recent empty stands prove. These are the most likely imho.

I’d rather them renew and attend , however…………. I’d be more than happy NOT to sit next to em if I was a holder.

That’s football, other than the Prem , every club in the EFL has that type of “supporter”.

 

Genuine question, how many games do you have to attend before you can be classed as a proper fan?

 

I’m not a valuation expert, but look at the surroundings and work it out from there.

Cheap , low rent housing association or light industrial , akin to those units on VP.

Anyone thinking there is a lot of value of the site are way off beam. Gibbs would be negotiating for the lease to run its turn and kick City out if it was high value. The pension fund is better invested in getting high return annual rent over a long term lease, rather than a one off sale.

Let’s say City hypothetically pay £500,000 over 25 years. That’s £12.5million. Likely reoccurring thereafter for another 25 years.

A one off sale wouldn’t even touch the sides of that guaranteed income as long as the club remains.

 

I agree. However, there is more of a risk under the current ownership. If we get relegated at some point then we will be unable to finance the rent. Whether the Pension Fund see it as an increased risk remains to be seen.

 

Some very good points, especially in a city whose young demographic changes. My lad is at university, does tune on ifollow but usually flits between the 3pm premier league games as ours as so painfully bad. And for the next generation of supporter what exactly is the lure of league 2 football (i won't say national league as that ain't happening in my opinion)? As this season has shown not even cheap tickets can guarantee that folk actually turn up to use them, if dyed in the wool fans are frustrated at a lack ambition how the hell are we supposed to sell this club to potential fans of the future?

 

I believe you get my point otherwise you wouldn’t ask the question. In answer no idea. You are asking the wrong person who held three season tickets for years whilst living 200 miles away from VP and probably missed a dozen or so games due to holidays or work. ( Made up by Southern away games) I’m too old for that nowadays. That was our choice, others may have purchased a season and attended three games during the same period. They were proper priced seasons then not exactly cheap for a lot of supporters in those days .