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

There's a city about 10 miles down the road with a state of the art indoor arena and all the amenities that go with it. I can be there from Bradford in 15 minutes. There is no need for two arenas that close competing for the same acts.

 

There’s not enough room there, sadly, unless we are getting the wrecking ball to surroundings.

 

It would be like building an indoor arena in Tranmere and wondering why everyone chose Liverpool.

 

I guess thats why Odeon is such a small capacity? It would be competing more with the decrepit O2 Academy than First Direct Arena?

 

Athletic Bilbao built a new stadium right next to their existing ground, the distance issue would be irrelevant if it was going to be a better option long term. Not simply redeveloping an existing stadium would also eliminate the issue of one club moving into another's ground, as I don't think anyone would suggest we could fund such a scheme ourselves.

If we had a council with any ambition or idea of how to revitalise the city centre this is the type of scheme they should be leading on. Of course neither us or the Bulls have anything in terms of assets to enable any financial contribution, and I don't see any big private investment coming anytime soon so it would never happen, but it would certainly make more sense than chucking public money at Odsal.

 

Yeah there is a gap in the market between the St George's Hall type capacity and arenas like the First direct. I think the nearest one is Manchester which gives the 'Odeon' a niche market to aim for.

 

Closer to home Spurs did the same.

 

I agree there isn't enough room there in it's current layout, however the Odsal fantasy seems to have money for hotels, multi storey car parks, solar farms, sports pitches and a fully domed stadium, so there are options but with the fascination of Odsal other options aren't even considered.

You would have to swing the wrecking ball a bit. The proposed closure of the HMRC office would be speeded up, pushing back foster square station 100 yards would help too. Not unworkable, however it is all irrelevant as I have said many times. The council will not look beyond Odsal. If they looked at selling that for housing it would be worth a fortune and they could fund their own stadium in the City centre rather than have a cash sink with a potless tennant.

 

If it’s a choice between Valley Parade and Odsal , clearly VP
If it’s a choice and a suitably located new stadium then the latter. The latter will never happen because we don’t have funds and the Council are solely focused on saving and protecting the dying professional Rugby team in the City. That I can’t get my head around……both are private businesses, so it leads me to believe they think City can support itself, whereas Rugby league needs a wheelchair and is somehow worth taxpayer subsidies.
Just a complete waste of funds imho. Hope that clarifies?

 

You could be right mate, Would make sense

 

The whole sport of rugby league is in terminal decline, sadly. There’s no doubt they would be piggy backing on for the ride - even if in theory the application would be a joint one. Arent Bulls getting like 3,000 or so for home games these days?

one other thing though, I’d say a new stadium would be more realistic if we had a chairman like Richmond, who might have been many things, but was a visionary. Self sustainability wasn’t a term found in Geoffrey’s dictionary.

 

Only issue is the plot isn’t big enough. It is smaller the the current footprint of VP and would have no parking. The only way to make it big enough would be to probably demolish the building between the plot and Canal Road

 

Pre match Bar reopening at the Midland Hotel this Saturday ''Spirit of Bradford Bar''. I used to pop in when catching the train pre match and after the game .

 

Completely agree. In my fantasy world i've flattened everything from where the mills are near the travel lodge including Halfords and Sports direct. Giving me a lovely flat footprint to build my 65,000 stadium ready for citys return to the premiership. In my dreams.

 

Been going to Valley Parade since 1977 and to be perfectly honest that to me is Home and always will be.
Some would say progress over sentiment but not me re moving away rightly or wrongly I'm old school and have shared to many memories with family and friends in good and bad times.
Over the years you become part of the fixtures and fittings so to speak and although a move would suit some it's not for me.

 

Many artists and bands are now wanting to play the smaller more intimate venues, Bradford live will be of a size that makes it perfect. Personally i find these larger arena's soulless concrete blocks, like many of the more modern sports stadia.

 

You aren’t in the minority there either Foghorn.

If we ever moved it wouldnt be same for me. Had it with the Bulls to a lesser extent as grew up initially going to Odsal, and then the years at VP didn’t feel ‘right’.

Would be that way if watching City elsewhere, when you think of the memories and big nights we’ve had at VP. Be worse as I’m into City a hell of a lot more than Bulls too.

 

Yes, agree. I watched a rock gig at O2 Academy earlier in year and loved it. Better than being stuck wide on a wing in the gods at First Direct because that’s the only reasonable ticket you could get after the bots had hoovered up the rest!