Ryan Sparks On How The Cost Of Living Crisis Is Impacting On Bradford City

Stop making out that only those with oil money can buy their ground or move.

It's not true.

 

Our lease still has 5 years or so to run so little point in commenting before then.

 

Hasn't it been stated before that the current main stand (only one recieving full sunlight) hasn't got a strong enough support to hold a full solar panel system?

I think @wetherbywhaler has touched on the feasibility and costs previously

 

Good for them. I'm sure it gives their fans a lot of comfort knowing the club own the stadium when they are sat watching their team get beaten by Dorking or Aldershot.

 

have Oldham bought the ground or are the new owners buying it? I think it is the second as there seem to be comments that the ground and club will be owned by the same people rather than the club buying it

 

You buy it and donate to the club?

 

We aren’t.

 

Put in a modern ticket and entry system like most other clubs have and save on all the turnstile staff, would save the club around £30,000 a season

 

your point seems fair enough to me. Without government support to ease energy cost then I don’t see how the club is that different to a family household, in principle albeit on a bigger scale.

Without government support, you have to either find ways to reduce your usage in the face of massive price hikes, maybe generate some of your own power that you can use to reduce reliance on the suppliers (though that requires investment) or find ways to reduce your outgoings in other areas. So yes, in principle, our rent along with other outgoings would be an area you would consider looking at to see if you can reduce your costs in those areas to help pay the very high energy costs. How feasible that is, is another discussion but I think your point was fair enough.

 

A pension fund is by law supposed to maximise its investment, the last thing they would do is drop the rental costs to City. It won’t happen Skye, if I read what you are saying correctly?

Apologies if I misunderstand.

 

I was broadly agreeing with the premis of saving money in other areas - as I said, it might not be feasible with specifically rent etc, but in the absence of government assistance, if we struggle to meet soaring energy costs, the companies won’t give a toss, so you have to explore ways of either saving money in other areas or try to generate some of your own energy to reduce your reliance on their supply (and that’s not straightforward either but it is going to be what some people will do). I don’t know the ins and outs of our rent agreement but it’s a discussion that can be had. We’ll have no choice but to look at all our costs to see where savings can be made - same as many families will be having to.

 

Thanks yes agreed. It’s like us at home, we switched all major appliance running to the off peak tariff between 0030-0430. Dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer , hot water when C/H isn’t on.
During the day is cooking mostly that uses the juice besides fridges , freezers etc.

Not sure what business can do as you and Fordy say, without Government and Energy Company assistance. ( They are legal thieves at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!)

 

You say that, and not to kick off again the stadium move or not questions that seem to go every few months or so.... but if we were to move, we'd be hearing about plans rather soonish, probably in the next 12 months. Had a look at the new-ish stadiums to see how long they took to get off the ground.

Rotherham submitted planning in May 2008, planning permission wasn't approved until Nov 2010, opened Summer 2012. Brentford in March 2017 had their plan approved, work didn't begin until April 2018 with it being ready in Summer 2020. For grounds bigger than VP built in relatively recent times, as we probably wouldn't want to move to a smaller ground. MKs ground didn't get approval until early 2004, didn't break ground until Feb 2005 and finished for summer 2007. Brighton, approval in July 2007, construction started Nov 2008 and finished May 2011. Coventry's final plans for their ground were approved summer 2002, opened summer 2005.

So you're talking a 3 to 4 year plan based on previous work around the country. Also, found there were other clubs in L1/2 also with a stadium lease ending in 2028. Some have already got going, other are in our unknown boat.
Stockport and Swindon, who both this summer have purchased their grounds with plans to improve.
Hartlepool and Oxford, both grounds privately owned and both clubs are now in talks with their councils regarding moving as they cant justify the asking prices.
Barnsley and Orient leases both also ending 2028, but no news on their plans as of yet.

 

Yes I agree if we were thinking of moving there would be things going on in the back ground, my point was if we left next week we still have a lease with Flamingo Pension Fund that runs another 5 or so years we would still have that rent to pay.
As you say we'd still need somewhere to play until the new stadium was built etc but we going no where IMO.

 

Problem with solar panels they are heavy and the roof would be erected based on normal load, plus snow load plus high winds plus say 10% margin. There could be an issue if a large number panels were added to that perhaps Rod? Panels can weigh up to 22kg each. Soon adds up?

 

It’s possible, the “ tin” panels weigh nothing in comparison to solar panels though Rod. I wish it could happen but……….?