The future of Valley Parade

Robbie Williams only played a concert there as a fund raiser for PV . They owe £8m in loans to debtors and lost £3.4 at the last accounts. The multi daily, weekly use of a football stadia for 52 weeks a year pulling in big crowds to make these events viable is a myth. That’s how and why the Odsal “ project” was laughed out of town. We don’t need to be financial wizards to see it’s not financially viable. The country is skint, the government is skint, most local councils are on the way to bankrupcy , of ALL colours, we can’t even fix bloody potholes but we can somehow fund £50m stadia at the drop if a hat to be sat empty 300 days a year. A disco in the summer won’t cut it!

 

You should see where some in Norfolk and Essex are situated!

 

I’d hazard a guess that a good third of the city fan base are north of the city centre at least, tbh Odsal would be a massive disappointment. I’m all for moving but not to somewhere out of the way. Any new stadium would have to be part of a wider city centre regeneration, not just for the sake of having something new.

 

April 1st has passed . Talk of a new stadium in the city of Bradford is pie in the sky, especially if the Council are involved.
They are BANKRUPT, bailed out and selling the family silver.
Valley parade is fine. We need to own it and maintain it.

 

Well I have organised my own Park and Ride scheme Drive into Bingley pay £4 to park by the station. Then catch the bus into Bradford, they run every 15 minutes. It was crowded but I will get used to it. Reverse to go home. Maybe the club should think about a Park and Ride scheme?

 

Have you been recently Rog ? Half the pubs in Wibsey have closed, and most are a good deal further away that North Parade, Exchange Ale House, City Vaults, Shoulder of Mutton, Rose & Crown and Fighting *@?$ (the furthest away at 0.80 miles) are from VP. There is much more residential development around. Where is all the parking that you fondly remember ? I lived on Moore Avenue when we played at Odsal and parking was so bad we walked from there to Odsal.

Plus the cost. I'd hazard a guess that making Odsal a weather friendly football stadium would cost many millions more than a new build on derelict land off Canal Road, which like you I would favour if we had to move. That said, neither would be less than £30 million and at current commercial mortgage rates of anything up to 12% dependant on the risk factors, a 75% loan to value mortgage on that would cost £2.25 million a year in interest alone.

Who puts in the other 25% ?

Rupp (or anyone) isn't going to fund a new ground without borrowing, so @wetherbywhaler assertation that the only available options are to buy VP or get a better lease sound right.

I'm biased as I live in West Bradford, but Odsal for me would be an absolute last resort, I'd rather ground share at the Shay.

 

Neither you or I know that, Id say we will still. be at Valley Parade when the lease is up let's hope with the reduced rent.
Owning the ground has not stopped take overs in the past I agree it's not ideal to not have the ground in the package your buying but others have overcome it in the past, end of.

 

You should have read the WOTP article then. It scuppered potential interest just recently.

Ask yourself why we keep ending up with either skint, unambitious or incompetent owners. There is a clue in there somewhere......

 

We don’t own that corner do we?

 

If and its a big if, we ever needed to expand. Personally i would try and by the four houses behind the Bradford End .
Demolish them and get Holly well ash lane closed. Build a new stand at the Bradford end, single tier, midland road height linked to both adjoining stand with new dressing rooms incorporated.
Probably get us to the 30,000 mark and more than enough. It would be one hell of a stadium then.
I will keep doing the lottery.

 

It's sad when Leeds has nearly double the amount of train stations within it's district.
I'm constantly pushing Tracy Brabin to consider local train services for Laisterdyke on the Leeds Line and Bierley on the Calderdale line.

 

Aye, everywhere is skint.
Add to this the £250 million quid swimming pool at the Trafford Centre.
The building continues in Leeds at pace.
Again, why does Bradford miss out??

 

Piece Hall and Dean Clough mills smashing it ATM for musical entertainment for all ages.
Halifax is thriving right now.

 

All trains after full time up to 18:30 are generally full going back to Skipton and Ilkley.
I would guess around 500 use the Ilkley service on matchday.
Maybe double the Aire Valley route.