5 replies to this topic

[Death to the Rah Rah's]

Could there be some light at the end of the tunnel in regards to the Tesco fiasco?

I don't think there is any doubt that Town could be the potential winners in any supermarket development. Tesco's have now gone on record to say that they are looking for a larger site, or to expand the existing store. Land as we know is a premium, so where better to build/expand than where they are now?

The club probably own the largest piece of land in the town centre, and would have no planning issues to contend with.

In Town's shoes would you go for a rebuild of the popular side to incorporate the usual hospitality etc. and a refurbishment of the grandstand, or would you look to develop a 5 or 6,000 ground in conjunction with the Zebras?

From a business perspective, it would make more sense to develop the Zebras ground and incorporate all-weather pitches and training barns etc. to bring in revenue all year round. Even with major investment Derwent Park would still struggle to operate as a sports stadium due to the fact that there are only 11-13 home games a year, which would leave a mammoth 350 days a year when the club wouldn't be used.

We won't have the population or industry to warrant building a facility with full conferencing facilities, as it would quickly become a white elephant, so far better to use any monies to develop sporting facilities.

What does everyone else think?

[maripins]

Could there be some light at the end of the tunnel in regards to the Tesco fiasco?

I don't think there is any doubt that Town could be the potential winners in any supermarket development. Tesco's have now gone on record to say that they are looking for a larger site, or to expand the existing store. Land as we know is a premium, so where better to build/expand than where they are now?

The club probably own the largest piece of land in the town centre, and would have no planning issues to contend with.

In Town's shoes would you go for a rebuild of the popular side to incorporate the usual hospitality etc. and a refurbishment of the grandstand, or would you look to develop a 5 or 6,000 ground in conjunction with the Zebras?

From a business perspective, it would make more sense to develop the Zebras ground and incorporate all-weather pitches and training barns etc. to bring in revenue all year round. Even with major investment Derwent Park would still struggle to operate as a sports stadium due to the fact that there are only 11-13 home games a year, which would leave a mammoth 350 days a year when the club wouldn't be used.

We won't have the population or industry to warrant building a facility with full conferencing facilities, as it would quickly become a white elephant, so far better to use any monies to develop sporting facilities.

What does everyone else think?

TOTALLY AGREE.

[town4me]

Multi purpose stadiums are the way forward now. A joint venture with a view to getting more use out of stadium involving the wider community is something that needs to be looked at. Somewhere that could hold functions and maybe small pop concerts etc.

[Death to the Rah Rah's]

Multi-use stadium is a must, I think the days of relying on the bar and function/conference rooms supporting sporting facilities has long gone. One thing that Workington is crying out for is an events area of some description. Whitehaven has the Whitehaven Festival centered around the docks, Maryport has the blues and fakestival, Cockermouth has Cock-Rock and Cockermouth Festival, but Workington has nowt, which is a shame.

If it had an area of the ground that could suit itself to holding events, then a couple of those a year to a similar capacity to Whitehaven's arena (2,000 capacity for Madness), could bring in excess of tens of thousands in bar sales which would really help the club to re-establish itself.

[coppracill]

developing the zebras ground would seem to be the way forward and perhaps taking over the now empty focus store

[Keith T]

Whilst I have a lot of feeling of support for such a venture there are one or two reservations. Firstly, what would be the response from the Zebras? Has anyone ever broached the subject with them? If Town are going to sell the remaining years on their long lease for all the land at DP what guarantees will there be that we at least have equal ownership in the Ellis, etc. I think it is a lot to lose if we sold up and moved without knowing where we staood legally over the new venture.

At present Town have a steady income from the speedway at DP and even though Mr Denham keeps managing to get the rent lowered annually it is still income that we wouldn't have in a new venture. Yes, stadiums need to be multi-purpose so why haven't we been getting more use out of DP for rock concerts, etc, and why will it be any different at the Ellis?

The old grandstand at the Ellis has seen better days and what sort of finance would be required to upgrade it and put terracing around the rest of the ground and covered area for standing fans? The perimeter fence of the the Ellis wasn't all that good last time I took any notice all that would need sorting plus turnstiles, etc.

The last valuation of Town's long lease on DP was for half a million pounds. I suppose if we could ask for ten times the value like that party (who shall not be mentioned) did over a piece of land for the new bridge then we would be asking Tesco to stump upwards of £5 million!!!!! Is that possible???