I'd say calling new stadiums a "mixed bag" is buying into myth.Mark C wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2017 12:45 pminteresting seeing all of the the different viewpoints on here and how quick people are to shout each other down when in all honesty nobody really knows what will happen when we move.
As the records show its a complete mixed bag in terms of the future fortunes of the clubs listed as to what happens to it once it leaves it stadium for a newer one. There is no exact science to it so all of the pontificating amongst some seems a little pointless as nobody can be sure what will happen to us if/when we do up sticks and leave Loftus Road.
The only thing I really conclude from it all is that Loftus Road, as much as I love it, is a complete and utter f*cking dump by moderns football stadium standards. It is not going to be able to attract any extra people to it as the tourists type visitors would want something that offers more in the way of amenities, floating fans want value for money (in terms of the quality of football and the price of a ticket) and the hardcore of regular fans gradually decreasing due to age/competition from other entertainment options.
Financially the outlay is going to be a huge burden, there's no escaping that for any club, but what they need to do (IMO) is make it so they can tick off as many of the following 3 points as possible to maximise the potential income and fill it up as frequently as possible:
1. Make the stadium multi-purpose - bring in extra revenue and if possible find a way so that other sporting events that would utilise a stadium can be accommodated at any time with no impact to the playing surface.
2. Put a roof on it....but make it so that it's not used EVER for football, it just ties into point one above and makes the venue more desirable given the options for a 30k stadium in England with one are almost none
3. Price wise, although I doubt that financially you can do both, they need to either offer subsidised pricing to the fans we already have in order to keep them coming OR offer the same kind of incentive for new fans. My personal preference would be the latter as you're likely to generate more money and bring in more people but I know you'd potentially piss off the usual droning bastards who think it's 'their' club....maybe give them a gold seat or something so they can continue to feel morally superior to the ones who they know we need to survive but want to feel superior too.
Clubs with more modern stadiums have been and are performing better than those with older ones. Financially and in football terms. Certainly comparing the same 100 clubs now and 25 years ago.
And it's not just about getting fans in through the gates on matchdays --- so let's bin that regularly brought up myth too.
QPR POTY awards? Didn't happen. Nowhere to stage them at a price that made financial sense.
Christmas ---- How much can be made having a couple of large modern function rooms that can be let out to corporate parties etc (do the catering and really rake it in).
Summer ---- Weddings (gold-mines for those places that can provide facilities) and catering franchises can be sold off and still make loads.
Church halls etc are old hat --- Companies, parents, charities etc etc want amenities and facilities that are modern. And they pay well. Do that right and add in League money, TV money, sponsorship and advertising and match day secondary spend and the club could almost let fans in for free (they wouldn't --- but they could).
PS Regularly re-sell the naming rights every couple of years and owe money to banks. Let them carry the burden because if you owe them enough they will never complain (because they can't afford to).
