Takeover

[Derek Hardballs]

If we find an owner willing to invest I would hope that the land around the ground is redeveloped for entertainment, shopping and community activity. The area just off the M5 is perfect for out of town activity but we’ve had owners who are either incapable or unwilling to do so. We really need an owner with imagination and genuine interest in developing the club on and off the pitch. Football Clubs should no longer be a Tuesday, Saturday only facilities and yes I know we do good work currently but it’s on a shoestring budget akin to a small local charity. We need to move towards a broader sports and entertainment brand otherwise a few extra seats in the ground will make fug all difference to our competitiveness as a club.

Thats why we need rich owners, because self sufficiency on our current commercial activity is pretty poor.

[MGalea]

I for one look forward to visiting The Somen Tchoyi Theme Park one bright Tuesday afternoon.

[baggiebloke]

I need a lie down.

I agree with Derek.

[Fulham Fallout]

If we find an owner willing to invest I would hope that the land around the ground is redeveloped for entertainment, shopping and community activity. The area just off the M5 is perfect for out of town activity but we’ve had owners who are either incapable or unwilling to do so. We really need an owner with imagination and genuine interest in developing the club on and off the pitch. Football Clubs should no longer be a Tuesday, Saturday only facilities and yes I know we do good work currently but it’s on a shoestring budget akin to a small local charity. We need to move towards a broader sports and entertainment brand otherwise a few extra seats in the ground will make fug all difference to our competitiveness as a club.

Thats why we need rich owners, because self sufficiency on our current commercial activity is pretty poor.

People aren’t going out as much as they used to due to the financial squeeze.  Hence the leisure industry is suffering with places closing down.  Shops are also fucked Derek.  See John Lewis and House of Frasier for starters.  Now is not the time to open up leisure / shopping facilities.    Also, what’s the disposable income of the people in the surrounding areas that would want to go to that area to shop and go to restaurants etc? 


It’s so easy to spend other people’s money

[Spandaubaggie]

If we find an owner willing to invest I would hope that the land around the ground is redeveloped for entertainment, shopping and community activity. The area just off the M5 is perfect for out of town activity but we’ve had owners who are either incapable or unwilling to do so. We really need an owner with imagination and genuine interest in developing the club on and off the pitch. Football Clubs should no longer be a Tuesday, Saturday only facilities and yes I know we do good work currently but it’s on a shoestring budget akin to a small local charity. We need to move towards a broader sports and entertainment brand otherwise a few extra seats in the ground will make fug all difference to our competitiveness as a club.

Thats why we need rich owners, because self sufficiency on our current commercial activity is pretty poor.

Good post Derek.
It's pitiful how few pubs are around the ground, whatever direction. For those from the Smethwick side, and without any reason to go into West Brom, after the match it is a case of people out for the day heading into Brum or the Jewellery Quarter, or a grim pub on Smethwick High St.
The area around the ground is desolate and the fact the Hawthorns pub turned into Greggs says it all.
Other than the match there is nothing to keep anyone around there.

[Fulham Fallout]

If we find an owner willing to invest I would hope that the land around the ground is redeveloped for entertainment, shopping and community activity. The area just off the M5 is perfect for out of town activity but we’ve had owners who are either incapable or unwilling to do so. We really need an owner with imagination and genuine interest in developing the club on and off the pitch. Football Clubs should no longer be a Tuesday, Saturday only facilities and yes I know we do good work currently but it’s on a shoestring budget akin to a small local charity. We need to move towards a broader sports and entertainment brand otherwise a few extra seats in the ground will make fug all difference to our competitiveness as a club.

Thats why we need rich owners, because self sufficiency on our current commercial activity is pretty poor.

Good post Derek.
It's pitiful how few pubs are around the ground, whatever direction. For those from the Smethwick side, and without any reason to go into West Brom, after the match it is a case of people out for the day heading into Brum or the Jewellery Quarter, or a grim pub on Smethwick High St.
The area around the ground is desolate and the fact the Hawthorns pub turned into Greggs says it all.
Other than the match there is nothing to keep anyone around there.

And moving Buckingham palace to there wouldn’t bring people in either.

[Derek Hardballs]

If we find an owner willing to invest I would hope that the land around the ground is redeveloped for entertainment, shopping and community activity. The area just off the M5 is perfect for out of town activity but we’ve had owners who are either incapable or unwilling to do so. We really need an owner with imagination and genuine interest in developing the club on and off the pitch. Football Clubs should no longer be a Tuesday, Saturday only facilities and yes I know we do good work currently but it’s on a shoestring budget akin to a small local charity. We need to move towards a broader sports and entertainment brand otherwise a few extra seats in the ground will make fug all difference to our competitiveness as a club.

Thats why we need rich owners, because self sufficiency on our current commercial activity is pretty poor.

People aren’t going out as much as they used to due to the financial squeeze.  Hence the leisure industry is suffering with places closing down.  Shops are also fucked Derek.  See John Lewis and House of Frasier for starters.  Now is not the time to open up leisure / shopping facilities.    Also, what’s the disposable income of the people in the surrounding areas that would wand to go to that area to shop and got to restaurants etc? 


It’s so easy to spend other people’s money

Of course FF let’s just stay as we are with no new income streams. We can just sell all our best players every season and hope by some miracle we can sustain our future as a midtable Championship club. Tell me oh financial wise one how you propose to increase our income? Didn’t you advocate a few months ago ramping up season ticket prices?

[Fulham Fallout]

If we find an owner willing to invest I would hope that the land around the ground is redeveloped for entertainment, shopping and community activity. The area just off the M5 is perfect for out of town activity but we’ve had owners who are either incapable or unwilling to do so. We really need an owner with imagination and genuine interest in developing the club on and off the pitch. Football Clubs should no longer be a Tuesday, Saturday only facilities and yes I know we do good work currently but it’s on a shoestring budget akin to a small local charity. We need to move towards a broader sports and entertainment brand otherwise a few extra seats in the ground will make fug all difference to our competitiveness as a club.

Thats why we need rich owners, because self sufficiency on our current commercial activity is pretty poor.

People aren’t going out as much as they used to due to the financial squeeze.  Hence the leisure industry is suffering with places closing down.  Shops are also fucked Derek.  See John Lewis and House of Frasier for starters.  Now is not the time to open up leisure / shopping facilities.    Also, what’s the disposable income of the people in the surrounding areas that would wand to go to that area to shop and got to restaurants etc? 


It’s so easy to spend other people’s money

Of course FF let’s just stay as we are with no new income streams. We can just sell all our best players every season and hope by some miracle we can sustain our future as a midtable Championship club. Tell me oh financial wise one how you propose to increase our income? Didn’t you advocate a few months ago ramping up season ticket prices?

If redevelopment of the area was a profitable idea, don’t you honestly think some investors would have done that by now? 

Yes, I did mention attendance prices, as ours are one of the lowest in the division. 

Reducing salaries is a massive move forwards and you are against that!!

[waffle]

It's the easy option to say, 'No', and stick with what we've got as, slowly, more and more clubs overtake us.  I don't want to us to move location, but plenty of clubs have or are planning to.  And they're not just building a stadium with no other commercial opportunities around it.  I don't think anyone is talking about the next Disneyland in West Bromwich but something with a few restaurants, entertainment and community facilities. 

I get the argument about it being a low income area, but visit New Square or any other of the local retail parks and they're jam packed.  I also take FF's point about HoF, John Lewis and the high street; but I don't think that's really the type of thing being built these days.  I haven't put the time in to think what would work in that location but I'm sure there's opportunity.

[Fulham Fallout]

It's the easy option to say, 'No', and stick with what we've got as, slowly, more and more clubs overtake us.  I don't want to us to move location, but plenty of clubs have or are planning to.  And they're not just building a stadium with no other commercial opportunities around it.  I don't think anyone is talking about the next Disneyland in West Bromwich but something with a few restaurants, entertainment and community facilities. 

I get the argument about it being a low income area, but visit New Square or any other of the local retail parks and they're jam packed.  I also take FF's point about HoF, John Lewis and the high street; but I don't think that's really the type of thing being built these days.  I haven't put the time in to think what would work in that location but I'm sure there's opportunity.

Would people who live 15 miles away travel to West Bromwich to a new shopping / dining  area?  Do they travel to Merry Hill?  I very much doubt it.  

Besides, things like this take years to plan and build.  We need to sort out our finances now, before we starting to have pie in the sky ideas.