Scunthorpe's new stadium

[Hedonist Puncture]

Looks a bit like a cheapo identikit stadium ala morecambe and Darlington as the most terrible examples.

Who can forget "Reynolds Arena" or "Reynolds' Folly". Scunny's might end up as the "Iron Arena", but I hope it doesn't end up as "Swann's Folly". I'll let it be built and then pass judgement on its looks. Mind you, if it does the job I am not bothered what it looks like.

 

[Shrimper92]

Another team that will build a new stadium before us.

 

[PuB]

Another team that will build a new stadium before us.

What's the news on yours out of interest?

 

[RavenBish]

A new stadium won't attract fans, Championship football couldn't even attract fans to watch Scunthorpe. They're building it, I assume, purely for a few suites/conferencing stuff to try and increase their off-field revenue and help them out in terms of FFP with increase spending. Hence why it's only a 12,000 seater stadium. They know there's fuck all potential to grow the fanbase.

 

[Spirederman]

That's rubbish Bish. We've done all the corporate side, event hosting, community hub, Chester's Den play area which gets very busy 7 days a week, concerts, and doubled our regular fanbase. We're expecting 5k+ ST holders this year. We used to get around 2k ST holders at Saltergate and crowds of 3500.

Why can't Scunny do the same.

 

[WhiteRussian]

27 years for a ground is a short life span.. Has there been any other grounds that's had similar or less time?

Not built as a football stadium obviously, but the National Hockey stadium where we played from 2003 - 2007 was built in 1995 and demolished in 2009. 14 years life

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

A new stadium won't attract fans, Championship football couldn't even attract fans to watch Scunthorpe. They're building it, I assume, purely for a few suites/conferencing stuff to try and increase their off-field revenue and help them out in terms of FFP with increase spending. Hence why it's only a 12,000 seater stadium. They know there's fuck all potential to grow the fanbase.

That's rubbish Bish. We've done all the corporate side, event hosting, community hub, Chester's Den play area which gets very busy 7 days a week, concerts, and doubled our regular fanbase. We're expecting 5k+ ST holders this year. We used to get around 2k ST holders at Saltergate and crowds of 3500.

Why can't Scunny do the same.

Data shows that a new stadium does attract fans. Scunny is a small town and only around 5% of the population regularly supports the club. In the Championship we had a significant increase in attendances, due to increased away support as well as home support. We were limited to a 2,200 allocation for away fans and this kept attendances down for the bigger games. The reasons for building the new stadium are described earlier in this thread. There is room to grow the fan base, but it is limited. Historically, Scunny is made up of migrant workers involved in the steel industry. These workers have come from a variety of places involved in the industry, eg S Yorks, S Wales, NE and Poland. Often they bring their support for their local clubs with them. Not long ago I chatted to some lads from Workington who had moved to Scunny to work in the long products yards. Workington is famous for making railway lines and their business was being transferred to Scunny's long products division, which is world famous. All these lads were either Man U or Everton supporters and that is where they would be going to watch football. Chesterfield is a great example of success arising from a move of stadia. It is impressive what they have done. Others too and we hope to emulate the Spirerites and the other success stories. Our Chairman has seen the folly of building high capacity stadiums and 12,000 will be just about right if we regain the success that we have experienced over the last decade. Attempting to develop the business of our football club is a necessity and if we do not do it, we will wither on the vine.

 

[RavenBish]

That's rubbish Bish. We've done all the corporate side, event hosting, community hub, Chester's Den play area which gets very busy 7 days a week, concerts, and doubled our regular fanbase. We're expecting 5k+ ST holders this year. We used to get around 2k ST holders at Saltergate and crowds of 3500.

Why can't Scunny do the same.

Those increased attendances coincided with you winning the division. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest attendances would've increased anyway by that sort of successful season. Scunthorpe on the other hand have had success in League 1 before and still couldn't attract the crowds. Of course there will be *some* impact by opening a new stadium - novelty factor, ooo let's go and see what it's like type stuff but there aren't going to be thousands of blokes sat around on weekends saying 'I'd go to Scunthorpe more, if only they had a larger identikit stadium, those successful few years were all well and good but winning isn't enough for me to go...all I've wanted is just a nicer stadium'.

Not knocking them, this chairman and the rich family he's married into seem to be doing stuff the right way (apart from hiring Uncle Jim maybe) and a new stadium is something to look forward to & something that makes logical sense as well. The place more than the club though, just doesn't really have any potential and it's the same for quite a few clubs - utterly beyond me why D-Mac keeps ploughing money into Posh or why Bentham is wasting millions on making Brentford a powerhouse.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Those increased attendances coincided with you winning the division. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest attendances would've increased anyway by that sort of successful season. Scunthorpe on the other hand have had success in League 1 before and still couldn't attract the crowds. Of course there will be *some* impact by opening a new stadium - novelty factor, ooo let's go and see what it's like type stuff but there aren't going to be thousands of blokes sat around on weekends saying 'I'd go to Scunthorpe more, if only they had a larger identikit stadium, those successful few years were all well and good but winning isn't enough for me to go...all I've wanted is just a nicer stadium'.

Not knocking them, this chairman and the rich family he's married into seem to be doing stuff the right way (apart from hiring Uncle Jim maybe) and a new stadium is something to look forward to & something that makes logical sense as well. The place more than the club though, just doesn't really have any potential and it's the same for quite a few clubs - utterly beyond me why D-Mac keeps ploughing money into Posh or why Bentham is wasting millions on making Brentford a powerhouse.

We upped our attendance by 2/3rds in the Championship and the Chairman is aiming for there. It might not seem like a lot, but to a small club like Scunny it is important. I disagree with the point about the potential. The area is crying out for a development to attract corporate customers. The building of corporate infrastructure should reap benefits, eg conference facilities, meeting rooms, catering, restaurants and cafes, entertainment, gymnasium, playing pitches and hotel. There are not many facilities of that kind in North Lincolnshire. We have Forest Pines to the east of Scunny, where Premier League sides used to stay when playing Hull, with a package of stuff, but that is the only competition. North Lincolnshire is an agrarian economy for the most part and the population is spread out. While it only has half the population size of Nottingham, having a focal point may bring together money and influence. Scunny is the largest iron and steel manufacturer in the UK and while that exists, a network of lighter support industries will be around. Rainham Steel, Nisa and many food manufacturers base their nationwide distribution networks there, due to port, air and road access. The advent of the Humber Estuary's alternative energy programs have been demonstrated by the Govt to have a major impact on the area. Of course, they have to happen. But handily placing a development such as the Chairman is doing is a smart move. The idea of revenue paying for the development and running of the facility is not too far fetched, which will leave the attendance revenue (as small as it might be) going to the football club's playing budget. It is brave plan, but as I said, we have to do something. We cannot rely on signing cheap strikers and selling them for millions or bringing through youth players and sell on to pay the way. It may all collapse and fail and there will be will plenty of folk waiting to say "I told you so". BUT, I'm afraid with our low attendance number, we have to find other revenue streams.

 

[Spirederman]

Data shows that a new stadium does attract fans. Scunny is a small town and only around 5% of the population regularly supports the club. In the Championship we had a significant increase in attendances, due to increased away support as well as home support. We were limited to a 2,200 allocation for away fans and this kept attendances down for the bigger games. The reasons for building the new stadium are described earlier in this thread. There is room to grow the fan base, but it is limited. Historically, Scunny is made up of migrant workers involved in the steel industry. These workers have come from a variety of places involved in the industry, eg S Yorks, S Wales, NE and Poland. Often they bring their support for their local clubs with them. Not long ago I chatted to some lads from Workington who had moved to Scunny to work in the long products yards. Workington is famous for making railway lines and their business was being transferred to Scunny's long products division, which is world famous. All these lads were either Man U or Everton supporters and that is where they would be going to watch football. Chesterfield is a great example of success arising from a move of stadia. It is impressive what they have done. Others too and we hope to emulate the Spirerites and the other success stories. Our Chairman has seen the folly of building high capacity stadiums and 12,000 will be just about right if we regain the success that we have experienced over the last decade. Attempting to develop the business of our football club is a necessity and if we do not do it, we will wither on the vine.

Really hope you do. Nice club Scunthorpe. Decent set as well whenever I've shared an ale with any.

 

[Don Caster]

Hopefully as welcoming points wise as your current home , Even further to have plod overkill when we visit unless your local bus companies refuse to do it after that dickhead threw half a seat through the window.

 

[Shrimper92]

What's the news on yours out of interest?

Something was meant to be announced in June. Didn't say what year.

16 since first thought of. 9 since original planning permission I believe

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Hopefully as welcoming points wise as your current home , Even further to have plod overkill when we visit unless your local bus companies refuse to do it after that dickhead threw half a seat through the window.

Yeah, it has been dismal for us versus you points wise at GP. Been some decent games though. Even worse at Deepthroat, where we have failed to really perform in recent seasons. Obviously we are hoping to reverse the trend at the new stadium, but we have a bit of catching up to do. It's nearly 10 years I think since we beat you and we are on a long of victories for you.

I have never been a fan of having things hurled through bus windows. I remember riding back to Scunny from Belle Vue covered in glass, afraid to move in case I got cut up after a few bricks came through my window while leaving Belle Vue's car park after a match some years back.