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E-mails
73 - Ground Share Special Back
to Your Ground Share - redshite not to be Trusted Irrespective of Mickey's eloquent support of the ground share you just know the RS are not to be trusted. There are several people in that organization that see a split home town supporter base as detrimental to solid investment profile plus ongoing guaranteed product profitability and would love to see us bluenoses transmogrify into rednoses. So it
is with some trepidation that one considers the prospect of a ground share
and so it comes to pass: Anfield chief executive Rick Parry said on the
club's official website: 'NWDA support for our stadium project is key
to its success, which is why we were happy to meet them. It gave us the
opportunity to explain just how far advanced our plans are and reiterate
our commitment to Stanley Park, the amount of work undertaken and considerable
investment that has already gone into the project over the last three
years. We also outlined the benefits to the whole community. The stadium
will be a central pillar of the regeneration of north He added:
'We understand why the NWDA wish to raise the issue of groundsharing,
but we also understand the fundamental importance of this issue to our
fans and their emotional concerns about a shared ground. These discussions
will at least give the opportunity for the pros - and the cons - to be
debated. In
the meantime, it's business as usual and we will continue to press ahead
with our own stadium proposals in the Park.' Everyone
now agrees to the importance of a first class stadium in Liverpool. Forget
other sites, the plans are well advanced etc. etc. Screw the Stanley Park
greenery and its neighbors. You have to admit there are some clever people
over there and have been Ground Share - Yes! What a thought “The River Mersey Stadium” our club is strong, proud and will never loose its identity, let’s join with the RS and build a stadium that the next generation can be proud of. A good example is on our own doorstep, Wigan athletic share a ground with their main competitor for bums on seats Wigan Rugby League Club, has any noticed whose top of Div 1 (yes last years Div.2 champs) and the world wide exposure and success of WRLC We only have to look at Milan to see the success of not one but two clubs ( both champions league semi finalists 2003) and how both clubs have kept their identity When we go to Goodison and feel the pride and love we have for our club as well as the feeling of being with 40,000 other like minded people We could never loose our identity to the RS we are strong enough to go forward with RS and build a venue that all scouser’s and RS supporters can be proud of. Pete from Wirral. (24/09/03) Ground Share - Yes!
Ground Share - Proposals First! Can I
firstly make what I feel is a most important distinction: Football clubs
are composed of many elements - some are functional and some aesthetic.
The functional elements - the players, the staff, the facilities, need
constant renewal and replacement in order to survive and progress. Ground Share - No! I think
we should not share a ground with the scum, at least not until the learn
to use the toilet properly, did you ever stand on Ground Share - Yes! The very fact that we Blues are having this discussion shows that we are all love our club. Goodison is the cathedral, the place of worship. But it is the team that is the religion. We don’t go to watch the stands, or the grass, we go to watch the game we love being played by the team we love. And we all want what is best for our team, our club. We will move on, everything and everyone does eventually. Goodison will not, cannot, last forever. How many of us have shared a house with a Red? Been brought up in a “mixed” family? Did that make us any less Blue? Of course not, if anything it made it all the sweeter. I’m no Martin Luther King, but, we can and will continue to live together, as we should. A new ground, but the same love for our club. Always. As long as they don’t paint it red! Lee Whitehead. (23/09/03) Ground Share - Choice! As Morpheus
says, we have a choice. If we take the blue pill, Everton stay at Goodison,
redevelop the ground within its limits, manage to retain our prize assets
(Moyesy, Rooney and the others coming through now), get the most out of
our current squad, and when we pan out 3-4 years in the future, we're
doing not too badly for our limited ability to generate additional revenue.
We had an opportunity to move to a facility that would generate additional
income on an ongoing basis a few years ago, but that fell through due
to incompetent management of the situation. Everton sank large amounts
of capital into redevelopment of the existing site. This work occurred
whilst the club was playing still at the Goodison site. Limited capacity
in the ground reduced potential income over the 3-4 years needed to redevelop
the site. Finance for the redevelopment was difficult to come by. Although
this needed investment was taking place, the costs of redevelopment over
a minimum 3 year period and reduced income from gate receipts were a major
drain on finances, leading to relative decline on the pitch and Everton
were lucky to survive in the same division.The cash situation in the club
meant that the gap with the other major European clubs was even wider,
and we're certainly not considered as a regular contender for the Champions
League. Everton is a club that leverages its fanatical supporter base
and top-class manager to get the most out of average players. We make
shrewd buys of young players, bring on young talent and develop them until
a major club comes along with 10m and takes them off our hands. We're
happy at Goodison, but with its planning restrictions and limited capacity,
Everton are doing well to maximize return on our limited cash generation
abilities - Goodison is a Option
1, Go-it alone. Everton struggled to find the site, struggled to find
the finance, but 2-3 years later we eventually found enough money and
left Goodison for a new ground financed via a sale of existing assets,
private finance and some regional development capital. However, with more
prosperous, attractive L*verpool FC also developing a large, modern multipurpose
stadium close to the city centre, Everton's cheap and cheerful new stadium
on the outskirts seemed to be the poor relation. Again, this Option 2. In late 2003 Everton's visionary board and fans, the city council and the other mob, realising that the city of Liverpool cannot really support 2 world-class venues, that each club on its own would struggle to raise the required finance for a truly world-class showcase venue for our top-quality football clubs, that the returns on a venue filled each week with 50k+ fans, attracting internationals, World Cup games and concerts, etc. were much higher than 2 cheapo football grounds filled with 50k every other week, and competing with the other cheapo venue in the city for events, that other cities had managed to do the same in the past (didn't we once share with them anyway's??), got their heads out of their collective ar*e, showed some leadership and common sense, managed to raise the finance from a variety of sources to build a common venue. Over the next 2-3 years they built the Merseyside Stadium as a modern, multipurpose venue that the city could be proud of whilst respecting the traditions and sensitivities of both sets of fans. None of the options are particularly pleasant, but take your pick, close yours eyes and swallow. Things are never going to be the same again. Terry Hamilton. (23/09/03) Ground Share - Yes! Why not share? we pay half the money and the shite pay half. this means that the rest of the money for the kings dock can go to Moyesy to build on the team. jak. (23/09/03) Ground Share - Yes! But! I'm in
favour of having a nice 66,000 thousand super stadium because as far as
I'm concerned it will be the best thing to have happened to this city
in a long time. The only reason we got that "Capital of Culture"
label was because of all those lovely grade 1 listed buildings, but how
many of them were built in the last ten years? alls we get now is shite
like that new monstrosity of a bastard the beetham tower, an that ugly
royal an sun building that looks like a glorified card board box next
door to it. It's about time the council started using their bonces an
getting something like this on the go. Ground Share - No! What's
next? One team playing in blue and red shite red. EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB
would never have a full say is my belief. Ground Share - Yes! Whatever
the outcome of a ground share debate both sets of supporters should ask
themselves what kind of stadium will their respective clubs get if they
build separate stadia. Answer: Something less than what can be achieved
if they agree to develop venue a together. After the disappointment of
the Kings Dock dream then a second rate re-development of Goodison would
only Ground Share - Unsure! To be quite honest I'm not sure whether we should go ahead with it. First of all the part of me that says no, well for one I wouldn't like the thought of a kopite sitting in my seat every other week, them lot would get more credit for the place as more people would recognise it as their ground even though it would be 50-50. Then again there is the other side of the coin, if we don't share can Everton afford a good stadium by themselves? We couldn't put £30m up for the dock how can we get £50m now, unless blue bill has been getting some good interest of Natwest Gold Account. Also the stadium as a whole will be better if two sets of people are working on it. Howelsy. (23/09/03) Ground Share - Yes! I read Mickey Blue Eyes piece on ground share with the pinkies over the park. I will be honest and say the mere thought of sharing a place of worship with the enemy sends shivers through me but that is my heart speaking. On the other hand as a business person I see a definite positive for groundshare after all you only play there every other week it is also empty for 2-3 months in the summer a football ground when empty drains your resources but a debt shared is halved. It would make us a lot more prosperous The sentimental supporters will be negative toward the proposal but people like myself see it as a positive move for our club to reach 200 years we have to take this proposal serious. Your Blueblood Brother. Graham Lloyd. (23/09/03) Ground Share- Definitely Maybe On the
face of it groundshare seems to be the most obvious way out of Everton's
stadium impasse. Yes there are many sterling examples of this working,
some cited by MBE and supporters who are for the idea- San Siro, Rome's
Olympic Stadium etc. Referenced too are the "iconic" stadiums
that anchor inner city revival in Cleveland, to which I would add Baltimore's
inner harbour redevelopment and retro-baseball park, and the terrific
Memphis stadium connecting to the whole Beale street project. If you ever
get a chance I would urge Evertonians to see what can be achieved. Those
projects would have served as a terrific blueprint for the late lamented
King's Dock site. They are good examples of how to procede- a project
anchoring a revitalised city. Ground Share - Yes! Anyone who cannot see the benefits of this groundshare for Everton's future as well as our city's is plain ignorant. In an ideal world we would have a 80k state of the art stadium to fill every week and liverpool would ground share with Tranmere at Prenton Park but that's not going to happen is it. All those who are opposed to the possibility of groundsharing cant come up with better arguments than "over my dead body" or "f**k off". If Everton and the shite shared we would be at an advantage to every other prem club due to shared maintenance costs and halved investment costs. We would be playing in an amazing stadium that would be a credit to the city. the shite are weeks away from getting planning permission for a new stadium, if that goes ahead and this opportunity passes us by they will have the new income and all of the benefits and we will fall further behind. Its true that groundsharing would be helping the shite as much as helping ourselves but surely that's better that having f**k all. True Evertonians who have the interest of the club at heart know that turning our noses up (or cutting them off) at an opportunity like this would be potential suicide. Blue Core. (23/09/03) Ground Share - Yes! I agree with the idea of a groundshare with the sh*te. We have to face the facts that Goodison is coming to the end of its' working life. I can remember when the Main Stand was re-built with the Top Balcony, how state of the art those escalators were! I can remember sneaking in through the gates as they opened 15minutes before the end of the game and riding on them, and the view from the Top Balcony was awesome. It made you even more proud to be a Blue, to be part of such a progressive and forward thinking club. Sadly that was over 30 years ago (I think). The way I see it, we simply cannot afford to build a ground big enough to realise our ambitions, look at the Kings Dock project, yes it looked great. But the reality is that we simply couldn't raise the necessary finances to fund the project without selling the club down the river. And I believe that those in "power" were dead against it. Ground building, like football is a very expensive business, ask Arsenal. They have not long ago re-built most of Highbury, but already they (and their ambitions) have out grown it, the same is true of the sh*te. The current cost of their new ground is estimated at £400 million! Now let's face it can you see our board coming up with even half of that? No chance. However we Evertonians are still ambitious, and even those in control of our club realise that something needs to be done to ensure that we have a future in the game. The only way that we are ever going to afford a new stadium is if we have support locally, nationally and internationally. We need to put our differences and prejudice aside, and look at the basic facts. They are that the sh*te are looking to build, as are we. The city badly needs a big venue to take some of the kudos away from the mancs'. The EEC has millions put to one side providing we can come up with a feasible project. Like the alignment of stars, such an occurrence will not come along again for a very long time, we should grasp it, and run with it. If all parties can agree that we all basically want the same thing then there should be enough impetus to start the ball rolling. Don't get me wrong, I know that the sh*te will be trying to take over the project from the very start, but with the involvement of people from all sides of the deal, fair play should be possible. I know
there are a lot of hard nose Blues that will say that they don't want
to share a seat with a sh*te, but quite simply you don't have to, they
won't be there when you are and vice versa, no problem. Never before in
our illustrious clubs history has it needed your support so much, we need
to look up and not down, forward and not behind. This can, and must be
done. Ground Share - No! I wouldn't even share a piss pot with the redshite never mind a fucking ground. we want our own stadium and identity that's fuck all to do with them so the council can just fuck off and mind their own business. We want our own manor and that's it. If were not gonna move from goodison then lets build a new stadium on the same site that has defiantly got fuck all to do with the red shite. No fucking way should we ever share a ground ever. Chris Simpson. (20/09/03) Ground Share - Yes! It's a good thing for Everton Football Club and the city of Liverpool. Colin Williams. (20/09/03) Ground Share - No! Glad
some people are prepared to speak frankly on this important issue, so
well done Blue Eyes and all. I have
to admit, it's the subject I have most difficulty making my mind up on.
Some might argue that it comes down to where you see football, and Everton
Football Club, heading in the future. That's a much wider debate. But,
in my mind, it comes down as a simple matter of identity. As
Stuart of Holland says, it will be seen as their ground, not ours
- let's have no illusions about that, because their national and international
profile is that much higher - and should we be prepared to put ourselves
in a position to play 2nd fiddle to that shower Ground Share - Yes! Congratulations
to MBE on another thought provoking
article re the above. I have to say that, albeit with initially extreme
reluctance (I have hitherto voted "against" in every earlier
poll on the subject) I have come round to the conclusion that it would
be in the best interests of Everton FC, Liverpool FC, (not that I care
about that!), and, most significantly, our City if a joint stadium were
given serious consideration. Ground Share - No! Although it seems sensible to ground share I can't bring myself to accept it. It's the little things like sitting on a red seat or having to walk under the Shankly Gates (which let's face it they would insist on bringing with them along with the Hilsborough memorial and the Shankly statue) that are really making my blood boil. I know I should just take it because it is probably the only way we will ever have a 60,000 + seater stadium but I'd rather keep our identity and play in front of 40,000. John O'Donnell. (20/09/03) Ground Share - Yes It Will Happen! Lets
face it,do you think "WE", the people will have a say in it
???? Bollocks,I reckon its done and dusted anyway.Look at that shit parry's
body language, NO WAY WE WOULD SHARE WITH EVERTON........BUT WE NEED TO
SORT OUT OUR PLANNING APPLICATION IN TWO WEEKS OR ITS A NO-GO..........He
knows it makes sense to the head, the heart( if RS have one) is a different
matter. Despite what we say, they do have some scouse support, who obviously
feel as passionate about us as we do against them. But again, to the suits
in charge it doesn't matter, money is what counts. R.s will gladly put
up with the "inconvenience" of us, if it means every other week
they can get 70 grand of assorted Scandinavians, dorset/devon folk, muggers,
buggers and corn-swogglers into the ground to try to fruitlessly chase
the big 3 clubs. This is why "the arse" are so relentless in
their determination to move to Ashburton grove. Why chelsea want to demolish
the hotel complex, to provide more seats at £60/80 a pop. Bigger
ground, more dosh. It's not rocket technology. It will happen, no matter
wot we or the gobshites say or do."But I don't want to sit in a pink
seat". Tough shit, get used to it. We can't afford a new ground,
simple fact. They can, (or say they can), it doesn't matter. The corpy
will always get behind any l'pool ground scheme cos of the" prestige"
factor associated with them. Ground Share - No! The idea of ground sharing would probably work out fine (in a financial sense) in the long term. However the short term effects may well be catastrophic to both EFC and the rs. Large numbers of both sets of fans would stay away in disgust as a protest to sharing with the evil other half resulting in poorer attendances and so less income. Also we are not Italians and we do not do ground shares with our rivals. Why not build a 200,000 mega stadium and share with manure and man c while we're at it too? Ground share stupid idea by the faceless suits who know nothing about football!!! Colin E. (20/09/03) Ground share - Yes! We've got more to gain from a share than the rich redshite have. Bill Askew. (20/09/03) Ground Share - No! Everton
should tell that Fucking Henshaw to go and Fuck off. He was alright knocking
Everton back for Stanley Park when we applied for it for our New Stadium.
Then he gives it to the Red Shite and all of a sudden it's, let's have
a ground share! Bollocks, there's only one reason behind this and that
is because the Shite like Arsenal, are struggling to get the money together
for their stadium. This is their only option to get a New Ground. Tell
them to go and fuck off. We'll stay at Goodison, and may as well try and
do it up! It'll be allot cheaper and more respectable for us Evertonians
to sit there and watch our team! I am all for a new Stadium, but our own
stadium, not sharing it with no one else! Ground Share - Cost they'll
be running round like they own the place, they already do. if they took
a vote they'd get their eye wiped. why is it they kopites were all smug
about the kings dock going down the pan while stanley park was lookin
rosie. now all these old reds are up our @rses to share a stadium, i reckon
they've run out of money or backers for theirs as well but the gobby tools
wont admit it and Ground Share - No! On this ground share business, forget it ! That would be like putting a knife through my heart. It would be like selling our soul to the devil himself.We are different to them.(I could go on about that one all night)! The thought off being any link with them sickens me! We are EVERTON! and an independent EVERTON we should stay ! Sean, Thingwall. (20/09/03) Ground Share - No Brainer! There
will of course be a lot of strong opposition to any plans to ground share
with the red s--t-, BUT.... in the hard nosed business world that football
has become, where money counts for so much, it is the ONLY way forward.
Even to attempt to keep up with ManU, Chelski, the Arsenal and the rest,
we must have the gate receipts, the extra merchandising, the corporate
and private boxes and catering facilities that a state of the art stadium
would bring. Look at the Arsenal; in Europe, challenging for the title,
but stumbling because of the drain that building their own new stadium
at Ashburton Grove has put on the club's finances. No new money for players
for Wenger; he spent just over £2 mln on players this summer - less
than us. Arsenal have so far spent £95 mln on their new stadium,
including £2.5 mln alone on fees to lawyers and bankers incurred
trying to raise the money. These are huge Ground Share - Yes! OK we
all hate the RS with a passion, that goes without saying, but let's consider
the options. Firstly we can let the shite go ahead with their plans and
watch them build a fantastic stadium attracting media coverage and visitors
from all over the world. We'll be sick to the back teeth of hearing about
it and pained every time we see it, bitter as hell every time another
'Merseyside spactacular' is held there. I will never go to Analfield as
long as I live but in this scenario I wouldn't even be able to attend
a pop Ground Share - No! Ground share with the shite are you mad! We all know they can't be trusted look at the Barmby situation or what a certain captain said about us being in a mickey mouse cup etc.. they cannot be taken for their word. There is a certain something about about the shite that says money money money talks before fans, ethics or morals. We will lose our identity and worse still be unable to do anything about it. Even my wife whose a Manc (unfortunately) says its a bad idea..so say no more. Tazz. (20/09/03) Ground Share - No! You all say look at the San Siro, Why ? I have been lucky enough to see many games at grounds such as the San Siro and apart from the size its crap. The seats have no back, just saddle's in a block of cement. No feeling at all in the stadium, no welcome home, just dull colours all around and sound piped in to make up the atmosphere. I would rather not go to watch Everton than share a stadium with Liverpool. Just imagine the Beatles tour buses, etc going past and saying Liverpool play there and they also let Everton share too. Its all about identity!!!! Football is not about being PC, and doing what's best for the councils books its about Everton Football Club and its thousands of fans. Look at Munich stadium, do they share, Yes but you would have to say its Bayern's ground, ask yourself what is the name of the other team? In this crazy football world, the thing we have as Evertonians is history, 125yrs, 101 yrs top flight etc, etc. We have IDENTITY, don't sell it down the river for a nice new bland stadium that takes that all away. I'm happy to pay towards a new stadium of our own, we deserve it remember what the motto says " Nil Satis Nisi Optimum" not "Nil Satis, walk on" Regards, a very unhappy and sad Evertonian that will protest until he dies to save the right to have our own stadium. Alan Williams. (20/09/03) Ground Share - Yes! - San Siro I grew up in an atmosphere where every major city has a shared stadium, so for me it is normal. I was actually surprised when I came to England with Newcastle and realised that nobody shared. Everyone had their own stadia. To me that didn't seem right or sensible. But there can be problems. There have been examples of supporters tearing out seats in some stadia in derby matches, because their rivals usually use those seats, even though it is their own stadium. The fans can create a problem, which is bad, but that is not a common problem. Although I believe Juventus are actually looking at the possibility now of owning their own stadium, rather than share with Torino. We have our own individual dressing rooms. There is one for Inter and one for AC, and whenever Inter were at home the visiting team would use the AC dressing room. It is a system which works very well. I certainly felt that the San Siro was my stadium. I didn't feel like I was sharing it with anybody else. They have blue and red seats inside the stadium, but they are split equally between 70,000 people. As a player you definitely feel like it is your stadium. And obviously with two wealthy clubs involved they are able to make it bigger and better than they would normally be able to afford. There is certainly not a situation where one club has priority over the other. It is not really a big deal in Italy." Alassandro Pistone. (19/09/03) e-mails index More Fans Ground Share Views What The Club Says Mickey Blue Eyes Says |