New ground

[Geggy]

Have seen some of the photos of your new ground congratulations to all involved. Will definitely try and get over to a game this season. Regarding the bar and catering I can't believe these (and pitch hire) wouldn't be part of any deal negotiated, otherwise you'll literally be just getting gate receipts as income. Having a bar will be a major asset that you can make money from, what with match day revenue, hall hiring etc to sustain your various running costs, playing budget etc. With the new ground, increased crowds, bar, pitch hire etc you'll be very well positioned for success this season. Best wishes.

[GlenSTFC]

Of course we'd not be told or expect financial details but I can't see any harm in a simple short statement saying whether we'll profit from bar, catering, pitch/room hire? After all I think it'll certainly persuade us to spend more if we know it's going to benefit our club?

[Geggy]

I honestly can't believe that's not part of the deal Glen. Otherwise you'd not really be that much better off that when you were ground sharing. You'll definitely get more fans through the turnstiles but long term it's the off the field revenues that will see you fulfil your ambitions. No club survives on gate receipts alone without a benefactor. A new bar there and the pitch hire would generate you a lot of money which will not only make you sustainable but give you a foundation for conference south football.

[GlenSTFC]

I certainly hope so but with the council stomping up all the readies understandably they'd want to recoup as much as they can so trying to negotiate with them would be difficult I'd guess.

[redwine rebel]

Oh come off it Glen you know full well that our lot or a certain someone (not me) will spend in the bar no matter what X

[GlenSTFC]

Well those wino's can't be helped but I'm sure most fans would be more likely to buy food, drink or even hire a room for a celebration if they knew the club would receive some of the money.

[Geggy]

I assumed that's what your annual rent would cover. And over the years that rent is your payback to the council.

[Reading Rebel]

The club doesn't have to answer these questions you know.

 

 

Sorry Tom but I think you're wrong.

 

Nobody wants to or should expect to be told any specific financial details. These are private and only the club should be privy to them.

 

But I see no reason why supporters shouldn't be told generic information about some of the plans for Arbour Park.

 

Some time ago supporters were asking questions about having sponsored/personalised bricks at Arbour Park and having stands named after people. Also would the club benefit in any way from the bar and food takings. In hindsight it was probably too early to raise these types of questions but now we are fast approaching the new season and all these points must have been discussed by the powers that be and decisions made.

 

Glen has again raised the question about personalised bricks but still has no answer.

 

I don't think anybody is asking for specifics just a simple 'yes or no' or 'it's all in hand and supporters will be informed in due course' I'm sure would suffice.

Edited July 15, 2016 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

Regarding the curved structure for the stand roofs - take a look at the earlier isometric drawings.

 

 

If I have looked at the right ones they are sort of wavy going sideways. 

[Curtis]

Discussing financials isn't marketing.

Knowing whether the Club will benefit from bar and catering, (although financials), is also marketing, as has been said by others, they are likely to be used more by fans if they are going to benefit the Club.

[David Carpenter]

RR - yes curving along the side to presumably some form of drainage channelling to the outside of the stadium I would guess.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

As chairman and the only person at the club who actually needs to know these things, Steve is allowed to pass on whatever information he wants. I don't believe that the club has received bar takings at either Windsor or Beaconsfield, but it certainly didn't stop people using the facilities. I'm sure if people want to speak to Steve on a matchday he would discuss what he is able to talk about.

And on the personalised bricks thing, once again you have to remember it is not our ground, it is a council built community facility so I would imagine that such things would not be allowed especially given that the bits where these could be put are nearly complete.

[GlenSTFC]

Regarding the bricks all you have to is to allocate a part of the main stand and then attach plaques onto the bricks already there, so nothing new has to be built its a pretty easy and good earner for the club if you charged £50 per plaque and 100 fans got one there's £5,000 straight away. Can't see why the council or club would not go for it?

[David Carpenter]

With reference to Dan's preceding comments the bricks are a nice thought but as he says they are not within the planning consent for the Community Sports Facility. Perhaps in the future with the agreement of SBC something could be done along these lines. Meanwhile if anyone wants to assist with the Clubs finances then please consider offering yourself up to do some volunteer work  as per Kay Lathey's recent communication.

[Reading Rebel]

As chairman and the only person at the club who actually needs to know these things, Steve is allowed to pass on whatever information he wants. I don't believe that the club has received bar takings at either Windsor or Beaconsfield, but it certainly didn't stop people using the facilities. I'm sure if people want to speak to Steve on a matchday he would discuss what he is able to talk about.

And on the personalised bricks thing, once again you have to remember it is not our ground, it is a council built community facility so I would imagine that such things would not be allowed especially given that the bits where these could be put are nearly complete.

 

 

Lots of guesswork there ARAAS. 

 

I was told by a reliable source that we did receive a percentage of the bar takings at Beaconsfield but I'm sure not many knew about it. I also know supporters who went somewhere else for a few pints after a game instead of putting the extortionate prices they charged into Beaconsfield's coffers.

 

Again you're assessment of the personalised bricks is all assumption and not fact. Why can't we be told the facts?

 

For whatever reason It might be that it's impossible at this stage or in the future but as Glen says on the surface it doesn't look a difficult thing to do and the bottom line is it could be a very nice earner for the club.

[GlenSTFC]

As rightly said only really Steve and maybe a few others will know so I won't comment any more until/if we get an official response, otherwise we'll get dizzy going round and round getting nowhere as none of us know for sure the facts.

Edited July 16, 2016 by GlenSTFC

[A Rebel and a Saint]

I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm saying that you have to remember who the facilities belong to and if the council won't allow that kind of branding then there's not a lot we can do about it.

Besides, there's 9 more months of construction still to be done.

Edited July 16, 2016 by A Rebel and a Saint

[kirk]

I see the brick idea as a non starter also the naming of the stadium.But I still maintain that all revenue attained by the football club must go to the club, except maybe the rent at a nominal charge.After all it benefits the council to have a successful advert of a football club doing well.

[redwine rebel]

Oh my god the rumours from reliable sources never stop to amaze me it must be the takings from the bar then that have kept us going !!!

 

Our chairman is very professional and honest and if he wants you to know things he will tell you and if he doenst its for a good reason.

 

I am sure he will of done his best to get us the best deal possible at the new stadium can't you just be happy with that.

 

I would also love to see Pete, Chris, young Chris and David amongst others remembered as well but lets get in first and see what we can do for the future

[Martin]

When we were ground sharing in Windsor I started drinking in the Stag and Hounds in preference to the club bar in my effort to reduce the finances that was funding a club that was competing with us directly.

 

At Beaconsfield after a defeat to SYCOB in one of our promotion chasing seasons one member of the bar staff laughed in my face for looking so miserable. I walked out and never spent another penny behind that bar while we played there. Token gestures maybe but I'm fairly certain I wasn't the only one.

 

I am not saying I would avoid the bar at the new ground but it is likely to shape pre and post match habits. If some or all the profit goes to the club everyone should always be encouraged to be in there. If not then it makes no difference where people go so they may choose the Herschel for example where the landlord has supported the club for a number of years.

 

Personally don't think it is an unreasonable question that is overly prying. That said I do just want to see the ground finished and us playing there first and foremost!