| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share 13:25 - Jun 6 with 5429 views | JonDoeman |
QPR chief executive Philip Beard admits the club cannot afford to build a new stadium without incorporating a cinema, restaurant or casino - or even ground share with a team from another sport.
Rangers are looking to move out of Loftus Road, which is the smallest ground in the Premier League, and are attempting to identify a site near their current west London home.
But Beard admits the club has to have a bigger fanbase before they can even consider moving - and says that a football-only stadium would not work.
And the man who oversaw the transformation of the Millenium Dome into the 02 has refused to rule out other clubs playing at the stadium, with Fulham and London Wasps both having called Loftus Road home in the past.
"To have a stand-alone football stadium that only hosts 19 home domestic matches a season would probably not make the numbers work," he said.
"What is important is that it is the home of QPR but it will need to have facilities to do other things as well.
If we are serious about building a new stadium we need to grow our fanbase and engage with young people and the community– Philip Beard
"A full-on ground-share is more challenging, but I am hoping to emulate an entertainment destination model where you roll the pitch away and use it for other things.
"Look at the Emirates hosting Coldplay for three nights - that is the sort of activity you need to host to generate the revenues to make the club sustainable and ultimately invest in the team going forward.
"But the criteria is that we need to find somewhere that hopefully isn't too far from Loftus Road.
"Our fanbase is a very passionate, loyal and local fanbase. We need to stay in the area if we can and that is almost a must."
But Beard first wants to make the club a force both in the Premier League and Europe so that more supporters are attracted to the terraces.
Rangers survived on the final day last season but Beard knows an average attendance of 17,295 needs to be improved significantly.
He added: "We need to build our fanbase. We have a capacity of 18,500 at Loftus Road and I think we could fill a significantly higher number of seats here.
"If we are serious about building a new stadium we need to grow our fanbase and engage with young people and the community and become a club that is not just known in London and around Europe but further afield.
"That takes time but it is exciting and is a challenge building a brand, growing a fanbase. That is something I am hoping I can challenge the guys off the pitch to help us with.
"QPR stands for so many good things that if we can get the messages out there we will start to see the blue and white Hoops further afield than west London."
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/120606/qpr-chief- [Post edited 1 Jan 1970 1:00]
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 13:42 - Jun 6 with 2893 views | theselector |
"an average attendance of 17,295 needs to be improved significantly". The capacity is only 18,500, allowing a maximum improvement of 1,205.
Or does he mean that thousands have to be turned away before a ground move is viable? |  | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 13:45 - Jun 6 with 2869 views | JonDoeman |
QPRTimes
#QPR I asked Tony Fernandes about a groundshare a few weeks ago. His reply: 'Fundamentally in a business sense I think it’s a good idea.'
QPRTimes
Fernandes: 'But business and emotion in football don’t always make sense. I don’t think we would look to do that.' #QPR | |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 13:55 - Jun 6 with 2804 views | Gloucs_R |
I wouldnt be concerned with sharing with Wasps again. I couldnt see us sharing with another football team....lets hope he is not preparing us for an athletics track and we take over the LC stadium.
Sounds like a new stadium is a long way away. Does Wesfields have a cinema already? |  |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:04 - Jun 6 with 2765 views | barbicanranger |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 13:55 - Jun 6 by Gloucs_R |
I wouldnt be concerned with sharing with Wasps again. I couldnt see us sharing with another football team....lets hope he is not preparing us for an athletics track and we take over the LC stadium.
Sounds like a new stadium is a long way away. Does Wesfields have a cinema already? |
I was at the Ajax Arena over the weekend, - a smaller version of that would surely fit the bill as a multi-purpose venue - you can bring the roof over therefore able to host concerts / exhibitions etc during the summer and winter months as well as tagging on other facilities around the stadium...as mentioned above it does sound a long way off though - I expect they'd want to see demand for season tickets and home tickets vastly increase (say 100% of actual gate for year gone) before going ahead with the idea. |  | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:10 - Jun 6 with 2737 views | qpranger10 |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 13:55 - Jun 6 by Gloucs_R |
I wouldnt be concerned with sharing with Wasps again. I couldnt see us sharing with another football team....lets hope he is not preparing us for an athletics track and we take over the LC stadium.
Sounds like a new stadium is a long way away. Does Wesfields have a cinema already? |
Totally agree with the idea of a multi-purpose stadium, and have argued (AKUTRs) last year that a ground-share with Fulham might not be such a bad idea if it opened up the possibility of the land being purchased by F & H Council and leased back to a holding company comprising both clubs, the Council and a major leisure industry company ie Virgin leisure or some such. We should also look to including other sports facilities. Is there a decent swimming pool in West London, or an ice rink which could play home to a west London Ice hockey franchise and even convert to a basketball court for a national basketball club. This kind of multi sports complex exists commonly on the continent and one on the White City could have a huge potential custom which could enhance QPRs fan base. Worth considering. | | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:18 - Jun 6 with 2693 views | Gloucs_R |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:10 - Jun 6 by qpranger10 |
Totally agree with the idea of a multi-purpose stadium, and have argued (AKUTRs) last year that a ground-share with Fulham might not be such a bad idea if it opened up the possibility of the land being purchased by F & H Council and leased back to a holding company comprising both clubs, the Council and a major leisure industry company ie Virgin leisure or some such. We should also look to including other sports facilities. Is there a decent swimming pool in West London, or an ice rink which could play home to a west London Ice hockey franchise and even convert to a basketball court for a national basketball club. This kind of multi sports complex exists commonly on the continent and one on the White City could have a huge potential custom which could enhance QPRs fan base. Worth considering. |
Fulham have plans to expand CC to 29k | |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:58 - Jun 6 with 2578 views | blacky200 |
If we are going to share then I think it will have to be with another football club. Wasps average attendance seems to be evaporating fast while Basketball, Hockey or even athletics are minority sports to say the least.
Like all fans I would prefer to have our own ground with cinema, casino, hotel etc attached but it is a problem for the owners as to when do they commit the necessary funds for it. We can not expand LR by much (if at all) but how do you judge when you have the required fan base expansion? |  | | |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 15:11 - Jun 6 with 2536 views | Lblock |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:58 - Jun 6 by blacky200 |
If we are going to share then I think it will have to be with another football club. Wasps average attendance seems to be evaporating fast while Basketball, Hockey or even athletics are minority sports to say the least.
Like all fans I would prefer to have our own ground with cinema, casino, hotel etc attached but it is a problem for the owners as to when do they commit the necessary funds for it. We can not expand LR by much (if at all) but how do you judge when you have the required fan base expansion? |
Hotel and Casino the way forward.
My mind racing..........
Not 5 minutes from Warren Farm is the Gillette Building which has, I believe, permission to be turned into a luxury hotel with Casino and other A3 / A1 activities (ie nightclub, bar, shops etc)
Only 15 minutes from Heathrow.
Only 1 minute from the new Sky "Media Village"
A shift further West?
Hopefully my mind racing too fast as I'd hate to leave W12 even though Gillettes only round the corner from Ealing!!!!!! |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 15:24 - Jun 6 with 2489 views | Juzzie |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 14:18 - Jun 6 by Gloucs_R |
Fulham have plans to expand CC to 29k |
Indeed. I can't see Fulham having any interest whatsoever in sharing with us wherever the location and with the stadium being predomiantly QPR 'branded'.
They're already a long way down the road with getting CC expanded to 29k which is probably enough for them. A similar sized ground is probably about right for us too. So, only a share with the likes of Wasps is viable. They'll move back nearer to their roots. If anyone even knows, or cares, where that was anymore [Sudbury I believe?)?
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 15:27 - Jun 6 with 2472 views | loftboy |
I thought the PL were against teams sharing with Egg chasers. |  |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 15:30 - Jun 6 with 2461 views | wombat |
Dont see why anybody is suppirsed with what phil beard says , we have to make whatever stadium we build multi purpose , concerts shows boxing you name it , its the main reason why we appointed somebody of his stature in the first place
we are losing sites in the local area which is my main concern not the multi use aspect of his message , |  |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 15:51 - Jun 6 with 2397 views | DWQPR |
Fulham expanding to 29K means nothing in the modern world of relatively cheap costs to expand a football ground. If they were offered the chance to groundshare a ground with capacity of 35,000-40,000 they would jump at it as it would make financial sense for them, especially given the value of CC as a development opportunity. To then build such a sized stadium with a 50% discount (Rangers pay the other half), would be totally sensible. The stadium could be built with half the seats being white and the other half blue, to satisfy all supporters. | |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 16:00 - Jun 6 with 2367 views | HollowayRanger |
dont see what the problem is with building a 30-40,000 stadium one end fulham colours one end QPR and two main stands some kind of netual colour or rows of white/ blue/ black/ seats
stadium name would be sponsered by a company so no arguing about stadium name and but it could be known as the
WEST LONDON STADIUM home to QPR and foolham if we shared it |  |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 16:41 - Jun 6 with 2270 views | QPR_Jim |
I don't see that a ground share is a particularly good idea to be honest, multi-purpose yes, ground share no. Like you say you half the cost of the build but then you don't gain anything from (for arguments sake) Fulhams involvement as they will keep their ticket sales. Also we would allow a close rival in terms of league position and stature to grow as well. Their shameless under-pricing to fill their stadium would result in any neutrals/tourists opting to go to their games rather than ours so we would suffer.
I think we would be better off in the long run looking for non-footballing options such as events or having some sort of partners. |  | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:33 - Jun 6 with 2180 views | stansleftfoot |
It strikes me that given the huge sums of money involved, the collapsing income of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the availabilty of land being at a minimum, the strict division of support amongst local Clubs and the juvenile nature of Football supporters the answer to this problem must lie in a joint venture between the Council and the Club.
I sense these are preparatory explorations into what the response might be to a change of venue. I don't believe the council will give a change of use on LR unless the Club stays in F&H, sadly the answer is probably another year or two at LR, a ground share with Chelsea or Fulham for a two to three year period and whilst a multi-purpose entertainment centre located in the Borough somewhere for which the land, planning, cash is found, it will be built on land currently locked up by planning blockages, any other land will be too valuable for other development...Wormwood Scrubs seems a perfect solution. The Club can sit very close to the community protecting this hugely valuable piece of land. It secures and improves income over the longterm for Club and Council and with good planning brings a major asset to the area.
This makes too much sense so is unlikely to happen, i have an inkling that the Stadium will sit adjacent to Warren Farm somehow,
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:33 - Jun 6 with 2174 views | TGRRRSSS |
I think Rugby Side (wasps maybe) is the most likely if they can sort themselves out, as it stands their future is on the line as Adams Park is too small.
Remember Dallaglio's Chin???
What goes around comes around. |  | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:42 - Jun 6 with 2153 views | blacky200 |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:33 - Jun 6 by TGRRRSSS |
I think Rugby Side (wasps maybe) is the most likely if they can sort themselves out, as it stands their future is on the line as Adams Park is too small.
Remember Dallaglio's Chin???
What goes around comes around. |
I think Wasps average attendance last year was something like 8000 and they are close to administration so unless they get taken over by a rich benefactor they are not going to have the funds to put into building a new ground with us. | | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:58 - Jun 6 with 2119 views | Juzzie |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:42 - Jun 6 by blacky200 |
I think Wasps average attendance last year was something like 8000 and they are close to administration so unless they get taken over by a rich benefactor they are not going to have the funds to put into building a new ground with us. |
I doubt they'd contribute to building costs, just pay rent. I think with any groundshare, we'd have to be 100% owners of the stadium as that way we'd have more control over things.
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 18:22 - Jun 6 with 2076 views | TacticalR |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 17:33 - Jun 6 by stansleftfoot |
It strikes me that given the huge sums of money involved, the collapsing income of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the availabilty of land being at a minimum, the strict division of support amongst local Clubs and the juvenile nature of Football supporters the answer to this problem must lie in a joint venture between the Council and the Club.
I sense these are preparatory explorations into what the response might be to a change of venue. I don't believe the council will give a change of use on LR unless the Club stays in F&H, sadly the answer is probably another year or two at LR, a ground share with Chelsea or Fulham for a two to three year period and whilst a multi-purpose entertainment centre located in the Borough somewhere for which the land, planning, cash is found, it will be built on land currently locked up by planning blockages, any other land will be too valuable for other development...Wormwood Scrubs seems a perfect solution. The Club can sit very close to the community protecting this hugely valuable piece of land. It secures and improves income over the longterm for Club and Council and with good planning brings a major asset to the area.
This makes too much sense so is unlikely to happen, i have an inkling that the Stadium will sit adjacent to Warren Farm somehow,
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So are you proposing a prison/football groundshare? The prison would, of course, have to be retractable and moved under the pitch during games. |  |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 18:26 - Jun 6 with 2061 views | TheBlob |
F*ck Wasps.
Let's not go there again. |  |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 18:46 - Jun 6 with 2010 views | Gloucs_R |
Cinema - already one in Westfields
Casino, nightclub, bars, gym, conf centre and arena - I can see this happening
The question is where??? | |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 19:07 - Jun 6 with 1969 views | themodfather |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 18:46 - Jun 6 by Gloucs_R |
Cinema - already one in Westfields
Casino, nightclub, bars, gym, conf centre and arena - I can see this happening
The question is where??? |
groundshare..ok ,WHO WITH?
brentford need new ground and fulham are looking to re-develop??
chelsea are moving away ( wahey)
would we accept wdon? already in hayes...
the plastic pitch saw rugby,hockey and a world title boxing match...was it billy graham for a month?? i have no probs there..they have my permission
WHERE DO WE DO THIS? warren farm is too remote, i'd like to stay within a few miles of the bush...talk was of the TA/plastic pitches on SAR being taken over...then unigate, then mars, then almost everywhere. with 4 tubes, 1 overground and the westway we have great links to civilisation! | | | |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 19:13 - Jun 6 with 1955 views | Gloucs_R |
W12 is the most attractive but probably the least affordable. I'd hate Warren Farm....would that be classified as Southall? | |
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| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 19:27 - Jun 6 with 1936 views | stansleftfoot |
| QPR chief raises prospect of ground share on 18:22 - Jun 6 by TacticalR |
So are you proposing a prison/football groundshare? The prison would, of course, have to be retractable and moved under the pitch during games. |
If you know the area, the Nick is not a large space compared to the Scrubs, Old Oak Common and College Park, there's almost enough space on the derelict rail sidings up by the Western Avenue, that's all still Hammersmith.
Some of those Industrial sites on the Southside of the Western Avenue are completely run down and partially occupied....i reckon we could find enough acres up there... | | | |
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