*DISCLAIMER, I HAVE TO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS I KNOW. THIS IS JUST AN IDEA I THOUGHT MIGHT INTEREST PEOPLE. FORGIVE ME IF I'M NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE. I ALSO DON'T KNOW THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY NOR HAVE I HEARD ANYTHING, IT COULD ALL BE GOING GREAT, THANKS*
In the next twelve month the issue of the ground will have to be resolved one way or another. If the Council and Yorkcourt do the honourable thing and provide us with NM or alternatively rebuild BV then all is well. Sadly I was almost laughing (in a bad way) as I typed that last sentence.
Assuming that they renege and TBH I think that's already happened it leaves the club to go it alone and the options are stark to say the least.
Option 1: Move to Dewsbury, it's fairly modern - but - it's to small at present and will require money spending on it – it's not in Wakefield – it will never be ours so any money we contribute is dead money.
Option 2: Stay at BV and do it up piecemeal as best we can but at least it's in Wakefield - but – we don't own the land and we probably never will and thus anything we spend on it is again dead money and just like Dewsbury we are at the mercy of the landlord. It would also cost way beyond what the club can manage.
It's a nightmare scenario TBH with neither of the above being truly viable options IMHO.
So I've thought about this a lot and studied stadium solutions throughout the world and there is a third way. Sorry to use this expression but you will have to think outside the box.
What we need to do is look at BV as a site with a playing pitch rather than a Rugby ground – then imagine Trinity as a circus (minus the clowns) or theatre group rather than traditional Rugby club.
The potential answer and the case I'd like to put forward is temporary/moveable structures, sometimes known as modular building – prime example the hospitality boxes.
In the last twenty years this technology has moved on astonishingly especially in the States. I will put some links at the end of this post and you can check it out yourself. Forget about the rubbish they had at HKR a few years back or even our own dated hospitality boxes, some of the new stuff is barely distinguishable from permanent structures, even the stand roofs can be cantilever – imagine a slightly bigger version of the roof on the west stand which itself is temporary and moveable.
So why go down this root. Clearly it still costs a fair amount though considerably cheaper than new build especially if we source as much second hand as possible. Won't happen overnight but it is IMHO a sustainable development model for the club and the ground. So it works like this.
1: We (the club or even the supporters trust) own the structures, whether it's the seating, roofs, executive boxes, toilets, or office block they belong to us and go where we go.
2: A permanent structure is instantly worthless as it can't be moved or sold and only serves one purpose. They are also considerably more expensive per spectator. Although temporary structures depreciate they do keep there value relatively well and thus remain an asset. Some of it could even be rented out in the off season as a revenue source, try doing that with a permanent structure.
3: Despite what people think temporary structures of this size do require planning permission. However it is less stringent and by there very nature altering or even adding to the design is far cheaper and easier.
4: We can go where we want. If we eventually get what was promised us we can just sell the gear and move on. If the landlord does the dirty we have options. We could move in with any number of other sporting organisations with land in the area and by using our modular buildings turn it into a SL standard ground (assuming we meet no opposition but you get the drift).
5: There is no reason why every single structure/item we own can't be moveable. That includes offices, shop, toilets, turnstiles, floodlights and scoreboard. Everything we need to recreate our Maccano stadium anywhere that suits us.
This model is common in the states and even in Australia and is used extensively for Grand Prix and Tennis or any sport or event that goes on the road.
So how would we develop BV.
For us at BV I'd treat the clubhouse as the only permanent structure.
East stand: I'd replace the existing stand with a temporary/moveable seated grandstand (30 deep) with temporary/moveable boxes running along the back with a temporary/moveable semi-cantilever roof and temporary/moveable bars, food outlets and toilets underneath. I'd clad it at the back with lightweigh printed material like you get when buildings are being renovated in the city to hide scaffolding etc, they could carry sponsors logo's. It would seat 3000 approx judging by the footprint. Join it to the clubhouse and you have a very adequate facility for corporate entertainment.
Below are example of modular stands, all of which are probably bigger than we need.
South stand: Replace south stand boxes with temporary/moveable seating (20 deep) no roof. We may be able to recycle old boxes as part of east stand development. Temporary/moveable bars, food outlets and toilets behind. All office staff to be moved to a modular office block located behind the new seats where the boxes used to be. Approx 1500.
Below are example of modular seating.
Below are example of a modular office block which looks very smart and is actually second hand – price erected was £78,000! and there are better ones than that out of tere.
West terrace: Remove or erect over existing terrace and repair or replace (with a fence) crumbling walls at rear. Same seating as south stand 20 deep all the way along no roof. Approx 2500. Temporary/moveable bars, food outlets and toilets to the side.
Roof could be added later but hell it's a summer game so not essential IMHO.
North stand – you could just repair terracing and considering the cost it's the most obvious and cheapest option. However for me I'd flatten it, replace with seat 30-40 deep plus roof. This would allow money making facilities to be underneath, namely temporary bars and food outlets. Approx 3000.
That's 10,000 capacity, all seated with adequate toilets, bars and foot outlets. Good corporate hospitality and all hard to spot as anything other than permanent unless you look really close. All of it ours and all of it able to be moved and re-erected elsewhere within weeks not years.
I believe we could do it all for less than 3 million pounds, spread over say 6-8 years. The structures would vary but over all I'd suggest they would be worth 1-2 million re-sale.
Below are all stadiums built totally from modular temporary structures.
It's not perfect and there are flaws but for a club in our position it's worth thinking about.
Enjoy
[size=150Some interesting links. The first one is very interesting, this stadium holds 27,000, took 100 days to build and cost $7,500,000 Canadian dollars (about £5,000,000) and it's over spec for what we need. It does give you a good idea what you can get for the money.
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georgetownfootball.blogspot.co.u ... -here.html
www.glevents.co.uk/products/stad ... struction/
www.alcor-equipements.com/modular-grandstands
www.seatingsolutions.com
www.pakar-seating.com
www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=366
www.arenagroup.com/products/seating/
