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Football stadiums
In my role as mainland football correspondent for Radio Scilly, station manager Keri Jones always encourages me to do stories on Plymouth Argyle. They undertake training for youngsters on the islands from time to time which is much appreciated. As the nearest league club, albeit one that is difficult to reach, they have a number of followers on the Isles of Scilly.
A major obstacle to Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to redevelop White Hart Lane into a 21st century stadium has been removed. A family firm lost an attempt in the High Court to quash a compulsory purchase order issued against them.
The successor club to Salisbury City, Salisbury FC, are facing big problems in their effort to revive non-league football in the cathedral city. It doesn’t look as if they can start playing again next August.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeou has claimed in an interview with the Financial Times weekend magazine that Barcelona are in the best economic position in their history. Annual revenues have tripled in a decade to €530m. Only Real Madrid does better with €604m.
Barca probably have the lowest average ticket prices of any of the top 15 clubs in Europe. However, after eschewing commercial shirt sponsorships for many years, it is now highly reliant on the €30m a year it gets from its Qatari shirt sponsor.
This article argues that West Ham could overtake Spurs on and off the pitch. There is no doubt that the move to the Olympic Stadium represents a big opportunity for West Ham. For example, fast train connections from Stratford International will present new marketing opportunities in Kent, taking it beyond its traditional base in East London and Essex.
AC Milan are considering proposals to leave the San Siro for a 48,000-capacity stadium. They share the stadium with Inter Milan. The San Siro once had a capacity of 85,000, but AC Milan averaged 40,061 last season while Inter had 46,246.
They have teamed up with the designers of Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and Beijing’s Bird Nest stadium. It is hoped to open the new stadium in time for the 2018-19 season.
Ebbsfleet United’s stadium at Stonebridge Road is over 100 years ols and the club is planning a major revamp. Each stand would be replaced over the next few years at a cost of £3m. Work on the first phase, replacing the stand along Stonebridge Road, would start at the end of the current season if planning permission can be secured. Capacity would increase from 4,000 to 6,000.
The Bernebau, the iconic home of Real Madrid, may have a change of name. The Santiago Bernebau may in future be known as the Abu Dhabi Bernebau. This follows a sponsorship deal with oil company IPIC which owns a Spanish company and is itself owned by the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Herefordshire Council has said that it is prepared to offer a two year lease on Hereford United’s old ground at Edgar Street. The Hereford United Supporters’ Trust is disappointed that it is only two years, although the council is prepared to extend it.
The Supporters’ Trust are setting up a phoenix club to be called Hereford FC. However, according to BBC Midlands, two other parties are also interested in taking out a lease.
Coventry City’s owners Sisu have suffered further setbacks in their battle in the courts over the Ricoh Arena. Their appeal against a refusal of a judicial review of a loan by Coventry City Council to the stadium’s operators, Arena Coventry Limited, has been rejected and, what is more, the judge ticked off their laywers over the nature of their application.