ToffeeWeb - Season 2006-07

The Mail Bag

What price image?

I'm gonna get shot down for this but I feel its worth saying.

Building a shiny new stadium is important in boosting a club's image and marketability ? attracting new players, sponsors, investors etc ? it may seem obvious but flashing a new (and hopefully) impressive-looking structure to such people could prove decisive in their potential association with the club. If one of the parties mentioned is taken on a tour of Goodison, whose history or character has little bearing on them, or is taken to a new or significantly redeveloped venue of one of our rivals with superficial wow factor, which venue will they be more likely impressed with?

I know there are many other factors to be considered and of course the team, management, support, location etc, but if we're serious about attracting new players and investment, then our venue is also crucial.

I think its also disingenous to suggest that other clubs moving to new venues has done nothing for them or their fans. I'm not suggesting a new stadium (a la Sunderland, Middlesborough, Southampton, Derby etc) will transform your playing fortunes but its part of a wider jigsaw needed to make you competitive and forward thinking. Whatever our Premiership experiences and financial position, we're not a yo-yo relegation club, and our comparatively long and successful history, standing and support give us some tangible advantage imo.

But, of course, to the the Board, how about some fucking information, please!
Alex Spelling, Nottingham Posted 28/06/2007 at 00:52:16

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Thommo
1 Posted 28/06/2007 at 07:07:34

Many years ago, Everton tried to sign a player named Peter Braybrook from Chelsea. It was rumoured that Harry Catterick picked him up and drove from Lime Street station down Scottie Road to Goodison. After several hours the transfer broke down and it was widely believed that Braybrook didn’t fancy Liverpool at all. Many Evertonians at the time suggested that in future Everton take any prospective new players off the train at Allerton and take them via Queens Drive. Since then, Everton haven’t done too badly from time to time so may be we should be looking to players and investors who are more interested in getting on with the job for which they are paid. Failing that perhaps we should look to build in one of the better suburbs say, Woolton. Finch Farm is only down the road as is the Airport and we did train in Woolton Woods a couple of years back. I mean, location,location,location!
I can think of just as many reasons for taking over something that needs developing rather than a finished product and it didn’t stop a couple of Yanks taking an interest in our illegitimate child over the park.

Steve Lee
2 Posted 28/06/2007 at 09:59:37

Couldn’t agree more Thommo. For the life of me I can’t see how a stadium in a retail park in an overspill town can possibly boost Everton’s "image and marketability". No one has yet explained why this should make it more likely to draw in new investment.

"Competetive and forward thinking" Alex? Why? What is the magic ingredient brought by a new stadium in Kirkby that brings these magical qualities?

What of the frankly shite match day experience of going to Bolton, Derby and Reading et al?

You’re asking us to take a leap of faith from which there will be no going back if (as I believe it will) it truns out to be a monumental error.

Gavin Ramejkis
3 Posted 28/06/2007 at 10:11:31

For my tuppence worth it’s also worth noting that Walton is about to be transformed with regeneration cash, Gt Homer Street and surrounding areas redeveloped why keep saying the area will remain a rundown part of town when it surely won’t be. Kirkby won’t ever be able to compete with a city location no matter how shiny the venue, it’s still just a spillover town and as I said in the past if it was that attractive how come no-one else has ever considered moving there?

Tom Hughes
4 Posted 28/06/2007 at 11:16:45

What price identity and history? What price Location Location Location?

Of course you’re assuming "shiny new" can’t be done at Goodison...... where the above priceless (though invisible) assets are preserved automatically!

Cyril Sneer
5 Posted 28/06/2007 at 11:27:42

How about a stadium in New Brighton? Prime location along the sea front. 5 mins walk for me. LOL

Ken Gillet
6 Posted 28/06/2007 at 12:17:23

New Brighton would be an interesting choice. But the chance of getting planning permission is very slim. near the old derby pool would have great. I think most Blues though wouldn’t want a ground on the Wirral. One things for certain we can’t stay at Goodison.

Joey Godden
7 Posted 28/06/2007 at 12:21:16

New Brighton is full of bluerinses [in the tory sense] so planning permission is no go. Edge Lane seems a great place. Christ no! Not Kirby!!

Cheeky Monkey
8 Posted 28/06/2007 at 12:45:50

I’ve lived in sefton all my life and have supported Everton all my life too and i would certainly prefer a move to Kirkby than to somewhere in South Liverpool (Speke/Garston) that is within the holy city boundary.

B M
9 Posted 28/06/2007 at 13:10:56

Seeing as we?re all being silly how about knocking down St George?s Hall and building there! Train station near by, City Centre, Hotels for away supporters. Perfect!

Eric Myles
10 Posted 29/06/2007 at 02:12:21

I think the ’benefit’ of having the shiny new stadium is also that any investor won’t have to fork out the xxx million to build it himself.

That can be the only attraction of Man City and Reading, you’re only purchasing shares, debt and an initial transfer pot.

The exception is our neighbours where the Yanks are funding the new stadium (albeit through debt) but they’re experienced sports businessmen and the RS name is a more marketable product than most in the Premiership.

The other possibile exception could be Arsenal where there is huge debt on the new ground but as there’s no proposals for purchasing them yet it’s not possible to know if that debt would be paid off or remain self financing.

I don’t think any investor is going to buy Everton with GP in the state it is konwing that he’s likely to have to fork out the xxx millions on redevelopment or a new stadium.

Tom Hughes
11 Posted 30/06/2007 at 10:08:16

I think proportionally we represent as good a value for money investment as Liverpool. How much did they cost, half a billion nearly? £21M per year interest alone. We will cost much less to buy, and the redevelopment would not cost anywhere near as much as the new Anfield.