New Stadium-The Willows

[Behind-the-Gulls]

Joint announcement from Council(Mayor) and Club(Steve Breed) at Business Breakfast held at LWS this morning.
Council is to support Club to look into the feasibility of moving to new stadium which could be constructed at Nightingale Park ( The Willows).
Could happen quite quickly if found to be feasible and gets through all the planning hurdles etc.
(Pete Masters was guest speaker at meeting.)

[lucusmc]

Is a new stadium needed? Plainmoor to me, is fit for purpose especially for the level we are at atm and the predicament we are currently in!

Having said that, it may be something to think about in the future as teams with same sort of fan base as us, Colchester, Shrewsbury just spring to mind have benefited from a new stadium with higher crowds.

BUT not needed in our current position.

[Gullscorer]

My first reaction was this:

However, why should the club and the town not consider the future, in fact a reasonably optimistic future? Not needed now, that's obvious. But if we are to even dream of the possibility of the club rising again like a phoenix with a new stadium (presumably multi-purpose) we must mark out a piece of ground now on which to begin to build plans for such a future. I only hope it will be big and ambitious enough to cope with future possibilities, and will be an easy walk from the railway, and will have a decent car park.

Good work Mr Breed.

[Scott Brehaut]

Bet Thaea is pleased

[Gullscorer]

Plainmoor could be retained and shared between the TUFC reserve team and Torquay Athletic RFC. The Recreation Ground can be used by the Torquay and Devon County cricket teams.

There only remains the question of an athletics stadium, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and tennis courts and stadium to rival Wimbledon.

[lucusmc]

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/B ... story.html

[brucie]

Can someone please explain to me what it has to do with Peter Masters - I mean he is feck all to do with us isn't he?

[Richinns]

A new stadium and a 4G pitch for free? If true then you cannot seriously turn an offer like this down. Training on the same pitch we play on, matches never called off.

It is a dream at the moment but I cannot see a downside if (as it is reported here) this is how it plays out.

I am sure the club would also do the right thing and have one of the stands named after the Bristow's.

[Kit_robin]

Is a new stadium needed? Plainmoor to me, is fit for purpose especially for the level we are at atm and the predicament we are currently in!

Having said that, it may be something to think about in the future as teams with same sort of fan base as us, Colchester, Shrewsbury just spring to mind have benefited from a new stadium with higher crowds.

BUT not needed in our current position.

We desperately need a new stadium, have done for about five years. As more and more clubs move they increase their non-football income while we stand still. If we want to get back into the league this is an excellent start.

Only downside to me is the initial size. 6,000 to me is too small. I know people will say that we only get 1500 now, but a bit of successful football, a shiny new stadium, and suddenly we get 4000. That 6000 stadium then gets a bit cramped. We should be looking at an initial 8000 in my opinion.

Also interesting about the 4g element. Obviously a lot of bonus money wise, but will the football league ever let there be artificial pitches in the league again? People say yes but it might take a while.

All in all an excellent idea though. Something some of us have been banging on about for years - just goes to show that it was always achievable at little cost to the club, as people like me have always said. Get the right investors who will make money and it will be mutually beneficial

[lucusmc]

It sounds too good to be true doesn't it?... an American building firm make first contact with the club, then pester the club to just have a look and there's no cost to us..... mmmm we shall see what further details come out in the future I guess.

[knightmaregull]

The biggest question for me is who would own it and whether rent is payable. I hope the board wouldn't agree anything less secure than what we have at present for fear of ending up ransomed like Coventry.

Yet another twist and turn to keep us all interested anyhow!

[lucusmc]

Agree Kit, that we need to increase the non football income and if there's no cost to us then, on the face of it is a win-win situation as Steve puts it in the article.

[OllieGull]

A new stadium imo is a great idea, shows that we're looking to the future (and have a future). 4G pitch is crucial due to the amount of games we call off too, so potentially a slight increase in revenue from Saturday games staying as Saturday games and not being moved to Tuesdays. I see it says there's a housing scheme too but it would be good if the new stadium offered extra facilities open to the public. E.g. Barnet's new ground The Hive makes a decent amount of extra revenue from various things they have open to the public like a Gym, Medical Centre etc.

[Eirik]

But why not just change the pitch at Plainmoor?

[Jerry]

My first reaction was this:

However, why should the club and the town not consider the future, in fact a reasonably optimistic future? Not needed now, that's obvious. But if we are to even dream of the possibility of the club rising again like a phoenix with a new stadium (presumably multi-purpose) we must mark out a piece of ground now on which to begin to build plans for such a future. I only hope it will be big and ambitious enough to cope with future possibilities, and will be an easy walk from the railway, and will have a decent car park.

Good work Mr Breed.

They're building a new station at Edginswell so that's the walk to the railway box ticked.