23 hours ago, Munkworth said:

You’re joking right? They’d pass the saving on to the average fans like me and you!

Wasn't there about 150 million quid of the taxpayers money used to build Wembley ?. Wonder if that will be re paid if they sell it.

4 minutes ago, Osgood is Good said:

Wasn't there about 150 million quid of the taxpayers money used to build Wembley ?. Wonder if that will be re paid if they sell it.

Don't know about the details but people are talking about the morality of selling and that they 'should' pay back the taxpayers etc. nothing about the legality or them being obliged to do it.

Which leads me to believe it was a grant that had no strings attached and they can sell if they want...

There's so many questions popping up about the sale though, reports have gone from £800m to £1bn now, considering the cost of building was £750m in 2007, taking into account inflation, cultural significance, location etc. surely it should be worth more?

I am sure they will sell. Money talks, and the FA have no shame as we know. 

It will be dressed up as a positive thing of course, but the reality is our national football stadium will spend more time hosting American Football than it will (English) football..... and that doesn't sit well with me. 

The pitch will always look like a vegetable patch, and over time it will resemble an American football stadium which they let us play the odd game of "soccer" at. 

Seems a sad and strange place to be in just 10 years after spending a decade, and £750M, building the thing. 

 

3 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

I am sure they will sell. Money talks, and the FA have no shame as we know. 

It will be dressed up as a positive thing of course, but the reality is our national football stadium will spend more time hosting American Football than it will (English) football..... and that doesn't sit well with me. 

The pitch will always look like a vegetable patch, and over time it will resemble an American football stadium which they let us play the odd game of "soccer" at. 

Seems a sad and strange place to be in just 10 years after spending a decade, and £750M, building the thing. 

 

The only good thing is that it will royally piss off Levy and the spuds.

3 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

I am sure they will sell. Money talks, and the FA have no shame as we know. 

It will be dressed up as a positive thing of course, but the reality is our national football stadium will spend more time hosting American Football than it will (English) football..... and that doesn't sit well with me. 

The pitch will always look like a vegetable patch, and over time it will resemble an American football stadium which they let us play the odd game of "soccer" at. 

Seems a sad and strange place to be in just 10 years after spending a decade, and £750M, building the thing. 

 

You are a bit mistaken. NFL games take place October thru January.

No major games happen at wembley then

13 hours ago, Ewell CFC said:

You would think that our support base would be miles larger than Spurs, considering what we've won over say a 15 year period compared with them. ( perceived wisdom that you pick up supporters with trophys)

Theyres far less plastics and foreigners amongst their match going support, partly I guess because White Hart Lane is a bit of a sod to get to and in a sh*t area with little to offer in terms of drinking, eating etc.

Apologies for rambling, but given the above it would be pretty shocking we couldn't do a better job of filling Wembley than poxy Spurs.

You have to wonder. People were moaning about loyalty points for the semi final, didn’t have to worry as there were 6,000 tickets still available a few days before and season ticket holders and members could by extra! So where is this demand?

1 hour ago, Richard P said:

You have to wonder. People were moaning about loyalty points for the semi final, didn’t have to worry as there were 6,000 tickets still available a few days before and season ticket holders and members could by extra! So where is this demand?

Did you see the ridiculous prices for the semi-final? If the club is sensible and prices our matches appropriately depending on the opposition, they'll get very decent attendances. 

On 27/04/2018 at 17:38, benjsross said:

You are a bit mistaken. NFL games take place October thru January.

No major games happen at wembley then

I am sure you are right with regards to NFL games- I wouldn't have a clue. 

The England national team have qualifiers & friendlies within that period though. 

I also can't help but wonder what the owners would have in mind for the months where the NFL isn't active..... I am sure if you are going to spend £500M for the stadium it won't be locked up for 8 months of the year gathering dust. 

3 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

I am sure you are right with regards to NFL games- I wouldn't have a clue. 

 The England national team have qualifiers & friendlies within that period though. 

I also can't help but wonder what the owners would have in mind for the months where the NFL isn't active..... I am sure if you are going to spend £500M for the stadium it won't be locked up for 8 months of the year gathering dust. 

The England qualifiers in that period will travel around the country. Which is arguably better than what happens now.

The owners will do the same thing that every other NFL team does, rent the stadium to whoever wants it - basically what happens to Wembley now. 

 

2 minutes ago, benjsross said:

The England qualifiers in that period will travel around the country. Which is arguably better than what happens now.

The owners will do the same thing that every other NFL team does, rent the stadium to whoever wants it - basically what happens to Wembley now. 

 

It is arguably better. It's arguably worse. Either way, I maintain that it is a strange position to be in, 10 years after spending a decade (and £750M) to build a state of the art, purpose built, home for the national football team. Playing second fiddle to an American football team was hardly the vision I had back in 1997 when they demolished the old Iconic towers. 

As for the second point, this is nothing more than an assumption. Sounds a reasonable one, but my point was that we have no idea what they will do, nor will we have any say in it. Not a fan of that. 

1 hour ago, mclovin83 said:

It is arguably better. It's arguably worse. Either way, I maintain that it is a strange position to be in, 10 years after spending a decade (and £750M) to build a state of the art, purpose built, home for the national football team. Playing second fiddle to an American football team was hardly the vision I had back in 1997 when they demolished the old Iconic towers. 

 As for the second point, this is nothing more than an assumption. Sounds a reasonable one, but my point was that we have no idea what they will do, nor will we have any say in it. Not a fan of that. 

I imagine that in the case of any sale, there will be certain stipulations placed about Wembley still hosting FA Cup finals and the like. (By "I imagine" i mean, I am 100% certain).

You know the old Wembley wasn't owned by the FA? Did you know that American football was played at the old wembley for 2 seasons (admittedly in a different league). 

The argument on the cost, 

FA gets £500m to spend on grassroots football and will spend less per year on rent than it is currently paying in repayments for the building of it - that are to continue for a while yet. 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 20188 yr by benjsross

1 hour ago, benjsross said:

I imagine that in the case of any sale, there will be certain stipulations placed about Wembley still hosting FA Cup finals and the like. (By "I imagine" i mean, I am 100% certain).

You know the old Wembley wasn't owned by the FA? Did you know that American football was played at the old wembley for 2 seasons (admittedly in a different league). 

The argument on the cost, 

FA gets £500m to spend on grassroots football and will spend less per year on rent than it is currently paying in repayments for the building of it - that are to continue for a while yet. 

 

 

 

I don't think the FA Cup final continuing to be played at Wembley was ever in doubt. The query was what the new owners would do with it for the rest of the time, when American football isn't being played on it. 

Yes I did know the old Wembley wasn't owned by the FA, but how relevant that is, is a matter of opinion. 

A quick google search will tell you the original Empire stadium was bought by Arthur Elvin near on 100 years ago for £122,000. That provides a bit of perspective. It was originally built for the British Empire Exhibition, and was due to be demolished before Elvin acquired it.

The FA made an arrangement and it became, and stayed,  the home of English football. 

It wasn't a £750M , purpose built state of the art national football stadium, with £150M of that coming from public money. I think the circumstances are pretty different. 

As for the FA spending £500M on grassroots football..... it's a nice idea. The FA are certainly an organization you would trust with £500M. Be interested to see what we have to show for this investment in 10 years time. 

Edited April 30, 20188 yr by mclovin83

4 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

I don't think the FA Cup final continuing to be played at Wembley was ever in doubt. The query was what the new owners would do with it for the rest of the time, when American football isn't being played on it. 

Yes I did know the old Wembley wasn't owned by the FA, but how relevant that is, is a matter of opinion. 

A quick google search will tell you the original Empire stadium was bought by Arthur Elvin near on 100 years ago for £122,000. That provides a bit of perspective. It was originally built for the British Empire Exhibition, and was due to be demolished before Elvin acquired it.

The FA made an arrangement and it became, and stayed,  the home of English football. 

It wasn't a £750M , purpose built state of the art national football stadium, with £150M of that coming from public money. I think the circumstances are pretty different. 

As for the FA spending £500M on grassroots football..... it's a nice idea. The FA are certainly an organization you would trust with £500M. Be interested to see what we have to show for this investment in 10 years time. 

What do you think they will do?

Can't be much worse than what the FA have been doing with it. Putting every single football game they can think of at Wembley, even crucial england qualifiers taking place days after an NFL game. 

I only say that as it seems important to you that the FA 'own' Wembley. 

Do I think that the money should be repaid, or at least in part repaid, yes. Do I think the FA could get more money for Wembley, yes. I just disagree that there is anything wrong with the principle of selling it and an NFL team playing there for 4 months of the year and on - at most - 10 days of the year - (which is still not definitely going to happen - the rest of the NFL need to agree to it).

On 27/04/2018 at 21:04, Richard P said:

You have to wonder. People were moaning about loyalty points for the semi final, didn’t have to worry as there were 6,000 tickets still available a few days before and season ticket holders and members could by extra! So where is this demand?

Sadly a lot of the old Chelsea hardcore  just don't go to games anymore or regularly, down my way on the West Sussex coast I meet loads of old skool fans who have either taken early retirement or just moved out of London. They by far out number other London clubs fans, I visit loads of houses for my job and you'd be amazed how much Chelsea memorabilia is on people's walls, don't see other clubs, that tells me our old skool is still passionate about club but have just got out the habit of going to games, funny,  they all went to Wembley in 86 for the full members cup final

42 minutes ago, benjsross said:

What do you think they will do?

Can't be much worse than what the FA have been doing with it. Putting every single football game they can think of at Wembley, even crucial england qualifiers taking place days after an NFL game. 

I only say that as it seems important to you that the FA 'own' Wembley. 

Do I think that the money should be repaid, or at least in part repaid, yes. Do I think the FA could get more money for Wembley, yes. I just disagree that there is anything wrong with the principle of selling it and an NFL team playing there for 4 months of the year and on - at most - 10 days of the year - (which is still not definitely going to happen - the rest of the NFL need to agree to it).

I don't know what they will do. Nobody does. That's kind of my point. 

It's not that important to me that the FA "own" Wembley; it's more the fact that the purpose built nation stadium known as the 'home of football' should prioritise football, as opposed to cashing out to the highest bidder, and prioritising American football, and whatever else the foreign owner see's fit.  

1 hour ago, chi blue said:

Sadly a lot of the old Chelsea hardcore  just don't go to games anymore or regularly, down my way on the West Sussex coast I meet loads of old skool fans who have either taken early retirement or just moved out of London. They by far out number other London clubs fans, I visit loads of houses for my job and you'd be amazed how much Chelsea memorabilia is on people's walls, don't see other clubs, that tells me our old skool is still passionate about club but have just got out the habit of going to games, funny,  they all went to Wembley in 86 for the full members cup final

I’m in Bromley Kent. The train in from Ramsgate and other Kent destinations in the 70s and 80s was always really good. I driven to the bridge for years but When I do go by train the numbers still seem ok.

If only the fans owned the pitch...

1 hour ago, Richard P said:

I’m in Bromley Kent. The train in from Ramsgate and other Kent destinations in the 70s and 80s was always really good. I driven to the bridge for years but When I do go by train the numbers still seem ok.

We always go on train to games and yes still loads on trains coming up from Sussex, it's just so many more  don't seem to go anymore

7 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

I don't think the FA Cup final continuing to be played at Wembley was ever in doubt. The query was what the new owners would do with it for the rest of the time, when American football isn't being played on it. 

Yes I did know the old Wembley wasn't owned by the FA, but how relevant that is, is a matter of opinion. 

A quick google search will tell you the original Empire stadium was bought by Arthur Elvin near on 100 years ago for £122,000. That provides a bit of perspective. It was originally built for the British Empire Exhibition, and was due to be demolished before Elvin acquired it.

The FA made an arrangement and it became, and stayed,  the home of English football. 

It wasn't a £750M , purpose built state of the art national football stadium, with £150M of that coming from public money. I think the circumstances are pretty different. 

As for the FA spending £500M on grassroots football..... it's a nice idea. The FA are certainly an organization you would trust with £500M. Be interested to see what we have to show for this investment in 10 years time. 

Wembley and all the mystic and history died soon as they bulldozed it down. I remember in about 1981 for a school friend's birthday party we had a tour of Wembley, I had never been before but as we drove up near hangar lane, I caught a glimpse of the twin towers and I know it's a cliche but literally even at the age of 11/12 the goosebumps came out. Sadly Wembley now is just a larger Lego Identikit stadium that cost a fortune and will rip match going fans off for years to come

12 hours ago, chi blue said:

Sadly a lot of the old Chelsea hardcore  just don't go to games anymore or regularly, down my way on the West Sussex coast I meet loads of old skool fans who have either taken early retirement or just moved out of London. They by far out number other London clubs fans, I visit loads of houses for my job and you'd be amazed how much Chelsea memorabilia is on people's walls, don't see other clubs, that tells me our old skool is still passionate about club but have just got out the habit of going to games, funny,  they all went to Wembley in 86 for the full members cup final

My parents moved to Pagham. A good few Chelsea there including old face and author MK. ( he gets in Le Reserve)

Lots of Londoners seemed to have moved down permanently having got to know that part of the world through the caravan parks at Selsey, Church Farm etc.

Always thought we had loads of fans down that way from Worthing across to Chichester and beyond.

Edited May 1, 20188 yr by Ewell CFC

12 hours ago, benjsross said:

What do you think they will do?

Can't be much worse than what the FA have been doing with it. Putting every single football game they can think of at Wembley, even crucial england qualifiers taking place days after an NFL game. 

I only say that as it seems important to you that the FA 'own' Wembley. 

Do I think that the money should be repaid, or at least in part repaid, yes. Do I think the FA could get more money for Wembley, yes. I just disagree that there is anything wrong with the principle of selling it and an NFL team playing there for 4 months of the year and on - at most - 10 days of the year - (which is still not definitely going to happen - the rest of the NFL need to agree to it).

Football, as exemplified by Wembley, seems to have lost its soul. 

When it was announced that FA Cup semi's were to be played there in order to recoup rebuilding costs, it was met by universal derision by fans who realised this would reduce the specialness of the Cup Final. 

The spectacle of empty " Club Wembley" seats for large parts of the game just reinforces opinion that a large section of the crowd aren't to bothered about events on the park.

I couldn't support another football league team but am giving serious thought to watching more non league football in the future. I'd save a fortune and it's just seems more real that the Premiership/ Wembley and all the bullsh*t that surrounds top flight football in this country.

 

12 hours ago, mclovin83 said:

I don't know what they will do. Nobody does. That's kind of my point. 

It's not that important to me that the FA "own" Wembley; it's more the fact that the purpose built nation stadium known as the 'home of football' should prioritise football, as opposed to cashing out to the highest bidder, and prioritising American football, and whatever else the foreign owner see's fit.  

Used to be loads of big concerts.   Do they still do that these days?   And, wasn't the Horse of the Year show done there a few times?  Or was that the Arena?

Edited May 1, 20188 yr by yorkleyblue
spelling

10 minutes ago, Ewell CFC said:

Football, as exemplified by Wembley, seems to have lost its soul. 

When it was announced that FA Cup semi's were to be played there in order to recoup rebuilding costs, it was met by universal derision by fans who realised this would reduce the specialness of the Cup Final. 

The spectacle of empty " Club Wembley" seats for large parts of the game just reinforces opinion that a large section of the crowd aren't to bothered about events on the park.

I couldn't support another football league team but am giving serious thought to watching more non league football in the future. I'd save a fortune and it's just seems more real that the Premiership/ Wembley and all the bullsh*t that surrounds top flight football in this country.

  

You can't be that far from Sutton. Support them. They also might be playing at Wembley in a couple of weeks time. 

49 minutes ago, benjsross said:

You can't be that far from Sutton. Support them. They also might be playing at Wembley in a couple of weeks time. 

Good shout. I briefly played for their youth team. Cant quite get my head around the prospect of them being in the football league.

2 hours ago, Ewell CFC said:

Good shout. I briefly played for their youth team. Cant quite get my head around the prospect of them being in the football league.

Neither can I, they've done it the right way though, loads of emphasis on their youth teams and using their plastic pitch to benefit the community.