Just say a new stadium with say a 40k capacity would cost 200m, are we better off just paying the 50m he wants for The Valley and training ground? Of course The Valley doesn't have much room for possible expansion.
There were home matches last season when we had about 10,000 in the ground (max). Will worry about expansion once we’re regularly selling out.
We need to spend a number of years in the top flight before we consider a stadium expansion. We basically need 2-3 new generations of consistent fans and that can only be achieve by being good at football, especially being a London club.
We need to spend a number of years in the top flight before we consider a stadium expansion. We basically need 2-3 new generations of consistent fans and that can only be achieve by being good at football, especially being a London club.
There is zero chance of us moving from the Valley for any number of reasons.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
…..but if RD doesn’t agree to a longer lease in the next 12 months, we will breach EFLs requirement for a minimum 10 year lease on home grounds. RD will know this so, like it or not, he does hold all the cards right now. We need to start massaging his ego somewhat to get him to agree to the lease or, preferably, a sale otherwise we’re in big trouble very soon.
Moving would be a big blow to support. They need to agree a long term lease with The Duchalet family. Then get on with any changes to the ground they think will improve it. A move out and then building a new stadium is expensive. Given what Brentford spent on their new stadium would say about£100 million for a new 15000 to 17000 stadium, and where is there room for that is South East London.
…..but if RD doesn’t agree to a longer lease in the next 12 months, we will breach EFLs requirement for a minimum 10 year lease on home grounds. RD will know this so, like it or not, he does hold all the cards right now. We need to start massaging his ego somewhat to get him to agree to the lease or, preferably, a sale otherwise we’re in big trouble very soon.
The lease is already under ten years, but that’s not the rule anyway.
It's a difficult one to play as a fan base as well. If we vehemently oppose moving from the valley then that strengthens RDs position. If we don't then there's a chance they may go ahead and actually move us, which nobody wants.
It's a difficult one to play as a fan base as well. If we vehemently oppose moving from the valley then that strengthens RDs position. If we don't then there's a chance they may go ahead and actually move us, which nobody wants.
You say that and tbh from a sentimental viewpoint I agree but let’s be honest the valley isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to if you don’t live locally and the parking restrictions will only get worse
It's a difficult one to play as a fan base as well. If we vehemently oppose moving from the valley then that strengthens RDs position. If we don't then there's a chance they may go ahead and actually move us, which nobody wants.
You say that and tbh from a sentimental viewpoint I agree but let’s be honest the valley isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to if you don’t live locally and the parking restrictions will only get worse
There is zero chance of us moving from the Valley for any number of reasons.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
I think the difference is "why" have we moved from The Valley. The clubs you mentioned moved due to a need for a larger, modern stadium. If we moved, the reasons would be because of a previous stubborn owner. If it was on our terms I think there would be less protest.
It's a difficult one to play as a fan base as well. If we vehemently oppose moving from the valley then that strengthens RDs position. If we don't then there's a chance they may go ahead and actually move us, which nobody wants.
You say that and tbh from a sentimental viewpoint I agree but let’s be honest the valley isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to if you don’t live locally and the parking restrictions will only get worse
As it is for every other club in London. That said, there's an issue with just about everybody in a position of responsibility being in denial about just how people are meant to travel to/from a midweek match from, say, Meopham.
It's a difficult one to play as a fan base as well. If we vehemently oppose moving from the valley then that strengthens RDs position. If we don't then there's a chance they may go ahead and actually move us, which nobody wants.
You say that and tbh from a sentimental viewpoint I agree but let’s be honest the valley isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to if you don’t live locally and the parking restrictions will only get worse
As it is for every other club in London. That said, there's an issue with just about everybody in a position of responsibility being in denial about just how people are meant to travel to/from a midweek match from, say, Meopham.
We wouldn't be Charlton anymore. We would become Meopham Athletic. The name says it all.
It's a difficult one to play as a fan base as well. If we vehemently oppose moving from the valley then that strengthens RDs position. If we don't then there's a chance they may go ahead and actually move us, which nobody wants.
You say that and tbh from a sentimental viewpoint I agree but let’s be honest the valley isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to if you don’t live locally and the parking restrictions will only get worse
There is zero chance of us moving from the Valley for any number of reasons.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
I think the difference is "why" have we moved from The Valley. The clubs you mentioned moved due to a need for a larger, modern stadium. If we moved, the reasons would be because of a previous stubborn owner. If it was on our terms I think there would be less protest.
The difference is that Everton didn't lose Goodison and fight to get it back - the same for Spurs, Arsenal, Wet Spam, Citeh et al.
We lost The Valley and through the enormous efforts of Charlton legends we got it back. The 5th December 1992 is for me the most important date in our history - eclipsing anything in 1947 and 1905.
I think there's a scenario that could go like this. It's possible that ship has already sailed, or isn't going to happen because it won't get the funding, but...
The transformation of the Charlton riverside into a residential area isn't going very well for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is that the land's all owned by different parties who are basically sitting on it. Others are a lack of infrastructure (it needs at least one road driven through it and then some public transport) and general trouble for developers at the moment. One of the solutions I've heard kicked around is that the mayor steps in and forms a development corporation to buy up land and force the pace of development. This is what happened at the Olympic Park, and is happening at Old Oak Common where the HS2 station will be.
There's a plausible case for saying that a new state-of-the-art stadium on the north side of Woolwich Road, with housing/other uses alongside and even inside (look at how Wembley has changed) could be a project to try to force the pace a bit. Some of that land's spoken for now (two big developments are approved just west of the barrier), but certainly Stone Lake Retail Park, Stone Foundries (which is empty), the Selco site and industrial site behind could offer you possibilities.
I don't think it'll happen because the council treats the club like a problem and City Hall doesn't know we exist, and it'd have to involve them to work. But if the riverside redevelopment continues to stall, you never know.
Would rather stay at The Valley, though. It's home.
There is zero chance of us moving from the Valley for any number of reasons.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
I think the difference is "why" have we moved from The Valley. The clubs you mentioned moved due to a need for a larger, modern stadium. If we moved, the reasons would be because of a previous stubborn owner. If it was on our terms I think there would be less protest.
The difference is that Everton didn't lose Goodison and fight to get it back - the same for Spurs, Arsenal, Wet Spam, Citeh et al.
We lost The Valley and through the enormous efforts of Charlton legends we got it back. The 5th December 1992 is for me the most important date in our history - eclipsing anything in 1947 and 1905.
We cannot and will not leave The Valley.
But just say, for example.... IF we became a hugely successful side and our capacity was no longer adequate for the demand. Should we stay in a stadium because we lost and regained it (we don't even own it now).
There is zero chance of us moving from the Valley for any number of reasons.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
I think the difference is "why" have we moved from The Valley. The clubs you mentioned moved due to a need for a larger, modern stadium. If we moved, the reasons would be because of a previous stubborn owner. If it was on our terms I think there would be less protest.
The difference is that Everton didn't lose Goodison and fight to get it back - the same for Spurs, Arsenal, Wet Spam, Citeh et al.
We lost The Valley and through the enormous efforts of Charlton legends we got it back. The 5th December 1992 is for me the most important date in our history - eclipsing anything in 1947 and 1905.
We cannot and will not leave The Valley.
But just say, for example.... IF we became a hugely successful side and our capacity was no longer adequate for the demand. Should we stay in a stadium because we lost and regained it (we don't even own it now).
Do we have an option to buy from Roland that we can implement at any time we want? Ie if we somehow managed to fluke our way to the prem… surely the owners would then do this?
There is zero chance of us moving from the Valley for any number of reasons.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
I think the difference is "why" have we moved from The Valley. The clubs you mentioned moved due to a need for a larger, modern stadium. If we moved, the reasons would be because of a previous stubborn owner. If it was on our terms I think there would be less protest.
The difference is that Everton didn't lose Goodison and fight to get it back - the same for Spurs, Arsenal, Wet Spam, Citeh et al.
We lost The Valley and through the enormous efforts of Charlton legends we got it back. The 5th December 1992 is for me the most important date in our history - eclipsing anything in 1947 and 1905.
We cannot and will not leave The Valley.
But just say, for example.... IF we became a hugely successful side and our capacity was no longer adequate for the demand. Should we stay in a stadium because we lost and regained it (we don't even own it now).
Yes, we redevelop to the away end to a wrap around to make it the best part of 40k
Everyone is always going on about parking restrictions around The Valley.
How far from the ground do these go, and why are there so many more than in the past?
Can you still park around Charlton Park for example? If it’s really not possible to park within, let’s say, a 20 minute walk, how are supporters from Kent supposed to get to the match - drive within 3-4 miles and get the bus? That must be putting a lot of fans off.
Comments
Place could do with downsizing most match weeks.
However it does raise an interesting point. If the club announced that they were planning a new stadium there would (rightly imo ) meltdown from the fans but other clubs like Everton, Spurs, West Ham etc have done so did their fans kick off ?
The oldies and the history are fading away…
Would rather stay at The Valley, though. It's home.
Yes
How far from the ground do these go, and why are there so many more than in the past?
Can you still park around Charlton Park for example?
If it’s really not possible to park within, let’s say, a 20 minute walk, how are supporters from Kent supposed to get to the match - drive within 3-4 miles and get the bus? That must be putting a lot of fans off.