Shrimpsvoices

Have recently been talking to a chap connected to the banquiting Suite at the new Pro-star stadium, Shrewsbury. They recently disclosed the accounts for the suite fot the first 9 months of operation. Remember, this is for the fuction suite only (business lunches, wedding receptions, Sunday/Evening meals, caberet nights etc etc):!: Profit of between £750,000 + £1 million
Now, to me it is quite clear why Morecambe need to move to a new ground and I hope this helps others understand. It is not about the football but about good business sense. This money will go along way towards paying for Shrewsbury's new players wages+any transfer fees.

I think its just a few dinosaurs that don't realise why we have to move from Christie Park now.

Hell, even 75% of that figure would be more than welcome by the Board.

I wouldn't think that the start of one of the biggest credit crunches in history would be the best time to do this - if local businesses go to the wall there will be noone to use any banqueting facilities. If I was the board I'd hold fire until the future was a little more certain.

The Marksman wrote:I wouldn't think that the start of one of the biggest credit crunches in history would be the best time to do this - if local businesses go to the wall there will be noone to use any banqueting facilities. If I was the board I'd hold fire until the future was a little more certain.

...and all the time they hold back, the greater the cost of upkeep at CP and by the end of our third season we need to provide more seating...where?

There is never a good time to develop a new stadium, but our Board are rich with successful businessmen and I trust them to get it right.

The Marksman wrote:I wouldn't think that the start of one of the biggest credit crunches in history would be the best time to do this - if local businesses go to the wall there will be noone to use any banqueting facilities. If I was the board I'd hold fire until the future was a little more certain.

The new ground is not due to open until August 2010 when the worst of the credit crunch will probably be over.

We could prob negotiate a good deal now as well as the builders will be happy for the work.

P/T Indie wrote:We could prob negotiate a good deal now as well as the builders will be happy for the work.

..interestingly, I'm out of work and have had an interview with a major Construction Group who said exactly the opposite. The house building companies are suffering but the construction side is alive and well.

The Marksman wrote:I wouldn't think that the start of one of the biggest credit crunches in history would be the best time to do this - if local businesses go to the wall there will be noone to use any banqueting facilities. If I was the board I'd hold fire until the future was a little more certain.

You raise a good point but the board are all pretty experienced businessmen and they will be planning it properly.
The bigger concern, I'd have thought, would be the potential for selling CP to a residential construction company at the moment. BUt, again, the board isn't daft and all of that will be worked out properly.
It's a long-term scheme and the picture could well have changed by the time it's all done - those in big business are usually pretty good at predicting various markets.

.... and the board may well have read this this morning over their cornflakes and be glad that we are not in the Premier League!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... tball.html

Only 6 clubs trading at a profit and the recently promoted ones are actually in the least debt.

W.B.A. in profit even without a shirt sponsor!

Aston Villa don't earn from a shirt sponsor - they give to charity

P/T Indie wrote:We could prob negotiate a good deal now as well as the builders will be happy for the work.

That's not quite how it works. If we were just getting a few local builders to do the stadium it would be fine, but the companies we need don't actually need the work. We're not in a position to say "if you do this we'll pay you £X". You can get good deals on a porch or a small kitchen extension, but not a 6000 capacity stadium.
Going back to the original point though, Morecambe is not a Shrewsbury, we don't have the sort of local buisnesses to get that sort of income. there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities. What we could do with though, is jumping on the bandwagon of 5 a side leagues and groups of workmates who want to have a kick around for a couple of hours a week. that sort of money soon adds up, as our friends at Curzon Ashton found before they moved.

there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities

Where? We've only found Lancaster House that offers decent conference facilities around the area.

wijit wrote:

P/T Indie wrote:there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities. .

You'd be surprised. If you're talking about a 2/300+ event, there aren't that many places that can accommodate it.

If our new stadium offered that kind of facility, in what would be nice new surroundings, they would be very busy with conferences, sportsman's events and wedding and engagement functions I'm sure.

And, because of the investment they are making, I'm sure a lot of 'Shrimps-friendly' local business owners would want to support it as a venue. I think it would be a good earner.
It would, of course, also mean the club didn't have to use an outside venue for all its own functions (not that the Carleton has been a bad place to go).

shrimper wrote:

wijit wrote:

P/T Indie wrote:there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities. .

You'd be surprised. If you're talking about a 2/300+ event, there aren't that many places that can accommodate it.

If our new stadium offered that kind of facility, in what would be nice new surroundings, they would be very busy with conferences, sportsman's events and wedding and engagement functions I'm sure.

And, because of the investment they are making, I'm sure a lot of 'Shrimps-friendly' local business owners would want to support it as a venue. I think it would be a good earner.
It would, of course, also mean the club didn't have to use an outside venue for all its own functions (not that the Carleton has been a bad place to go).

The October Sportsmans do at the Carleton seems to have been missed out this year

Phoenix wrote:

there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities

Where? We've only found Lancaster House that offers decent conference facilities around the area.

Yup and do you think we can compete with that? Easier motorway access, better location and more importantly, they have the expertise in the field. I'm pretty sure the Midland could also offer the same facilities before we get off the ground too.

In response to shrimpers post, I would be more than suprised if an y buisness, local or not, would compromise expertise and value for loyalty.

Us at the York are getting into the market for small to medium businesses - we are even going to organise a testimonial black tie function for Wayne Curtis - bet lots thought that would never happen here

wijit wrote:[In response to shrimpers post, I would be more than suprised if an y buisness, local or not, would compromise expertise and value for loyalty.

Absolutely. Which is why I expect the club to employ (either full-time or, more likely, brought in specifically for the occasion) people who have expertise in organising events and conferences and also to offer value for money in quality surroundings.

wijit wrote:

Phoenix wrote:

there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities

Where? We've only found Lancaster House that offers decent conference facilities around the area.

Yup and do you think we can compete with that? Easier motorway access, better location and more importantly, they have the expertise in the field. I'm pretty sure the Midland could also offer the same facilities before we get off the ground too.

In response to shrimpers post, I would be more than suprised if an y buisness, local or not, would compromise expertise and value for loyalty.

More importantly, they have expertise in the field. How do you think they got that? From the staff/managers that have worked in that field, that is how. Therefore I am confident that our board will bring in a suitably experienced catering management team to challenge these. Its all about competion. What I would imagine they'll be doing is aiming at businesses with the new corporate facilities/sposorships the new ground will offer and aim to link the banqueting facilities into this whilst also being able to adapt to multiple smaller fuctions all on at the same time. Business/sponsorship/functions and banqueting, go hand in hand. The new ground will need to be generating income 7 days a week instead of the current 2/3 days. Its a business not just a football club! The sooner we move the better as we can't sustain league football at Christie Park. Its a shame but its also a fact!

shrimper wrote:

wijit wrote:[In response to shrimpers post, I would be more than suprised if an y buisness, local or not, would compromise expertise and value for loyalty.

Absolutely. Which is why I expect the club to employ (either full-time or, more likely, brought in specifically for the occasion) people who have expertise in organising events and conferences and also to offer value for money in quality surroundings.

I would imagine full time, not just occasionally, otherwise this will prove they are not using these functioning rooms to there maximum potential. People will be surprised how often businesses really do use these facilities.

I doubt they'll have a major function every week, though. I suspect they may employ one overall manager day to day but have a deal to bring in a 'team' of specialists, possibly under a different bod, for the big events when required.

Point is I don't think it'll be left to volunteers or people without that kind of expertise so they WILL be able to compete quite confidently with anywhere else locally.

It is vital to the success of the club going forward that we move to the new stadium as soon as possible and the rewards from conference facilities can be massive as the Shrewsbury figures show.

It needs to be a 7 days a week venue and will be the prime location in the area for conferencing. I go to the Walkers Stadium on a regular basis for seminars and they are coining it in even though the place has lots of competition in the area, but stadiums attracts a lot of training companies etc. Obviously its on a much bigger scale, but the potential is there for all to see.

Does anyone know if a deal has yet to be struck with a buyer for the CP site? Any contract in place?

This aint bad for a Northern Counties League facility is it? Bring on Winterton Rangers

http://www.wintertonrangers.co.uk/conference.html

marky No.1 wrote:This aint bad for a Northern Counties League facility is it? Bring on Winterton Rangers

http://www.wintertonrangers.co.uk/conference.html

http://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/conferencing.asp
http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co. ... 66,00.html
http://www.darlington-fc.premiumtv.co.u ... 39,00.html
Wycombe: http://www.adamspark.co.uk/
http://www.sincilbank.com/sincilbank/index.mv
Do I need to go on? The last - Lincoln City, just about sums it up when you see whats on offer!

wijit wrote:

Phoenix wrote:

there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities

Where? We've only found Lancaster House that offers decent conference facilities around the area.

Yup and do you think we can compete with that? Easier motorway access, better location and more importantly, they have the expertise in the field. I'm pretty sure the Midland could also offer the same facilities before we get off the ground too.

In response to shrimpers post, I would be more than suprised if an y buisness, local or not, would compromise expertise and value for loyalty.

..and don't you think the club realise this? The club will need to bring that expertise in. Somebody who knows how to organise and get the best out of people.

Now there's a thought......????????

wijit wrote:

Phoenix wrote:

there are far too many competitors for all of those functions be it local hotels or full conference facilities

Where? We've only found Lancaster House that offers decent conference facilities around the area.

Yup and do you think we can compete with that? Easier motorway access, better location

if only we had a bypass...