Many reports today saying Ken Bates and Sir Rodney Walker, two former Chairmen of Wembley, wouldn't have the national football stadium at Wembley. They suggest Manchester or Birmingham.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Answers

It should be somewhere in the Midlands with close proximity to the M6/M1 junction. This should achieve a geographical and demographical balance.

Any new development would obviously have to have increased transport facilities and a link up with rail as a possibility.

In fact they should knock down Eddie Stobart's building at Crick, Northamptonshire and insert a National Stadium. The road and rail links are already there!

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

All I would say to that would be:

BOLLOX

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Come on ITK, on what basis is your esteemed rejection and where would you stick it? (I intended a bit of discussion!)

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

If they build houses etc on the Wembley site the money raised would pay for a new stadium in a more central area.

That said, why have a National Stadium at all, I think it works well to take the matches arount the country & use Cardiff for the Cup final.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

I love London, every time I have to go there - 3 or 4 times a year membe, sometimes more some times less y'know - I think of it as a real treat.
National stadium in London for me. Brum and Manc land as cities no contest.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

London is okay as long as you can get to (and away from) the bloody thing.

The rail/air/road links have to be there. I don't know London well enough but there has to be something at somewhere like Hillingdon, near M25, near Heathrow, must be close to rail line.

But NOT Wembley.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

But my idea is cheaper

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

When we last discussed this, I suggested the Hillingdon area (ITK's back yard). Close to the M40 (access from West Mids and NW), M25 (everywhere else). However, it would need significant additional transport facilities such as a decent rail system and fast access to/from the centre of Lahndaan and better access to/from the m'way system and a big coach park (but so would everywhere else). In my mind, a national stadium is best situated in or near the capital. I'm not sure that Wembley can provide those additional transport facilties.

Interestingly, I heard recently taht the Stade de France was built in around 27 months. Not only did they build a new stadium, they built a railway station and moved two motorways to accommodate it. I've never been to a match there, but it looks bliddy great from the ootside.

As for the Millennium thing in Cardiff, if they really expect to hold a successful Cup Final there they have to sort out the transport. By all accounts, it was sh*t for the Worthy. Apparently the rail tunnel under the Severn is planned to be closed for the FAC Final weekend - been in Railtracks plans for over 2 years!!

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

If you cannot find it I suggest you search Screacher or Lonly Toon. I think they are the ones most likely to have nicked it!

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Hillingdon would be ideal, especially as they've just completed the new shopping centre.

Although there was talk a while back that QPR were looking at moving into the area, what would be cool is if the English and Scottish National stadiums were used by Queens Park (Rangers).

There's something magic about that which I quite like

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Wembley is arguably the very worst possible place to site the National Stadium. However, given our propensity in this country to do everything half-arsed, it will be seem to be ideal for that purpose, if for no other reason than it's there now. Getting to and from Wembley Stadium was a exercise in utter futility.

The ability to efficiently and safely transport fans to and from the ground should be one of the premier siting considerations.

Last time we discussed this most agreed that somewhere just North of London, in close proximity to the M1/A1/M25 junctions would be the ideal location, with essential rail links to and from central London provided as required.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Maybe Birmingham needs the better rail links more than London & siting it in B'ham would have better social spin offs.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001