I was speaking to a bloke the other day who said that we would have another £20m extra cash - basically wipes out our debt (which wouldn't be there if you read on) if we had built a new stadium instead of expanding.

He reckoned that a new stadium would have cost about 60% of what adding 15,000 seats to the existing ground. It makes you wonder really, how far we would have gone with that extra transfer cash.

I was in favour of a new stadium simply because it meant I would be able to get a season ticket (selfish I know but I couldn't get in to watch league games). There were thousands of protestors to the Millenium Dome yet that still went ahead, but a few hundred stop the erection of what would have been the best club ground in Britain and a big selling point for potential signings. It's all ifs and buts, but does anyone agree with this bloke, and think that we would really have another £20m if a new ground was built?

Interesting if it is true.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

Answers

Authentic Proof?

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

I'm not in a position to put a figure on how much extra we would have had, but I don't think there's any question that on a cost per seat basis new stadiums are vastly cheaper than old ones. Just look at the amounts Boro, Sunderland, Derby, Bolton, Southampton & co have spent on their brand new stadiums - I'm sure Derby's came in at less than Zinedine Zidane. I was (very) reluctantly in favour of the move too, as it seemed the best opportunity to get as many people into SJP as possible, which is surely the way for the club to move towards fulfilling it's potential.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

The fact that SJP is so close to the town centre is a major feature. Is there a better view in the country than when coming over one of the bridges and you see SJP on the horizon? Of course, it was all at a price, and you're right about out-of-town constructions. They are a lot cheaper, but they also have far less substance to them.

I'd be interested in how much it cost to redevelop OT. Yes, I know Trafford Park isn't quite Gallowgate, but equally they're not Monkwearmouth colliery nor some wasteland outside Bolton, Derby or Smogland. Older gounds like SJP and OT have a lot of history. Being an item of history myself, I like to see them preserved ;-)

ANyway, if we'd had an extra £20M to spend, who's to say it would have bought us any more success??

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

I know it doesn't guarantee success, but £20m would be very useful at the present time.

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2001

I think your contact is spot on Paul - the cost per seat for the extra capacity was astronomic.

Analysing the recent 2001 financial statements as best I could, it appears to me that while the extra capacity has increased the Club's turnover and of course the debt burden, it has not improved the profitability.

If my simple analysis is accurate this is important in that unless profitability is enhanced through this massive capital investment it does not improve our ability to acquire the best playing talent.

-- Anonymous, October 29, 2001