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Don
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Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 14007
Location: Devizes
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 Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| DAVEf wrote: | | Chimpo wrote: | | sparkypark wrote: | Unlikely to be us, especially as Philip Beard said in the Standard yesterday:
"the criteria is that we need to find somewhere that hopefully isn’t too far from Loftus Road. Our fanbase is a very passionate, loyal and local one. We need to stay in the area if we can. That is almost a must.” |
Great quote from Beardo - nail on head. |
Battersea Power Station is 5.9 miles from LR (according to the AA Route Planner --- and that means it is probably less as the crow flies).
So if you are saying you don't think it's "local" perhaps local is not the word that properly expresses your sentiments. It certainly can't be said to be "too far" from LR in distance terms. Of course "area" is another word and a different ball game. But, unless we (or they) are talking Scrubs, BBC or as part of an eastwards extension of Westfield, where else within 6 miles could fit the bill? |
There's a big wet thing that stops it being in any way, shape or form local.
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I'm Ray Gardner. I drink Blackcurrant Tango. Come and get me! |
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DAVEf
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Joined: 02 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Don wrote: | | DAVEf wrote: | | Chimpo wrote: | | sparkypark wrote: | Unlikely to be us, especially as Philip Beard said in the Standard yesterday:
"the criteria is that we need to find somewhere that hopefully isn’t too far from Loftus Road. Our fanbase is a very passionate, loyal and local one. We need to stay in the area if we can. That is almost a must.” |
Great quote from Beardo - nail on head. |
Battersea Power Station is 5.9 miles from LR (according to the AA Route Planner --- and that means it is probably less as the crow flies).
So if you are saying you don't think it's "local" perhaps local is not the word that properly expresses your sentiments. It certainly can't be said to be "too far" from LR in distance terms. Of course "area" is another word and a different ball game. But, unless we (or they) are talking Scrubs, BBC or as part of an eastwards extension of Westfield, where else within 6 miles could fit the bill? |
There's a big wet thing that stops it being in any way, shape or form local. |
We have a lot of fans south of that wet thing especially to the West. As I said elsewhere, we can be parochial and claim only a small patch of West London as "local" or we can expand our minds and perceived boundaries (without forgetting where "Home" is). |
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flatfoot
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Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 1698
Location: st margarets
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| sparkypark wrote: | Unlikely to be us, especially as Philip Beard said in the Standard yesterday:
"the criteria is that we need to find somewhere that hopefully isn’t too far from Loftus Road. Our fanbase is a very passionate, loyal and local one. We need to stay in the area if we can. That is almost a must.” |
Good use of the word "almost" |
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sparkypark
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Joined: 05 Feb 2007
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Location: Perivale
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| DAVEf wrote: | | sparkypark wrote: | The traditional area of QPR support is a wedge going out into west and north west London from Shepherds Bush.
To move significantly out of that area would be commercially risky, as well as dragging a club from its community roots and traditions.
Arsenal knew that and found land in overcrowded north London for the Emirates, a short walk from Highbury. That's what well-run clubs do.
In terms of London and common-sense; Battersea is nowhere near Shepherds Bush. |
Any attempt at growth is always going to carry risk? And if we're hoping to have a bigger stadium and attract new fans to fill it then maybe we need to be a bit less parochial in our thinking? Surely, if the club is to grow into one that can consider itself a serious Prem club then we have to look at the whole of London as our "community" (certainly anywhere west of Oxford Circus?)?
It'd be interesting to know just how many R's fans on here can just walk out of their front door and amble along to their "local" club and how many have to make an effort with their journey to LR.  |
You obviously don't use the Central line going west after a game (to West Ruislip - not Ealing Broadway oddly)
More seriously though, I think we should be encouraging the owners to follow the Arsenal example. Any change has risk but Arsenal managed risk very well and have shown how it can be done right in terms of building a new stadium and keeping your traditional fanbase. Everybody knows them as a north London club. We are the west London club. |
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DAVEf
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Joined: 02 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| sparkypark wrote: | | DAVEf wrote: | | sparkypark wrote: | The traditional area of QPR support is a wedge going out into west and north west London from Shepherds Bush.
To move significantly out of that area would be commercially risky, as well as dragging a club from its community roots and traditions.
Arsenal knew that and found land in overcrowded north London for the Emirates, a short walk from Highbury. That's what well-run clubs do.
In terms of London and common-sense; Battersea is nowhere near Shepherds Bush. |
Any attempt at growth is always going to carry risk? And if we're hoping to have a bigger stadium and attract new fans to fill it then maybe we need to be a bit less parochial in our thinking? Surely, if the club is to grow into one that can consider itself a serious Prem club then we have to look at the whole of London as our "community" (certainly anywhere west of Oxford Circus?)?
It'd be interesting to know just how many R's fans on here can just walk out of their front door and amble along to their "local" club and how many have to make an effort with their journey to LR. |
You obviously don't use the Central line going west after a game (to West Ruislip - not Ealing Broadway oddly)
More seriously though, I think we should be encouraging the owners to follow the Arsenal example. Any change has risk but Arsenal managed risk very well and have shown how it can be done right in terms of building a new stadium and keeping your traditional fanbase. Everybody knows them as a north London club. We are the west London club. |
I usually drive east (and there is always plenty of company right through to the Blackwall tunnel). Sometimes I go SW to visit various folk and the number of R's fans living in and around Wimbledon, Kingston, Sutton etc is usually obvious too (just by watching out for shirts).
So how do you get to your definition of Arsenal as being a north London club? North of the river? Anywhere north of the river? If so, my definition of "west" being anything west of Oxford Circus is surely valid?
And let's not forget that "traditionally" a lot of our fans came from the nearer and even deepest NW and we seem to have a fairly good fan-base as far out as Watford. |
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sparkypark
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Joined: 05 Feb 2007
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Location: Perivale
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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Yes Mr f but Battersea power station would not normally be described as to the west of Oxford Circus!
I think other sites in west/NW London may well be great. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - a site near Loftus Road would be ideal because of the great public transport links (two tubelines, an Overground, the M40) and nearby pubs and restaurants. Being close to Westfield would be a benefit too as Philip Beard is looking to use the new stadium for a range of entertainment uses. It is an accessible place, in an improving area, not far from central London for concerts and so on.
It is an ideal area to develop a larger stadium if a deal can be done. If it can't be done there, so be it. |
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DAVEf
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Joined: 02 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| sparkypark wrote: | Yes Mr f but Battersea power station would not normally be described as to the west of Oxford Circus!
I think other sites in west/NW London may well be great. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - a site near Loftus Road would be ideal because of the great public transport links (two tubelines, an Overground, the M40) and nearby pubs and restaurants. Being close to Westfield would be a benefit too as Philip Beard is looking to use the new stadium for a range of entertainment uses. It is an accessible place, in an improving area, not far from central London for concerts and so on.
It is an ideal area to develop a larger stadium if a deal can be done. If it can't be done there, so be it. |
I'm only arguing that we are a London club based in West London (even though a great many of our fans and the potential fans we wish to attract don't live near to Shepherds Bush) but we are a London club and should be aware of that.
I wouldn't want to move to Battersea (even it's only just over the river) but the fact that Abramovich failed to get it says a lot about how much in demand any decent site in London is going to be so insisting on W12 or very near is perhaps a bit over-hopeful?
And let's not forget, even with (perhaps because there are) three Prem clubs in the borough, H&FBC are a long way from being the most football-helpful council in the land. |
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