Bristol Rovers to stay as stadium is developed
Bristol Rovers have scrapped plans to move out of the Memorial Stadium while it is developed.
The club said today that the work will start next year.
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Bristol Rovers to stay as stadium is developed
Bristol Rovers said today that following a 're-appraisal' of the scheme, the club felt it could stay in Bristol and build a new stadium at the same time.
It means the players will not have to temporarily move to Cheltenham, and Bristol Rugby - who also play at the Memorial Stadium - will not have to play their home games in Wales.
In June Rovers put plans for a £35 million redevelopment of the Memorial Stadium on hold for a year.
Club directors took the decision after it emerged one of its main developers had pulled out because of the ‘credit crunch’.
Opal Property Group, the Manchester-based developer, blamed the global credit crunch for its 11th-hour decision to pull out of the deal to build and manage the student accommodation attached to the stadium.
Work had been due to start over the summer.
The club said today: "Since we announced the delay in the stadium project in June we have been re-appraising the scheme. This is mainly in the light of the effects of the current credit crunch and the on- going financial climate.
"We are very pleased to announce that through the careful re-design and phasing of the construction of the project we will be able to stay at the Memorial Stadium throughout the construction process.
"To allow this to happen we have redesigned the foundations, steel frame and pre-cast concrete frame to accommodate the phasing of the construction.
"During the works we will maintain a minimum capacity of 8,500 at all times, and within certain phases, that will increase to over 10,000.
"We will be able to maintain the majority of the corporate and spectator facilities during phase one and replacement facilities will come on line during phase two.
"This approach will retain much needed income for the club during construction and accommodate our corporate partners and fans on match days.
"Bristol Rugby have been made aware of these proposals."
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by Laughing Gas, Bristol
Friday, October 24 2008, 9:09AM
“Oh dear, more of the same. There IS no other copmapny signed up to provide the superfluous student flats, there IS not taker for the hotel. The latest 'tweaks' will mean another expensive planning application. This was Higgsy trying to calm the jitters (well-founded) of their rugby partners, who may be looking elsewhere, and the increasingly savvy fans, who know a fairy tale when they see one!”
by Steve, Hanham
Friday, October 24 2008, 7:55AM
“Welcome to another "Pie in the Sky" Day in Cloud Cuckoo Land gas fans! Yes, plans are in place again, but without funding that's all they will be-PLANS! Who is going to pay- that's what you should be asking.”
by from Horfield, Bristol,
Thursday, October 23 2008, 7:31PM
“Follow Dan from Downend's advice and look at the Rovers site. We can all make plans to redesign our houses and get permission to have extensions. Whether we have the money to go through with it is another thing. Clearly Rovers don't have the cash and are unlikely to get it. A load of hot air - or is that gas?”
by mike, bristol
Thursday, October 23 2008, 7:27PM
“exatctly gary, so you dont want the student accomadation then or the flats?
same here if im honest with you.
its nice to hear some who will donate money to the club if you won the lottery, also same as me.;)”
by Gary, Stapleton
Thursday, October 23 2008, 7:11PM
“Mike (as opposed to 'mike' -confusing) - The thing that Gloucester RFC have that Rovers don't is the multi millionaire Tom Walkinshaw providing the funding. Stadiums don't tend to be built for free (apart from Hull where the council funded it) If I win a quadruple roll over on the Euro Millions I'm sure we can get rid of the flats...”