Bristol Sport company set up to run Bristol City and Bristol Rugby
A new company has been set up to run both Bristol City Football Club and Bristol Rugby Club.
Steve Lansdown - majority shareholder in Bristol City who recently took on ownership of Bristol Rugby - has formed the company, called Bristol Sport Limited (BSL).
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Steve Lansdown
BSL has been formed to oversee the financial and business management of both clubs.
The company will be chaired by Martin Griffiths, who will be supported by directors Keith Dawe, Chris Booy and Jon Lansdown.
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Mr Lansdown took on the ownership of Bristol Rugby in February 2012.
He previously spent nine years as chairman of Bristol City, became their director in 1997 and chairman in 2002. In May 2011, he stepped down from but remains the club’s majority shareholder.
He said: “I said at the time of the acquisition there was a great synergy between the two clubs and that I intended for them to work closely together.
“When Martin (Griffiths) said he would come on board I was delighted as it gave the company an independent business-focused leader, which is just what we need to develop the commercial opportunities and to keep a strong grip on the finances.”
Keith Dawe (Bristol City chairman) and Jon Lansdown (managing director) will concentrate on looking after the football side of the business, while Chris Booy (Bristol Rugby chairman) will do the same on the rugby side.
Griffiths, a long-time Bristol resident, has been informally involved since March in reorganisation work at Ashton Gate and assisting in a review of the club’s strategy.
He said: “It is a real pleasure to have the opportunity to work with such a wide range of talented and motivated people. Both clubs have strong aspirations and combining the two in this way is an exciting development for Bristol and the West Country as a whole.”
Mr Booy added: “As a born and bred Bristolian and a lifelong supporter of both Bristol City and Bristol Rugby, I am delighted to be asked to help and support the development of both clubs.
“A strong financial and business base is the foundation for both clubs’ future success. Bristol Rugby Club has signed a number of Premiership-quality players since the start of the year to substantially strengthen our squad. This continues our ongoing development with a view to securing our place back in the Aviva Premiership.”
Having taken over as chairman of Bristol City in May, Dawe has been actively overseeing the club’s transfer activity during the summer.
He said: “The football landscape is changing quickly with the new Financial Fair Play rules being a particular agent of change.
“The club is investing heavily in its playing staff, Academy and Community activities with a view to meeting and making the most of those changes.”
Comments
by Frankclack
Friday, September 28 2012, 9:38PM
“If financial profit equalled success on the playing field then this move is to be welcomed.
Unfortunately, the two do not always go together.
I, and most other lovers of sport, want to see successful teams in Bristol. Financially, if they break even, then fine! If they make a profit, even better (until the foreign investors come a'calling).
But if Bristol City and Bristol Rugby can each make more money in the First Division and the Championship respectively than they would in the Premier Leagues, what would that mean for the paying customers?
Like it or lump it, I'm afraid.
BinRelegated cites Barcelona as an example of how such a move could be advantageous.
Er, sorry. This is Bristol we're talking about. City of the "Bristol Pound".
To make a success of what SL has in mind calls for massive investment over a short period. If this is being thought of as a ten or fifteen year softly, softly plan, then forget it.
Jam spread thinly tastes like bread and butter.
I have great respect for SL as a businessman, and am grateful for what he has done for Bristol City, but I fear that this is a step too far with little chance of success (at least for the "plebs").”
by Roversteve
Friday, September 28 2012, 8:13PM
“Piledriver,no problem for Rovers they haven't factored the Rugby Club into the stadium build,at the moment at the Mem'the rugby give about 100K per year rent which is pocket money that I'm sure will be missed but in the greater scheme of things it's peanuts.The rugby have been invited to join Rovers IF the stadium comes to fruition but The Gas are by no means dependent on them joining and providing any serious finance,unless, Steve Lansdown has other ideas???”
by FromMendip
Friday, September 28 2012, 6:58PM
“"It's obviously going to be a problem for Rovers if they've factored Rugby income into the new stadium which, if it depends on Sainsburys' building at the Mem, is at least three years away."
If that is the case it will be built before Ashton Vale, and I write as a City supporter.”
by piledriver
Friday, September 28 2012, 5:32PM
“@ Braap:
As soon as City's new stadium is ready then City & BRFC will share the pitch.It's highly unlikely that SL will own a ground and pay rent at another for Rugby.
Modern pitches can take both games without to much pain being suffered.
It's obviously going to be a problem for Rovers if they've factored Rugby income into the new stadium which, if it depends on Sainsburys' building at the Mem, is at least three years away.”
by Preder
Friday, September 28 2012, 4:17PM
“'As i always look at things in a positive manner' - R/S, stop it.
My fear in all this is Rugby at AG. Know all about a surface that's ok for Football and Rugby in other grounds but I just don't buy it.
If the egg chasers had played this week AG after recent deluges then God help us and we're not even in October yet.
I dread Rugby at AG.”
by BinRelegated
Friday, September 28 2012, 1:58PM
“As i always look at things in a positive manner I believe that this could be the start of good things to come.
It may be beneficial to our football club and indeed the city in general if we amalgamate a number of sports clubs in the city in the same way they do on the contintent such as Barcelona for example. Who knows, in the future we may see a Bristol City hockey team, running club, rugby league team, athletics side etc etc. This will bring improved facilities and be financially beneficial for the teams involved in such a group set up.
It wil certainly be interesting to see how this develops but it should help give us a stable financial footing to move forward.
Up the City Indeed!”
by ARBIE0489
Friday, September 28 2012, 11:06AM
“Providing the Bristlol City Council play ball and sensibly grant Sainsburys permission to erect the proposed superstore on the current Memorial Stadium, the evolvement of BSL will presumably mean that the pitch at the new UWE Stadium, will NOT be churned up by rugby matches. The current pitch at the Filton Avenue ground was very badly damaged during very wet weather last season and looked like a ploughed field. True, the loss of revenue from BFC will be a pity, but al least Rovers will have an excellent playing surface, this is of course assuming that the new Stadium at Filton is built.
UTG.”
by foxxy_tom
Friday, September 28 2012, 9:59AM
“Who are these Premiership quality players Bristol rugby have signed? Certainly yet to see them!”
by Braap
Friday, September 28 2012, 9:36AM
“How long until Bristol RFC will have a new home ground in Ashton!!!”