There were 5.5k away supporters at Preston last night and yes it was a local derby but with that capacity it gives Preston a big financial advantage over us. With the possibility of Newcastle, Sunderland villa, Wednesday, Leeds, Derby, Barnsley etc all wanting 2-3 times their allocation I wonder when the expansion repayments cost less than the away receipts and we therefore improve our income. I'm sure it would do next season add to that the increased money from the football league is it time to expand? Of course next season is only the start of the repayments and should we go down are we left with big debts and a third empty stadium. Stick or twist?
-- Edited by Fliker on Saturday 23rd of April 2016 08:49:40 AM
Stick or twist is right. My thoughts are to give it a couple more seasons and see what happens.
We've survived two years in the Championship by the skin of our teeth and there is no certainty for next year as things stand. I'd like to see some stability on the field before we shell out on extending the capacity. I do understand the logic of expanding sooner rather than later but I'm a bit of a glass half empty type, and never one to take financial risks. I'd like to see the G&C development start moving and the empty units at NYS coming on stream before we take that step
I probably have to agree with Towdlad. However , I will let Tony do the math. I trust him to make the right decision given he knows the financial situation.
Where I live there are 2 local leisure centres who both spent a lot of money last year in upgrades. One is so busy it's hard to get in for many things and the other is like a ghost town. They are a mile apart. The difference is the way it is run and the services it offers. The ghost one is real quality but it hasn't tapped in to what the majority want
Money may not be the sole determinant of success on the field but it helps. If we are to establish ourselves as a steady Championship club we need additional income streams. What might they be? Non-football activities (G&C development) is one. I imagine the delays there have driven Tony S mad. Selling players for big money is another, but there is no immediate sign of that. TV money is going up, but then it is for all our rivals too. The final one is to increase the match day take. As sure as eggs are eggs, Tony S will have done his homework and will have modelled how much additional revenue an extra 4000 capacity would generate compared to how much it would cost to do it. I am certain at least half of the extra capacity would be capable of being given over to big away followings. I don't think this will be a difficult decision. It will be a calculated business decision of the kind that Tony S is good at. I don't know the numbers so can't say whether we should increase the capacity or not, but he will and I trust him to get it right.
