Time to think about a new stadium?

[davidatpreston]

Does anyone still think we need a smaller 10-12k capacity ground?? :D

 

If it could be like the Rotherham New York stadium, with steep sides, loads of atmosphere and modern facilities, yes.

Before the wailing starts, how many times in the last 12 years would 12,000 capacity not be enough ?

Our home record would be much better over several seasons if what we have going for us away from home at better, more compact and atmospheric stadia could be replicated at Vale Park.

Totally academic though, we won't be moving anyhwere. But if VP could be developed to get one or more stands nearer the pitch and steeper sided then even if we lost a bit of capacity, it would be well worth it.

[TheJoker]

Before the wailing starts, how many times in the last 12 years would 12,000 capacity not be enough ?

 

Why just the last 12 years? They have been amongst the worst in our history...

 

Why not 12 days ago?

 

The Burton crowd with a bigger away following for instance would not have been facilitated in a 10 or 12 thousand stadium. The game on Saturday looks to be even bigger. We are in the basement division. If we can make it back to the championship under the boys Wildes and Smurf then Vale Park as it is would not be big enough now.

[davidatpreston]

I think Vale Park has reasonable atmosphere .

 

Compared to the moon maybe, for about 17 home games each season, then yes it does.

It was great when we played Shrewsbury in front of 8500 or so two and a half years ago, and the Burton game will be the stuff of legends. The 40 or so home matches in between probably had 3 or 4 where the atmosphere was anywhere like that created at most Vale away games.

[davidatpreston]

Why just the last 12 years? They have been amongst the worst in our history...

 

Why not 12 days ago?

 

The Burton crowd with a bigger away following for instance would not have been facilitated in a 10 or 12 thousand stadium. The game on Saturday looks to be even bigger. We are in the basement division. If we can make it back to the championship under the boys Wildes and Smurf then Vale Park as it is would not be big enough now.

 

 

Go back and look at the 90s crowds in what was then the Championship. The 4500 gates when we played less attractive teams, I remember it well. 5000 for the 4-4 draw with QPR. Less than 10,000 for the last home derby against Stoke.

The problem is that you see this as an attack on Vale - it isn't. It is an attempt to be realistic and honest, and I think Smurf and Wildes have done great in promoting bigger crowds so far. The average gate is the marker though, not the Burton £9 entry games or this upcoming Northampton game.

To say that Vale Park would not be big enough if we were in the Championship is pure fantasy - in about 10 years of home league games at that level, and excluding games v Stoke, how many times was the home gate over 15,000 ?

If there were one or two games a season where there was a lockout - so what ?

It was this sort of looney logic that Bill Bell had when he spent a fortune on developing Lorne St and gave us an unfinished relic and administration, when he could have built a smaller, single decker stand and given Rudgie back more of the transfer fees he brought in to keep us in the Championship.

[Bycarsbill]

What a ridiculous thread! This time last year we were in administration and wondering if the club would survive. Now, suddenly, a new stadium seems to be required--I wish some people would think back, get real and have some sense of objectivity!! Let the new owners sort out the business side of the club so that the manager can have the funding to build on-pitch and then a successful side will build its own following and atmosphere.

[Santa]

Hopefully now people will remember why we had a 20 odd thousand capacity stadium in the first place.

 

In the 90s there were always enough big-ish games and/or big away followings (Stoke, Wolves, Albion, Blues, the odd FA Cup tie) to justify a the size of the ground we had.

[IDF]

No need for a new stadium. Just finish the Lorne street off to give an extra 2k seats for home fans.(this could also be used as an overspill for away fans if the demand was there, similar to what the club used to do when we played Sjoke, wolves etc). 16k seats for home fans would be more than adequate for the foreseeable future. You can count on 2 hands how many times we have filled home sections over the last 20 or so years

[TheJoker]

Go back and look at the 90s crowds in what was then the Championship. The 4500 gates when we played less attractive teams, I remember it well. 5000 for the 4-4 draw with QPR. Less than 10,000 for the last home derby against Stoke.

 

People are quick to quote these "stats" from the 90s, what did you think about the 14k we got against Arsenal?

[MrSmithPVFC]

People are quick to quote these "stats" from the 90s, what did you think about the 14k we got against Arsenal?

 

Don't forget to allow for Mr Bells abacus.

 

This game was reported as only 10k:

 

 

and the away end (4500) was full.

[andy jones]

I was on the open Hamil End when we had 49,000 for Villa and 42,000 v Liverpool.

 

Fans make atmosphere not the ground.

[fraggle]

I was on the open Hamil End when we had 49,000 for Villa and 42,000 v Liverpool.

 

Fans make atmosphere not the ground.

 

Agreed, united is a good example of that at times...

[cheshirevaliant]

Hopefully now people will remember why we had a 20 odd thousand capacity stadium in the first place.

 

In the 90s there were always enough big-ish games and/or big away followings (Stoke, Wolves, Albion, Blues, the odd FA Cup tie) to justify a the size of the ground we had.

 

Agree with this. VP is a brilliant ground when there are people in there (Shrews 2010, Burton last week). The problem is consistently attracting people into the ground, not the ground itself.

[bycars bootboy]

Look at evidence when most clubs move crowds increase. why is it only vales fans that panic about the idea of having a new modern stadium with great facilaties, that's what holds the club back the lack of ambition or hope with vales fans. There is alot of poor facilaties that will always stop fans from being interested. The new owners will soon find that it will be easier to build a new stadium that modernise vale park and whether we like it or not its their choice if we move. Vale park has been a problem for port vale since its building and infact there has never been a finished stadium even the two previous lorne stret stands were unfinished.

Your right about one thing.When vale moved to a new ground their first game pulled in 30.000. Ultimately its the standard of football that brings in the crowds.Thought - less than one in ten of the combined population of stoke on trent and newcastle attend either stoke or Vale.As has been already stated 'build it and they will come'

[DeanPVFC]

What a ridiculous thread! This time last year we were in administration and wondering if the club would survive. Now, suddenly, a new stadium seems to be required--I wish some people would think back, get real and have some sense of objectivity!! Let the new owners sort out the business side of the club so that the manager can have the funding to build on-pitch and then a successful side will build its own following and atmosphere.

 

were Rotherham not in adminstration not so long ago???

[Coskickabo]

The facilities in the rAilway and paddock are non league. The stand is too far from the pitch..and the ground is too big for what we need. The atmos today was awful.

 

I'd move tomorrow. 12k capacity..all corners filled in. Perhaps not running out of hot drinks at half time too is a novel idea.

 

The pubs in burslem are not our concern.

 

I disagree. A couple of drinks before the game is part of the match day experience and supports the local economy. If we ever moved to a new ground it would probably be located in some remote area away from the town centre and the drinking opportunities it provides. Imagine being located in areas like Greenhous Meadow or the Kassam Stadium. Drinking wastelands!!