That was my first and hopefully last visit to the Brewery Field.
I have to commend the atmosphere which was excellent but the facilities are poor, the seats are very low and the view from the Stand is not great as the pillars are in the way as were the Dugouts and TV Camera stand meaning I could hardly see action of the action in the 5 metre channel. I was sat in Block E, one of the central blocks and there were no disabled facilities that I could see.
Maybe if I hadn't become accustomed to the great view and padded seats at the .com, it would not have been so bad.
Given that Booth in his press conference said they want training facilities offices and stadium on same site and Bradley said at the talk that the Brewery did not have room for this and there was not great scope for off field income not sure I would pay much attention to some random poster.
LinkedIn and Y11 show Y11 and A1 etc both concurrent “ -To present” , however given the lack of information flow prior to Lance joining , it may well be a delay in updating web info
He is actually the commissioner of the Australian Professional Leagues (soccer) and nothing to do with Y11. "He will lead APL with James Rushton, MD of KEEPUP. He remains responsible for developing and enhancing the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Liberty A-League Women, A-League Youth and E-League competitions, and for managing league operations and commercial outcomes."
I think we have now gone beyond debate until Bradley tells us what his thoughts might be. Thinking "if this then that and definitely not the other" will just tie us in psychic knots and set ourselves up for anguish. Bradley has the job and it isn't easy but we have no choice but to trust him.
I can't buy a season right now for carer reasons Jason knows about so it might be easy for me to say but we need to "hand it over".
Disaster in the making if the O's move to Bridgend and if they don't already know this then due diligence has not been carried out. The area has never supported their own rugby teams adequately, neither at club level nor regionally. One interesting factor is that the region that was origianlly placed there drew little support from the town they were thrown into bed with and Ponty is a generally well supported club. Difficult one this folks with no easy answers. A new ground at Llandarcy would alienate few as it's geographically neutral but comes with it's own set of problems.
Whilst Llandarcy is the "best" geographical location in the middle of the region, I think it is the most unlikely of the potential options given the lack of local pubs and restaurants in the local vicinity. However what I think will not influence the decision which will ultimately come down to the money.
I don't know about the attendances at Club games, but for Regional games the attendances were very comparable to all the other Regions in the season the Celtic Warriors were in existence, admittedly their figures were dramatically boosted by 1 game, when they played Wasps at the BF, 1 week after beating them away. The primary reason for the demise of the CW was the fact that Pontypridd supporters wouldn't come to Bridgend and vice versa.
There's a very well used phrase in Development of Industries in the UK, Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY), but what is happening here and it happened in the Celtic Warriors example is (OIMBY) Only In My Back Yard, as Jason said there are people that support the Ospreys WHEREVER they play I'm one of those, and as long as my Health is strong enough and I can get there I'll support the Ospreys whichever ground is selected.
Does anybody know the general consensus with current ST holders if the BF is the preferred choice. I don't think I will be buying a ST after next season if they do move there, travelling that far is not a realistic option for me. People I have spoken to feel the same. I support the Ospreys because they are my local team. I would be interested in people's views on renewing tickets if the BF is the destination
he said by postcode the room was 50% Swansea 10% Neath 10% Bridgend 30% other. As Paul says those figures may well be corrupted as post codes are where people live not necessarily where the allegiance lies
Many years ago we did a poll of people entering the liberty, one of the questions is where they were from. Around 30% were from outside Swansea, NPT .... and they weren't Dragons fans ( the tema we were playing at the time ), I was surprised by the number of people who travelled a fair distance each game. Of cours,e this was over 10 years ago and many many things have changed since then.
So some really interesting points brought to our attention in the Q&A.
New, basically plastic pitch wherever we locate to, that offsets any complaint about BF but I'm not overjoyed with us playing on a trampoline.
The comments about there being at least 2 other venues other than the 3 already mentioned, and neither of them the Aberavon location. Could Llandarcy be one of them?
The talk about Business Plans for a 5 year cycle for all of the possible sites, with the POSSIBILITY of some revenue from our owners, but mainly from loans through the BP.
The vision of having our training headquarters right next to our Stadium as he pushed through at Gloucester IMO rules out BF and the Gnoll. I'm not too disappointed about either of those not being our new venue
Much of what was presented we already knew about, and we had to endure some trash from a Neath lover, and right at the end from a Aberavon fan, both were slapped down IMO by Lance.
I was encouraged by his knowledge of the facts, even though he's hardly been here anytime, there must have been loads of other stuff that I've missed out on, would be good to have input.
We won’t take on anything we don’t end up with freehold or a 100 year lease. We won’t spend any money on a stadium unless there are clear and decent off field non match day revenues that can be projected. Bridgend do not own BF they have a lease but don’t know how long it is for. St Helens is part owned by council and part owned by Swansea rfc being the clubhouse and I believe the banking down to pitchside. Their freehold is pledged as security for loans made to them by Davies and James I think Neath may own the clubhouse and council the rest. It was the spending of 400k on the clubhouse that caused the turn of the century insolvency and the Gower park saga which create the debt that hurt their EDC license application.
"If we can I would like to be out by the end of next season," said Bradley.
"The sooner we do that the sooner we can start to raise the revenue and create the atmosphere.
"That means making an announcement hopefully within the next six months. That does not necessarily mean the stadium would be finished by that time. The options we are looking at can all be done in phases."
He has indicated the Ospreys' next home will be an existing stadium rather than a new build.
"The cost of building one will likely preclude any new sites, so it's more likely to be an existing stadium we develop somehow.
"I expect we will move in somewhere with the facilities how they are and progress it over a period.
So within this topic it can't be in the CF Postcode area, it has to be in the SA Postcode area but can't be in Neath even though it's where we train and prepare for all our games and from 2 different sources one of which posts on here there is plenty of room for what is being proposed. Apart from foreigners that we've signed, many of our greatest players born within Ospreylia have been from outside of the SA postcode.
The plague of many new developments within the UK is the nimbies (Not In My Backyard) this is the opposite, and I'm not even advocating anything within my area.
I would prefer a new stadium at Llandarcy due to the horrendous traffic coming in to Swansea from Fabian way to past the new arena.
StHekens has lots of land to develop the things that Lance alludes to in the article plus two of the major investors own the clubhouse plus the terracing below the clubhouse which the might donate to the Ospreys to hold upstairs/balcony hospitality and 7 days a week conferencing etc.
Plus there's land for student accommodation ti be developed and a training base with possible indoor barn on the ground if they move the cricket to Ashleigh road.
“We want to talk to potential local business partners from across the area to see what they think.
“Then there’s other more practical things. It’s unlikely we will be able to run the club just on match-day income, so we need to have a facility that allows for non-match day income and that can mean conferencing, maybe some retail on the site.
“Then we need to see which option the sums add up in best.
“There is no deadline, but I expect it will be some time in March that we will be able to say.”
In terms of size, Bradley reveals: “Initially, we are probably going to look for a capacity of about 6,000 because what I would like to do is sell out quite often."
“What we are planning is for the stadium to be constructed in a way where we can add to it."
“In terms of whether that will be all-seated or a mix of seating and standing, we are asking fans what they want."
If we do announce in March or even April, I think it will be a positive thing and we can start planning for the future.
In Swansea, Wales' 2nd city with access to the largest population in the whole of Ospreylia
for me this is the biggy. With the WRU changing their mind like the weather its important that we don't move away from Walkes second city. If there is a reduction in teams in the future we need to future proof ourselvces by being in the population base. If we move to Neath or Bridgend then our agumnets for beong one of thge remaining teams will be dimished. Plus pro rugby is now almost entirely based in cities.
What are the pros and cons of the three current rugby venues that everyone seems to think are the front runners in the hunt for our new stadium? I don't think that the Ospreys will be able to go out and buy land and build a spanking new stadium on it so the most likely option could well be a facelift/revamp of the current stadia out there already. This list of what I think are the pros and cons is by no means definitive and can be added to or edited.
Added in Llandarcy as an option.
I will start with the closest to the .com stadium - St Helens
Pros -
In Swansea, Wales' 2nd city with access to the largest population in the whole of Ospreylia
Stunning location
Plenty of space
Founder club of the Ospreys/Swansea RFC has plenty of history
Cons
Not a huge amount of car-parking nearby
Quite a distance from the train station
Oystermouth Road is very busy at most times of the day
Glamorgan Cricket
The Gnoll
Pros -
Has good road and rail links
Have seen some existing plans to re-develop the Gnoll that could be used
Founder club of the Ospreys/Neath RFC has lots of history
Car parking close
Cons
Small town - not in a city (Swansea)
Cricket Club
Percieved bad relationship with the Ospreys (real or not I do not know)
The Brewery Field
Pros -
Held sell out games before
Seemingly good atmosphere
Good transport links
Car parking
Cons
Small town - not in a city (Swansea)
Did not support the Warriors first time around
Not a founder club of the Ospreys
Llandarcy
Pros
Has excellent access to the M4
Training base already established there
Link up with NPTCC and Neath College
Cons
Not close to nearest train station (Skewen or Neath)
Expensive to buy land and build new stadium
Not much around there in terms of retail and bars/pubs etc
Im sorry Jason but being a founder member or not is irrelevant to me, It's the here and now that's important and as for the gates, the Celtic Warriors was very similar to the Ospreys in it's founding year, it's not a seemingly good atmosphere just look at what Lance had to say on it, and I'm not advocating going to the BF.
Near the entrance to the Gnoll Cricket ground my Brother in Law fell because of the terrible lighting the last time we played there and like the other 2 the disabled facilities are terrible, I think Lance is alluding towards Llandarcy or somewhere close by, at least I hope so, and I would willingly move to there.
A very well known Osprey supporter with links to Swansea but doesn't live there anymore said if we went to ST. Helens without extensive work done he wouldn't renew, imagine sitting on the Bank below the Cricket clubhouse in the weather that occured around the Bridgend area on NYD, it would be horrendous.
I know some of our directors have links to SH, but they don't own it, I know BCBC own the BF and I don't think we have any financial interest in the Gnoll
So to finish none of the 3 you mention would appeal to me without extensive work being done and would we have the money or inclination to do it.
Wayne, it was not easy writing pros and cons for grounds that I been to once before (Gnoll) and not yet (Brewery Field) but they were what I thought of in the moment.
Whatever and wherever the Opsreys do end up doing and going will not please 100% of the fan base.
There is extensive work to be done at all three of the existing grounds, not least of which will be making all areas covered given our lovely weather for most of the year.
As you know, I am disabled and I have emailed Lance to ask how will whatever happens affect disabled suppporters and it is something he is going to look into.
If anyone is unable to attend the Ospreys v Ulster match and therefore not attend the Q&A with Lance, please ask your questions in here and I will do my best to see that he gets to see them.
Q. What is the possibility of Ospreys TV providing coverage or extended highlights at a cost after games that are not broadcast? Is there not some sort of revenue stream available there?
That was my first and hopefully last visit to the Brewery Field.
I have to commend the atmosphere which was excellent but the facilities are poor, the seats are very low and the view from the Stand is not great as the pillars are in the way as were the Dugouts and TV Camera stand meaning I could hardly see action of the action in the 5 metre channel. I was sat in Block E, one of the central blocks and there were no disabled facilities that I could see.
Maybe if I hadn't become accustomed to the great view and padded seats at the .com, it would not have been so bad.
Someone on Gwlad saying that hes been told that its the Brewery Field................ I sincerely hope not.
Reply Showmaster
LinkedIn and Y11 show Y11 and A1 etc both concurrent “ -To present” , however given the lack of information flow prior to Lance joining , it may well be a delay in updating web info
Showmaster
His LinkedIn and Y11 company details refers
Reply to Fiddler
You are absolutely correct , little too much MCallen addled the brain last night
I think any support gained in Bridgend will be lost in swansea and npt. So they won't be any further down the road regarding match ticket sales
I think we have now gone beyond debate until Bradley tells us what his thoughts might be. Thinking "if this then that and definitely not the other" will just tie us in psychic knots and set ourselves up for anguish. Bradley has the job and it isn't easy but we have no choice but to trust him.
I can't buy a season right now for carer reasons Jason knows about so it might be easy for me to say but we need to "hand it over".
Disaster in the making if the O's move to Bridgend and if they don't already know this then due diligence has not been carried out. The area has never supported their own rugby teams adequately, neither at club level nor regionally. One interesting factor is that the region that was origianlly placed there drew little support from the town they were thrown into bed with and Ponty is a generally well supported club. Difficult one this folks with no easy answers. A new ground at Llandarcy would alienate few as it's geographically neutral but comes with it's own set of problems.
Does anybody know the general consensus with current ST holders if the BF is the preferred choice. I don't think I will be buying a ST after next season if they do move there, travelling that far is not a realistic option for me. People I have spoken to feel the same. I support the Ospreys because they are my local team. I would be interested in people's views on renewing tickets if the BF is the destination
So some really interesting points brought to our attention in the Q&A.
New, basically plastic pitch wherever we locate to, that offsets any complaint about BF but I'm not overjoyed with us playing on a trampoline.
The comments about there being at least 2 other venues other than the 3 already mentioned, and neither of them the Aberavon location. Could Llandarcy be one of them?
The talk about Business Plans for a 5 year cycle for all of the possible sites, with the POSSIBILITY of some revenue from our owners, but mainly from loans through the BP.
The vision of having our training headquarters right next to our Stadium as he pushed through at Gloucester IMO rules out BF and the Gnoll. I'm not too disappointed about either of those not being our new venue
Much of what was presented we already knew about, and we had to endure some trash from a Neath lover, and right at the end from a Aberavon fan, both were slapped down IMO by Lance.
I was encouraged by his knowledge of the facts, even though he's hardly been here anytime, there must have been loads of other stuff that I've missed out on, would be good to have input.
Thanks Wayne
Some of the key points from Lance on the BBC - Ospreys: Welsh side hope to be in new stadium for 2025-26 season - BBC Sport
"If we can I would like to be out by the end of next season," said Bradley.
"The sooner we do that the sooner we can start to raise the revenue and create the atmosphere.
"That means making an announcement hopefully within the next six months. That does not necessarily mean the stadium would be finished by that time. The options we are looking at can all be done in phases."
He has indicated the Ospreys' next home will be an existing stadium rather than a new build.
"The cost of building one will likely preclude any new sites, so it's more likely to be an existing stadium we develop somehow.
"I expect we will move in somewhere with the facilities how they are and progress it over a period.
So within this topic it can't be in the CF Postcode area, it has to be in the SA Postcode area but can't be in Neath even though it's where we train and prepare for all our games and from 2 different sources one of which posts on here there is plenty of room for what is being proposed. Apart from foreigners that we've signed, many of our greatest players born within Ospreylia have been from outside of the SA postcode.
The plague of many new developments within the UK is the nimbies (Not In My Backyard) this is the opposite, and I'm not even advocating anything within my area.
I'm not even angry I'm just sad
Come on then, let's have a poll of where we would like the new stadium to be..
Where should the new stadium be?
Revamped St Helens
Revamped Gnoll
Revamped Brewery Field
New site at Llandarcy
Personally I think St Helens is nailed on.
I would prefer a new stadium at Llandarcy due to the horrendous traffic coming in to Swansea from Fabian way to past the new arena.
StHekens has lots of land to develop the things that Lance alludes to in the article plus two of the major investors own the clubhouse plus the terracing below the clubhouse which the might donate to the Ospreys to hold upstairs/balcony hospitality and 7 days a week conferencing etc.
Plus there's land for student accommodation ti be developed and a training base with possible indoor barn on the ground if they move the cricket to Ashleigh road.
Here is an interview with Lance on RugbyPass - 'There is no deadline, but I expect it will be some time in March' (rugbypass.com)
Some of the key points from the article -
“We want to talk to potential local business partners from across the area to see what they think.
“Then there’s other more practical things. It’s unlikely we will be able to run the club just on match-day income, so we need to have a facility that allows for non-match day income and that can mean conferencing, maybe some retail on the site.
“Then we need to see which option the sums add up in best.
“There is no deadline, but I expect it will be some time in March that we will be able to say.”
In terms of size, Bradley reveals: “Initially, we are probably going to look for a capacity of about 6,000 because what I would like to do is sell out quite often."
“What we are planning is for the stadium to be constructed in a way where we can add to it."
“In terms of whether that will be all-seated or a mix of seating and standing, we are asking fans what they want."
If we do announce in March or even April, I think it will be a positive thing and we can start planning for the future.
In Swansea, Wales' 2nd city with access to the largest population in the whole of Ospreylia
for me this is the biggy. With the WRU changing their mind like the weather its important that we don't move away from Walkes second city. If there is a reduction in teams in the future we need to future proof ourselvces by being in the population base. If we move to Neath or Bridgend then our agumnets for beong one of thge remaining teams will be dimished. Plus pro rugby is now almost entirely based in cities.
What are the pros and cons of the three current rugby venues that everyone seems to think are the front runners in the hunt for our new stadium? I don't think that the Ospreys will be able to go out and buy land and build a spanking new stadium on it so the most likely option could well be a facelift/revamp of the current stadia out there already. This list of what I think are the pros and cons is by no means definitive and can be added to or edited.
Added in Llandarcy as an option.
I will start with the closest to the .com stadium - St Helens
Pros -
In Swansea, Wales' 2nd city with access to the largest population in the whole of Ospreylia
Stunning location
Plenty of space
Founder club of the Ospreys/Swansea RFC has plenty of history
Cons
Not a huge amount of car-parking nearby
Quite a distance from the train station
Oystermouth Road is very busy at most times of the day
Glamorgan Cricket
The Gnoll
Pros -
Has good road and rail links
Have seen some existing plans to re-develop the Gnoll that could be used
Founder club of the Ospreys/Neath RFC has lots of history
Car parking close
Cons
Small town - not in a city (Swansea)
Cricket Club
Percieved bad relationship with the Ospreys (real or not I do not know)
The Brewery Field
Pros -
Held sell out games before
Seemingly good atmosphere
Good transport links
Car parking
Cons
Small town - not in a city (Swansea)
Did not support the Warriors first time around
Not a founder club of the Ospreys
Llandarcy
Pros
Has excellent access to the M4
Training base already established there
Link up with NPTCC and Neath College
Cons
Not close to nearest train station (Skewen or Neath)
Expensive to buy land and build new stadium
Not much around there in terms of retail and bars/pubs etc
Discuss...
Please can all new stadium posts be posted in here - thanks.
If anyone is unable to attend the Ospreys v Ulster match and therefore not attend the Q&A with Lance, please ask your questions in here and I will do my best to see that he gets to see them.
Recieved a vey nice email from Scott Otten requesting views upon new stadium and have responded
Understand you have to be registered on the database