Just to update everybody, we had great news earlier this week in that Steve has been passed fit to drive and we've renewed our ST's for next season, so you'll all have to put up with us for at least another season.
Thanks to all for the kind words, when we thought we were coming to the end of our supporting the Ospreys.
Thanks to you and Paul much appreciated, basically I've supported the Ospreys since they moved to the Liberty Stadium, and I'm really pleased to be still here on our final season at Swansea.com.
I've had great times and made some fantastic friends along the way.
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed when I saw it. It’s all the more reason to announce where we are going to if possible, as there’s going to be a lot of disgruntled people.
Edit to add: Aftrr todays announcement, if we are going ahead with the move still, the quicker it’s announced, the better, as otherwise it will just be another stick to hit us with.
I used to know and deliver training for their Managing Director of Global Seating. The really interesting bit about the New York stadium is that much of it is "second hand". Ordinary seats came from the Formula 1 Las Vegas GP with catering, VIP, toilets and other facilities re-furbed from golf and other events. When the T20 is over it will be dismantled, moved and re-erected elsewhere.
Mr Bradley can shift it onto the beach for summer and run Ironman events. 🤣
The Ospreys can confirm that they have narrowed down their search for a new home stadium to two exciting options, St Helens Sports Ground in Swansea, and the Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend.
Since Ospreys CEO, Lance Bradley, first announced that the club was planning to move to a new stadium, this topic has dominated Welsh club rugby conversations, with various theories and rumours spread around social media and the like.
After months of work and careful consideration, the Ospreys can officially confirm they are working together with local councils in exploring two potential options for a new home stadium, St Helens Sports Ground in Swansea, and the Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend. Both St Helens and the Brewery Field offer unique advantages for the future of the Ospreys.
The decision to narrow down choices to these two grounds was made after extensive discussions with stakeholders and thorough evaluations of the feasibility, accessibility, and potential for growth at each location.
Both choices would require significant redevelopments which would be phased over a number of years.
The Ospreys will remain at the Swansea.com Stadium for the 24/25 season, using this time for initial redevelopments to ensure the selected stadium is fit for purpose for the following 25/26 season.
Ospreys CEO, Lance Bradley said: “I am happy to share that we have narrowed down our decision to two fantastic grounds, each offering unique opportunities, and we are confident that either choice would be more than suitable as the Ospreys new home.
“It’s been a pleasure working with both the City and County of Swansea Council and Bridgend County Borough Council to get to this point. Both councils have really come to the party and been more than accommodating in our requests, and open to working together to ensure our new stadium is not just a suitable top-flight rugby stadium but offers further opportunities to enrich the local community.
“I look forward to being able to share our preferred option in the coming weeks and working in partnership with the relevant Council to ensure our new home becomes the hub of the community.”
Further updates regarding stadium selection will be shared in due course.
So what’s the latest? Did we expect some form of announcement today, which was canned last minute due to Knock Off Nigel displaying his legendary incompetence?
WRU 😱 lance and Funders arm shoved right up their back, trying to agree Leases and Development Agreements with Councils , and Prat Walker announces on Scrum 5 reducing number of Regions still an option
Rumour the delay due to the original backers making requests difficult for Council to accept,
Cant understand this preoccupation with a hotel , as nearly all hotels , Morgan’s is an exception, are franchised to a company , (Hilton,Sheritan , Regency etc ) who then operate the venue on a commercial basis
One can only muse the intention is that the completed building be sold on as an asset to obtain funds for the development
A conference/ hospitality unit operated by the Ospreys , as at the Swansea.com or Parc Scarlets would seem the most advantageous for supporters and long term income
All very well playing one council off against another, but if one pushes one party too far, resulting developing the remaining option which may not be the best site for the Ospreys, this would be very disappointing
I thought most councils were struggling budget wise so I am little bit confused as how Bridgend Council has allegedly found some money to help facilitate a move to the Brewery Field.
I have said throughout this, that I believe the Ospreys will be playing out of St Helens simply because of the amount of land there is around the ground for development purposes for the Training Barn and Hotel.
However, it is not me making the decision so like you all, I have to just wait and see.
If Bridgend do find money for a private company like Y11 after raising council tax by 9.5% and making £13M to £20M cuts to services they could be in deep political doodoo.
Probably on Saturday, it will be my Brother in Law (Steve) and mine final Home game of watching the Ospreys and Judgement Day the final match for both of us, due to Steve's inability to be able to drive down. For the vast majority of our Home games we will not be able to get back home for a reasonable price and at a decent time.
Anyway, after reading some of the comments on here I don't even know whether I'd want to support the Ospreys,
the OIMBY'S (Only in my back yard) amongst you sicken me, so much for the ONE TRUE REGION, it definitely doesn't apply to some of the supporters.
I personally wouldn't particularly want it to be the Brewery Field, my preference would have been Llandarcy, but if LB with all the information he's gathered opted for the BF, I would support him 100%. I've travelled 20 odd miles from the Ogmore Valley there and back in all weathers in car and on a not small number of times by Public Transport for nearly 20 years.
On the merits of the BF, if this process had been going through about 5 years ago, IMO would have been the obvious choice, for anybody that has been to the BF recently, about 50 yards from the BF, there is a very large building that curves around the corner towards the Town Centre, although it's one building there appears to be 3 parts. The 2 outer parts are single storey and the centre is 2 or possibly 3 stories. That building would have been absolutely perfect for the Ospreys. The centre part would be excellent for restaurant and conferencing facilities, with the 2 outer parts being the offices and the edge nearest the BF the indoor training facilities and the BF with it's new 4G or whatever hybrid pitch, for the outdoor training and playing on.
The only reason this site is NOT available is the fact it was built as a call centre and as that had folded, the Area that covers the Maesteg, Garw and Ogmore Valleys and surrounding areas Police Headquarters transferred there from Cheapside (Asda and other shopping outlets) a few years ago and the old Headquarters have been demolished.
Finally the travelling down to Swansea to St. Helens via the M4, Jersey Marine and the Oystermouth Road for Friday Night and Saturday Afternoon and Night would be horrendous, it's bad enough now when the Oystermouth Road is not even used, good luck with that in 16 to 18 months time.
Really finally I would love the announcement to be made on this Friday when LB meets these new local business's , as it would be a great omen for myself and Steve as it is our Birthdays that day and we could celebrate with a great win the following day against the Dregs.
Obviously disabled facilities at the BF would have to be dramatically improved and line of sight to the pitch would also have to be improved upon, as this option is not available, it will probably have to be elsewhere.
The problem is he could be hung by his own words like it does not work without significant off field income and getting training and staff all on one site has a hugely beneficial effect
Sorry to hear that, Wayne. For some people I can understand your anger with them only wanting it in their back yard, but for the majority of “sensible” fans, I don’t think it’s that. If I may use myself as an example. Bridgend is far closer to where I’m originally from, and when back in the country, the brewery would be far easier for me to get to. However, not withstanding the council trying to entice the O’s to the brewery, it would surely be commercial suicide to move there, just like the warriors found out?
Would we not also be surrendering large swathes of potential sponsors to the Turks, not withstanding the potential loss of players to them? As much as it would be far more convenient to be located in Bridgend for me, when i think about it sensibly, St Helens is the logical answer.
As alluded to above, us O’s fans have taken an absolute hammering in the past few years. I’ll not forget that feeling of going to bed one night, coming to terms with the fact that we were being absorbed (it was never going to be a merger) by the scarlets. I’m not willing to be taken down the path by the Ospreys again, and, in my honest opinion, if we decide to move to Bridgend, that process of us being”chopped” becomes incredibly likely once again. If that’s our decision, think I’ll just slip quietly away from the O’s before the inevitable happens.
I sincerely hope your Brother-in-law gets good news, and who knows maybe one time I’m back home, I’ll buy you a pint at the game (Hopefully at St Helens, with the sun shining in off the bay)!
I’m genuinely aghast that they could make such a short sighted decision. Twitter is rife stating that it’s Bridgend. I’ll wait and see, as I’m holding onto the fact that no one involved in the decision making process could make such a foolish and fundamental mistake.
Given he is presenting to 150 businesses next Friday to try and re-engage them as part of a business club I would imagine he will have to say something next week to encourage them on the back of what might be coming from the 23 the boys in blue have selected for tomorrow night.
Hope you're right Fiddler because it does seem to have gone concerningly quiet.
If the WRU decide to cut a team as part of their new strategy then we're clearly the ones on the chopping block with no stadium. I really hope we announce any new ground ASAP.
The union have no power to cut a team. They need the agreement of that team to be cut. The reality though is unless we get our own stadium with strong off field non match day revenue flows we won’t be viable. If we do then we will be more viable than most of the others. I suspect there is a big couple of weeks ahead that might answer that question and let us all know one way or the other.
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."
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.
“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?
It's surprising the amount of spare land available at the old Felindre steel works site. I believe this land is owned by Welsh Government. Apart from DPD occupying part of the site the rest remains unused. Road links are ideal and there is probably plenty of space for parking too.
The Uni has spent a fortune on sports facilities and is unlikely to be very generous now that their 4g pitch and reseeded pitches at Sketty Lane are about to open.
The land behind the old Ford plant and Amazon is environmentally protected up the Wazoo. There are two National Nature Reserves and SSSI's and the land which isn't protected is the Tir John capped landfill which also can't be touched.
Also protected. That is Crymlyn Burrows, an SSSI with a rare orchid and bought as "amenity leisure land" to protect from development. Much of the 1,000 acre site is tidal with a branch of the River Neath running parallel to the road and the coast alongside the old railway line.
The Campus was built on former industrial land owned at one time by BP though you might squeeze a site in on or alongside Ashlands playing fields off the road to Tir John.
In addition to supporters , SPONSORS MUST BE A MAJOR FACTOR
The new ground must be near Swansea , Wales second city, that we are not competing with Cardiff, be that at St Helens , the Gnoll or a new stadium in the area
My son keeps banging on about encouraging the University students ,proposing a reduced entry fee in exchange for atmosphere and " hospitality " income
To create an intimating atmosphere the playing area needs surrounding on four sides, if the present support level is in the region of 3,000 and these supporters require Liberty type seating/covering - therefore stand/s, the design needs to accommodate future expansion to say a 10/12,000 which should be our aim
I would be inclined to have three sides seating and one side standing. A bit of standing room will increase capacity. We saw at Rodney Parade with the Man U game that you can add capacity within a short time scale. For Both St Helens and the Gnoll reserving a large part for cricket to be played between April and September would hurt how you could maximise the value of the site so I am not sure either are viable if that is not addressed.
Standing room would also be useful to attract university students. Swansea has a huge student population and student housing. The university are an ideal partner.
But what if the majority of ST holders don't want to travel to Neath or Bridgend on a regular basis (assumes that the majority lives in Swansea)?
I am seeing loads of people replying to Lance's Twitter post about the new stadium and many are saying Bridgend or the Gnoll should be where it is built. What would be interesting is knowing how many of those commenting actually go to the .com stadium on a regular basis.
Exactly right but I would also add that potential growth is equally as important. Demographics mean an ageing customer base means higher quality facilities means better parking and more disabled consideration. Taken together with a relatively poor populace and a dying industrial base and it becomes a case of juggling too many balls and spinning too many plates at once.
If the business can't grow incomes from all sources; WRU, competition success, streaming, sponsorship, advertising, tickets and support services (food and beverage etc) it will fail. That is why I would prefer a green/brownfield site and a new wholly owned facility that can be used to generate event income. (Cardonnel copperworks site or Walters Road Farm?)
Sure I imagine the least influence on anything to do with the stadium will be held by the band of social media users that populate twitter. Season ticket holders and sponsors will have far more influence because they are active supporters. All you can do with passive support and potential supporter is look at the main location of population base and the business base and take the view the more people and businesses I have to sell to the more I am likely to support. Same with off field facilities. You have to assess which location with have the footfall to make use of those facilities
Difficult conundrum for the O's trying to find a new venue. Every possibility has it's drawbacks e.g. will Swansea people go to Bridgend, Aberavon supporters to The Gnoll? The recent success of the Cardiff game may not be sustainable as historically rugby in Bridgend is not well attended. Neath appears to have the best support for club rugby but there are downsides to every venue. Supporters across the region were appeased by a new/neutral venue when The Liberty was built but support has now dwindled there . Is there a clue in that the Sale game is going to Bridgend ? This will draw a decent crowd but bog standard league matches could be very poory attended there. I once went to the Brewery Field to watch a Neath/ Bridgend cup match and there were many more Neath supporters than Bridgend folk. I hope the powers that be come up with a workable solution, the new man seems very clued up.
Swansea just for population purposes. As well as lather business community etc. Plus if the wru shit the bed in the future and want to cut the teams they will surely want to keep a team in wales second city? Otherwise we'd be handing the initiative to the Turks
Normally I am very much a glass half full sort but since the beginning of the rumours the move to St Helern's has seemed more than optimistic.
Glamorgan cricket won't use SH, the idea that temporary stands might cost £500,000 was always naive, the idea that Swansea City would spend anything on SH was always a non-starter given the Swansea Bay Sports Park, Bonymaen indoor pitch, the new 3G pitch and re-seeded pitches at Sketty Lane and the investment in the Campuses Project and Well-Being Park.
The only mention of St Helen's (in council minutes) has been of luxury flats and a multi-storey park'n'ride on the Rec to which the opposition is already organised. Anything is possible and the council might give O's a long lease at a peppercorn rent but the region would need to invest a huge amount to bring basic facilities to legal standards.
Excellent news!
We are going to St Helens. Woohoo
Get in there
Theres an announcement on something at 12pm. Be nice if it was the big one!
Just to update everybody, we had great news earlier this week in that Steve has been passed fit to drive and we've renewed our ST's for next season, so you'll all have to put up with us for at least another season.
Thanks to all for the kind words, when we thought we were coming to the end of our supporting the Ospreys.
Has anyone else noticed the number of times the Ospreys fixture list clashes with the Swans?
Well if they want some temporary seating they could look here; https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/populous-previews-new-york-cricket-stadium-for-t20-world-cup/5127437.article
I used to know and deliver training for their Managing Director of Global Seating. The really interesting bit about the New York stadium is that much of it is "second hand". Ordinary seats came from the Formula 1 Las Vegas GP with catering, VIP, toilets and other facilities re-furbed from golf and other events. When the T20 is over it will be dismantled, moved and re-erected elsewhere.
Mr Bradley can shift it onto the beach for summer and run Ironman events. 🤣
From the Ospreys website...
The Ospreys can confirm that they have narrowed down their search for a new home stadium to two exciting options, St Helens Sports Ground in Swansea, and the Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend.
Since Ospreys CEO, Lance Bradley, first announced that the club was planning to move to a new stadium, this topic has dominated Welsh club rugby conversations, with various theories and rumours spread around social media and the like.
After months of work and careful consideration, the Ospreys can officially confirm they are working together with local councils in exploring two potential options for a new home stadium, St Helens Sports Ground in Swansea, and the Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend. Both St Helens and the Brewery Field offer unique advantages for the future of the Ospreys.
The decision to narrow down choices to these two grounds was made after extensive discussions with stakeholders and thorough evaluations of the feasibility, accessibility, and potential for growth at each location.
Both choices would require significant redevelopments which would be phased over a number of years.
The Ospreys will remain at the Swansea.com Stadium for the 24/25 season, using this time for initial redevelopments to ensure the selected stadium is fit for purpose for the following 25/26 season.
Ospreys CEO, Lance Bradley said: “I am happy to share that we have narrowed down our decision to two fantastic grounds, each offering unique opportunities, and we are confident that either choice would be more than suitable as the Ospreys new home.
“It’s been a pleasure working with both the City and County of Swansea Council and Bridgend County Borough Council to get to this point. Both councils have really come to the party and been more than accommodating in our requests, and open to working together to ensure our new stadium is not just a suitable top-flight rugby stadium but offers further opportunities to enrich the local community.
“I look forward to being able to share our preferred option in the coming weeks and working in partnership with the relevant Council to ensure our new home becomes the hub of the community.”
Further updates regarding stadium selection will be shared in due course.
So what’s the latest? Did we expect some form of announcement today, which was canned last minute due to Knock Off Nigel displaying his legendary incompetence?
WRU 😱 lance and Funders arm shoved right up their back, trying to agree Leases and Development Agreements with Councils , and Prat Walker announces on Scrum 5 reducing number of Regions still an option
Unbelievable W⚓️
Rumour the delay due to the original backers making requests difficult for Council to accept,
Cant understand this preoccupation with a hotel , as nearly all hotels , Morgan’s is an exception, are franchised to a company , (Hilton,Sheritan , Regency etc ) who then operate the venue on a commercial basis
One can only muse the intention is that the completed building be sold on as an asset to obtain funds for the development
A conference/ hospitality unit operated by the Ospreys , as at the Swansea.com or Parc Scarlets would seem the most advantageous for supporters and long term income
From Gwlad:
New stadium announcement is alledgedy tomorrow or Wednesday.
They may have to play in the Brewery Field for a season before moving to St Helens.
There's also some disagreements if St Helens needs a new pitch or not.
I expect it’s because money men are demanding too much of leaseholders, who are not bending over
Update expected next week - but not final decision....so not really sure what the update will be about
All very well playing one council off against another, but if one pushes one party too far, resulting developing the remaining option which may not be the best site for the Ospreys, this would be very disappointing
Probably on Saturday, it will be my Brother in Law (Steve) and mine final Home game of watching the Ospreys and Judgement Day the final match for both of us, due to Steve's inability to be able to drive down. For the vast majority of our Home games we will not be able to get back home for a reasonable price and at a decent time.
Anyway, after reading some of the comments on here I don't even know whether I'd want to support the Ospreys,
the OIMBY'S (Only in my back yard) amongst you sicken me, so much for the ONE TRUE REGION, it definitely doesn't apply to some of the supporters.
I personally wouldn't particularly want it to be the Brewery Field, my preference would have been Llandarcy, but if LB with all the information he's gathered opted for the BF, I would support him 100%. I've travelled 20 odd miles from the Ogmore Valley there and back in all weathers in car and on a not small number of times by Public Transport for nearly 20 years.
On the merits of the BF, if this process had been going through about 5 years ago, IMO would have been the obvious choice, for anybody that has been to the BF recently, about 50 yards from the BF, there is a very large building that curves around the corner towards the Town Centre, although it's one building there appears to be 3 parts. The 2 outer parts are single storey and the centre is 2 or possibly 3 stories. That building would have been absolutely perfect for the Ospreys. The centre part would be excellent for restaurant and conferencing facilities, with the 2 outer parts being the offices and the edge nearest the BF the indoor training facilities and the BF with it's new 4G or whatever hybrid pitch, for the outdoor training and playing on.
The only reason this site is NOT available is the fact it was built as a call centre and as that had folded, the Area that covers the Maesteg, Garw and Ogmore Valleys and surrounding areas Police Headquarters transferred there from Cheapside (Asda and other shopping outlets) a few years ago and the old Headquarters have been demolished.
Finally the travelling down to Swansea to St. Helens via the M4, Jersey Marine and the Oystermouth Road for Friday Night and Saturday Afternoon and Night would be horrendous, it's bad enough now when the Oystermouth Road is not even used, good luck with that in 16 to 18 months time.
Really finally I would love the announcement to be made on this Friday when LB meets these new local business's , as it would be a great omen for myself and Steve as it is our Birthdays that day and we could celebrate with a great win the following day against the Dregs.
Obviously disabled facilities at the BF would have to be dramatically improved and line of sight to the pitch would also have to be improved upon, as this option is not available, it will probably have to be elsewhere.
Thanks Wayne
Not the Gnoll then.
One of my ex-wives used to say;
"Patience is a virtue,
Practise if you can.
Seldom found in women,
Never in a man."
I am doing my best, honest but it isn't easy Mr Bradley.
My theory is that the announcement will coincide with the local business people on 17th May
Any news on this? Not heard anything from LB on X since I contacted him 3 days ago 🤷
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
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
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
It's surprising the amount of spare land available at the old Felindre steel works site. I believe this land is owned by Welsh Government. Apart from DPD occupying part of the site the rest remains unused. Road links are ideal and there is probably plenty of space for parking too.
As all season ticket holders have provided their addresses
An interesting exercise for the commercial team
Would be to analyse both the number of supporters by and hospitality members and sponsors by area
Not only at present but each season from inception
Maybe a little hic up from the loss of Neath support during the MCuddy issue
But the analysis would provide invaluable information for referencing the new ground
Hopefully they have done it
A question for Mr Bradley on the night ?
Advised land to east of Swansea University campus opposite the Bay Buildings is in Neath Port Talbot ownership
If greenfield site with University part funding it would seem ideal
The Brewery Field has a Cardiff postcode !
In addition to supporters , SPONSORS MUST BE A MAJOR FACTOR
The new ground must be near Swansea , Wales second city, that we are not competing with Cardiff, be that at St Helens , the Gnoll or a new stadium in the area
My son keeps banging on about encouraging the University students ,proposing a reduced entry fee in exchange for atmosphere and " hospitality " income
To create an intimating atmosphere the playing area needs surrounding on four sides, if the present support level is in the region of 3,000 and these supporters require Liberty type seating/covering - therefore stand/s, the design needs to accommodate future expansion to say a 10/12,000 which should be our aim
As Exceter did
I think that a lot could well depend on where the majority of our ST holders live.
Difficult conundrum for the O's trying to find a new venue. Every possibility has it's drawbacks e.g. will Swansea people go to Bridgend, Aberavon supporters to The Gnoll? The recent success of the Cardiff game may not be sustainable as historically rugby in Bridgend is not well attended. Neath appears to have the best support for club rugby but there are downsides to every venue. Supporters across the region were appeased by a new/neutral venue when The Liberty was built but support has now dwindled there . Is there a clue in that the Sale game is going to Bridgend ? This will draw a decent crowd but bog standard league matches could be very poory attended there. I once went to the Brewery Field to watch a Neath/ Bridgend cup match and there were many more Neath supporters than Bridgend folk. I hope the powers that be come up with a workable solution, the new man seems very clued up.
Brewery Field postcode CF31 1DW
Ospreys playing in Cardiff !
At last we have a proper CEO who is vocal and engages with the supporters , another shot across the bows for CCSx ?
Normally I am very much a glass half full sort but since the beginning of the rumours the move to St Helern's has seemed more than optimistic.
Glamorgan cricket won't use SH, the idea that temporary stands might cost £500,000 was always naive, the idea that Swansea City would spend anything on SH was always a non-starter given the Swansea Bay Sports Park, Bonymaen indoor pitch, the new 3G pitch and re-seeded pitches at Sketty Lane and the investment in the Campuses Project and Well-Being Park.
The only mention of St Helen's (in council minutes) has been of luxury flats and a multi-storey park'n'ride on the Rec to which the opposition is already organised. Anything is possible and the council might give O's a long lease at a peppercorn rent but the region would need to invest a huge amount to bring basic facilities to legal standards.
Scheme is stalled
Word is not all labour councillors are behind scheme and are concerned by backlash from public , history of LC and loosing election
No action before elections !
hope the other option is still with Universiry funding at the new campus within Neath Port Talbot , just not sure there is the available space
Very short sighted of CCSx No doubt the detractors are looking for a commercial sale of St Helens
Where's that been said about St Helen's? I must have missed it.
I guess we will have to wait and see.