That article about Ayre and the New Anfield in the Guardian

[Ed the Wool]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/8078362

 

Liverpool set to earn more from boxes than seats

Reuters, Tuesday November 25 2008

 

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Liverpool will make more money from corporate boxes than new supporters when they finally move to their new 60,000-seater stadium in Stanley Park, the club said on Tuesday.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool's commercial director, said it was estimated more than 50 percent of income on match days will come from the sale of seats in corporate boxes rather than the increased numbers in mainstream seating.

The new stadium will increase corporate seating from 3,000 currently at Anfield to 10,000. Liverpool has 40,000 season ticket holders with a waiting list of a further 65,000.

"The new stadium is clearly a business opportunity. But it will be important to maintain the integrity of the Liverpool brand and fan experience at Anfield," Ayre said during a seminar on stadium commercial opportunities in Johannesburg.

Central to the new stadium is the preservation of the famous Kop, packed each week by home fans.

It will increase from 12,000 seats to 20,000, around the same number the Kop attracted when it was standing room only."

Ayre stood by the club's decision to delay the construction of the stadium until the global credit crunch eases.

"It's been a strange period but our decision to delay construction was certainly the right one," he added. "We have since seen the costs come down." (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Martin Petty)

 

 

I know it's mentioned in the financial thready, and I know its probably been mentioned before, and I realise that there are maybe more pressing matters (getting H+G out and taking Parry and Moores with them). Nor do I think the current owners will get around to building it. But someone will eventually.

 

But I think when the time is right, RTK, SOS, the new owners, whoever, should be doing a full review into the kind of Anfield we want, and by that I mean not just in terms of more arses on seats, but in terms of doing that in a way that reflects the Liverpool way, Bill Shankly's 'socialism' and the heart, soul and culture of Liverpool the City.

 

And let's face it, Liverpool the club and the City isn't about 1000's of corporate seats. It's not about visiting the club shop and spending 20 quid plus on food and drink at the match. I remember when the new stadium was first mentioned, back in about 99 I think I tried to make this point on Koptalk I think. The history of the match experience at Anfield is about it being available to almost everyone in the City. It's about a Dad being able to ake ihis lad and it not costing a fortune and passig down the traditions of the club to the next generation.

 

I think the Premiership has taken that away from a lot of families. And I think if any City in the world can reverse that trend, its Liverpool.

 

I'm not saying ignore the corporates, but what Ayre seems to be saying is that they'll be the focus. That's all wrong. They are the guests of the people, of the club, not the other way around. With the new stadium on hold, there's still time to address these things. Like filling those corners in by the Kop. Like talking about pricing for tickets, like doing deals for locals, or like having some sort of raffle system that allows people who can't afford 2 tickets at 40 quid each to go to the match.

 

"The new stadium is clearly a business opportunity. But it will be important to maintain the integrity of the Liverpool brand and fan experience at Anfield,"

 

Its not about the brand. Its about the history and tradition of the city and the club. And I'm not sure we as fans have done enough to ensure that we get what reflects that.

 

Thoughts?

[Tones]

Already some thoughts on it here

 

http://www.ynwa.tv/forum/index.php?showtop...t&p=2259577

 

But what bothers you about the bit in bold?

[Will]

Its not about the brand. Its about the history and tradition of the city and the club

Isn't that what the brand is?

[Ed the Wool]

Isn't that what the brand is?

 

Yes and no. It's only a brand that encapsulates the history and tradition if you understand it. If you don't understand it, then its just plastic. It's a sad imitation. It's Chelsea's handed out banners.

 

And I think that's what bothers me so much about the bit in bold. We are a few decisions away from losing an awful lot of what makes us great, in terms of history and match-going culture and tradition.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Edinjapan

[Kahnee]

Liverpool has 40,000 season ticket holders with a waiting list of a further 65,000

 

If the first bit is true, then there are only 3,000-ish non-STs at every home game, which would be the away end, no?

 

And where did the figure for the waiting list come from?

[Gunga Din]

the bit that bothers me most is a 60000 seater stadium sees only 8000 more tickets going to "ordinary" fans, yet 7000 going to corporates. now i know Corporates bring in more money etc and i dont want to turn this thread into an anti corporte one, but FFS, 8000 extra seats for the rest of us is a f***ing joke. i'd rather we held off and build a stadium that is actually big enough for us, that will enable the ordinary fan to get access to more tickets

[Kahnee]

the bit that bothers me most is a 60000 seater stadium sees only 8000 more tickets going to "ordinary" fans, yet 7000 going to corporates. now i know Corporates bring in more money etc and i dont want to turn this thread into an anti corporte one, but FFS, 8000 extra seats for the rest of us is a f***ing joke. i'd rather we held off and build a stadium that is actually big enough for us, that will enable the ordinary fan to get access to more tickets

 

Ordinary local fans or ordinary daytrippers though?

[Gunga Din]

Ordinary local fans or ordinary daytrippers though?

 

 

makes no odds where they are from does it. no tickets either way. Local corporates or daytripping corporates?

[Ed the Wool]

the bit that bothers me most is a 60000 seater stadium sees only 8000 more tickets going to "ordinary" fans, yet 7000 going to corporates. now i know Corporates bring in more money etc and i dont want to turn this thread into an anti corporte one, but FFS, 8000 extra seats for the rest of us is a f***ing joke. i'd rather we held off and build a stadium that is actually big enough for us, that will enable the ordinary fan to get access to more tickets

 

Totally agree. I wonder if there's ever even been proper market research int the interest in season tickets, at the right prices for watching LFC. I can't for the life of me believe that it only stretches to 8k in Liverpool alone, let alone the wider North west and beyond.

 

Again, there's something about this all that doesn't sit right. I'm just not sure what the best way to approach it is.

[Ed the Wool]

Already some thoughts on it here

 

http://www.ynwa.tv/forum/index.php?showtop...t&p=2259577

 

But what bothers you about the bit in bold?

 

Thanks, had seen the other thread, thought it deserved one on its own, but don't mind if the mods see diferent.

 

My first concern is that there won't be a fan experience anymore. It'll be sky style razzmatazz, with no soul, and too many 'prawn sandwiches'.

My second it we are going to sit back and let it happen and it'll be lost forever.

[Chili Palmer]

Thanks, had seen the other thread, thought it deserved one on its own, but don't mind if the mods see diferent.

 

My first concern is that there won't be a fan experience anymore. It'll be sky style razzmatazz, with no soul, and too many 'prawn sandwiches'.

My second it we are going to sit back and let it happen and it'll be lost forever.

 

I have a slightly different view on it, I may be too romantic in my belief, but I see it as the fans that make a stadium, the actual design may be as razzmatazz as you like but the experience comes from the fans. Thats how I see it anyway.

 

Because of that belief, I like Gunga, would like to see us wait until we can build a stadium big enough to get the extra income from corporate but also increase the tickets for fans by more than 8k

[Kahnee]

makes no odds where they are from does it.

 

Depends who you ask

[RP]

A 60,000 seater stadium is more than enough.

[growler]

so let me get this straight. we want a new stadium, with minimal debt, hopefully no named stadium so we can call it anfield, more seats for fans and yet still want a revenue stream to keep the club going and to buy players. anyone see a slight flaw in the logic?

 

It makes sense to get the corporate boxes in first; its easier to add seats later than it is to add boxes.

[Gunga Din]

so let me get this straight. we want a new stadium, with minimal debt, hopefully no named stadium so we can call it anfield, more seats for fans and yet still want a revenue stream to keep the club going and to buy players. anyone see a slight flaw in the logic?

 

It makes sense to get the corporate boxes in first; its easier to add seats later than it is to add boxes.

 

aye, but its not that easy to add seats if the design doesnt allow for it. hence the need for a move. if its 60000, but with the availabilty to expand it then fine, if its 60000, and with only 8000 additional seats for ordinary fans and no chance to expand, then i'd rather we wait and build a bigger one. the problem is we've heard that many rumours, seen that many designs, that many u-turns, does anyone really know what the hell we'll be getting? Also, ifs it a 60000 seater stadium with a 20000 seater Kop, and 10000 of the seats are corporate, the stadium is going to look a bit stupid with one huge stand and 3 small ones

[Gunga Din]

A 60,000 seater stadium is more than enough.

 

i really dont think it is

[RP]

I think it's more than sufficient.

[Mike]

i'd like much bigger than 60k meself. nou camp style.

[Gunga Din]

i'd like much bigger than 60k meself. nou camp style.

 

when you factor in all the supporters clubs who cant get access to tickets, the waiting list for season tickets, the people who dont bother trying to get them because our ticket office is so awkward or they think they've no chance of getting one, a well organised family section with so people can bring kids, i think we will easily sell out a 70000 seater. i'd say we would easily shift 45000 season tickets for a start

[Mike]

when you factor in all the supporters clubs who cant get access to tickets, the waiting list for season tickets, the people who dont bother trying to get them because our ticket office is so awkward or they think they've no chance of getting one, a well organised family section with so people can bring kids, i think we will easily sell out a 70000 seater. i'd say we would easily shift 45000 season tickets for a start

 

plus the chance to do something really unique in this day and follow the continental trend of really cheap seats for those in the gods. £5/10 seats etc. come one come all. set the standard.

[Gunga Din]

plus the chance to do something really unique in this day and follow the continental trend of really cheap seats for those in the gods. £5/10 seats etc. come one come all. set the standard.

indeed, or a section of a few thousand seats for every game as cash turnstiles

[Ed the Wool]

The nou camp is kind of along the lines I was hinting at. Build it in a way that the day trippers can sit for 5/10 quid a ticket, but so can the local kids, as you say Wayne, on the turnstiles if needs be. Set the standard is right Mike, we can do something different.

 

I don't think 60k is big enough to do that. Arsenal, who never really had huge suport outside London are busting out of their 60K.

[muleskinner]

60,000, 70,000 or 80,000, its all pie in the sky at the moment isn't it?

[Red_Rob]

plus the chance to do something really unique in this day and follow the continental trend of really cheap seats for those in the gods. £5/10 seats etc. come one come all. set the standard.

 

It's not just on the continent, it's the same in America with baseball/diet rugby, although somehow I can't see Gillete and Hicks importing that one.

[Mike]

diet rugby? explain

 

aaah...you mean grid iron i take it

Edited November 27, 2008 by Mike