Pilgrims' Patter
The Forum => The B-Ark => Topic started by: Old boy thin on April 17, 2020, 06:22:04 AM
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So with the announcement earlier in the week from our chairman, that our new stadium will most not likely be ready for the start of next season, and it is very unlikely that we will not be able to stay at York Street.
A ground share is most likely to be our only option.
So where would you all like to go, and why??
I am going to say Stamford, the reason for that is, it is Lincolnshire not far from us, facilities are good being that it not that old, and the players can access it from the A1.
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It's not so good for public transport, though - and remember, not all the fans live in Boston so probably wouldn't have access to supporters coaches laid on from the town. It's a tough choice, though I must admit Lincoln (however unlikely) would suit me!
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Grantham.
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King's Lynn Town? Would prefer Boston Town but understand that their ground is not up to National League standards although, I suppose, there could be some relaxation on rules under the current national emergency?
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King's Lynn Town? Would prefer Boston Town but understand that their ground is not up to National League standards although, I suppose, there could be some relaxation on rules under the current national emergency?
I think some of the rules would certainly be relaxed given the circumstances, but if I were a safety officer I wouldn't want a Boston United-size crowd trying to get through two turnstiles. Think this one is a non-starter.
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What about the white elephant that is Dabsi? Not ideal but local. If you start laying the pitch now, could be ready by August. I have never been to the place , so not sure if it would work. I am sure someone will tell me.
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Am I missing something? With everything that's going on why can't we stay at York St for one more season. I know it's not what we want and it will cost but groundshare means significantly lower gate receipts. I don't suppose Malky and Co are doing anything with the ground immediately with what's currently happening!!
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With planning to ground share rather than short extension on York Street shows why we were planning to move into a half finished new stadium than stay at York Street until new stadium completely finished. Shows it must be the case that Malkinsons won't extend lease.
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Am I missing something? With everything that's going on why can't we stay at York St for one more season. I know it's not what we want and it will cost but groundshare means significantly lower gate receipts. I don't suppose Malky and Co are doing anything with the ground immediately with what's currently happening!!
I would think it's a case of what makes York Street more attractive to a potential new buyer, that's probably why do not want us to stay any longer.
Vacant possession is more attractive to a buyer.
I wouldn't think an extension would come cheap either.
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https://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/property-71185372.html
"The site could be retained as a sporting venue or redeveloped for a number of uses subject to the necessary planning consents."
"The site also houses the football ground for Boston United FC. The current lease has a passing rent of £72,000 pa and is due to expire on 30th June 2020 with vacant possession."
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How about spalding united or even holbeach town, nice clubhouse at holbeach, sometimes frequent there if united or boston town are away, conf north standards may not allow though.
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Spalding already have Pinchbeck as shared tenants. I think we'll go with the easy option of Lincoln.
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Vertigo stadium, Skegness? A smaller capacity with parking issues, yes. But it's a new build with all current regulations in place.
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Playing at Lincoln's ground will be not cost effective, how many fans will bother to travel there, 600/700 if that, and it's not a small ground.
I can't see many Lincoln fans turning up to watch us play, so the ground will probably be half open, and have no atmosphere.
I think we should see what Boston's Town ground needs doing to it, so it can be brought up to our League standard.
Correct me if l am wrong, but dont Chestnut Homes own the land anyway??
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When FC United were "between grounds", they went through a phase of borrowing different stadiums. I'm sure they played home matches at Stalybridge, Hyde, Droylsden, Altrincham and probably a few others. Accepting it'd be better to have one place we could temporarily call home, could there be another option to mix and match where we play depending on which grounds are available on the dates of our home games?
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Playing at Lincoln's ground will be not cost effective
But spending thousands on another ground is?!
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On the basis that it would keep us in the town and also help Boston Town as well. Surely we can sort another turnstile out with the chairman’s help from his company. Don’t fancy the alternatives apart from Skeg.
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In an ideal scenario we would continue to play in Boston. Would it be possible to spend money, that would otherwise be spent on renting, on improving Town's facilities? Could we provide them with additional turnstiles - after all, there will be some spare at York Street. Travelling fans will know that the Impact Arena has, at times, in recent years, relied on copious amounts of portakabins. Could we not make arrangements.
If this is impractical, then groundsharing has to be worked out very carefully. What facilities are required. Do we need a ground where fans can be segregated? Is the pitch up to standard and durable, can the groundskeeper keep it playable for the extra games? The ground needs to be easily accessible by public transport. The location has to be able to cope with the influx of fans - both "home" and "away" supporter's for instance, Holbeach as suggested. Could it's pubs and café / restaurants cope with the desires of 700+ additional people? Could the surrounding roads deal easily with the additional traffic? There are lots, of things, to consider.
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In an ideal scenario we would continue to play in Boston. Would it be possible to spend money, that would otherwise be spent on renting, on improving Town's facilities? Could we provide them with additional turnstiles - after all, there will be some spare at York Street. Travelling fans will know that the Impact Arena has, at times, in recent years, relied on copious amounts of portakabins. Could we not make arrangements.
If this is impractical, then groundsharing has to be worked out very carefully. What facilities are required. Do we need a ground where fans can be segregated? Is the pitch up to standard and durable, can the groundskeeper keep it playable for the extra games? The ground needs to be easily accessible by public transport. The location has to be able to cope with the influx of fans - both "home" and "away" supporter's for instance, Holbeach as suggested. Could it's pubs and café / restaurants cope with the desires of 700+ additional people? Could the surrounding roads deal easily with the additional traffic? There are lots, of things, to consider.
Holbeach definitely would not cope with parking, it has very little now, most people park on the side of the road.
Tesco's wouldn't allow you to park there, and Carter's park, is sometimes locked at night after 7pm.
Pubs well excluding the Tigers Club there is only two left open now, but another 2 are being refurbished.
The town is the land of take away, so you are ok for food.
If Holbeach was an option it would suit me, as l now live there.
Public buses do service the town, but l don't know if there is one direct from Boston though.
Road links are good though, with the ground less than half a mile from the A17.
But again l don't know if it NLN standard.
3 sides of the ground are open to the elements and standing only.
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Playing at Lincoln's ground will be not cost effective
But spending thousands on another ground is?!
Staying at York Street or leaving, is still going to cost thousands.
That's the reality l am afraid, but l guess our chairman will have it already in hand.
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Groundsharing anywhere outside of the town will lead to miserably low crowds and zero atmosphere at matches. I would have thought that a better approach would be to ask Boston Borough Council to state that, in keeping with Local Plan, planning permission to redevelop York Street would likely not be given until a functioning alternative site for semi-professional football is up and running in the town. As I recall, this was one of the factors behind sinking the ludicrous redevelopment scheme championed by Jim Rodwell back in 2007. A short-term lease on York Street until the club is ready to move would then be in the interest of any owner so that they had some income from it during that time.
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Playing at Lincoln's ground will be not cost effective
But spending thousands on another ground is?!
Staying at York Street or leaving, is still going to cost thousands.
That's the reality l am afraid, but l guess our chairman will have it already in hand.
Hence why we may as well just move temporarily into a ground that is already fit for purpose. There's no guarantee of how much notice we'd have between being given the fixture list (or the go ahead to carry on this season) and playing the next game.
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Playing at Lincoln's ground will be not cost effective
But spending thousands on another ground is?!
Staying at York Street or leaving, is still going to cost thousands.
That's the reality l am afraid, but l guess our chairman will have it already in hand.
Hence why we may as well just move temporarily into a ground that is already fit for purpose. There's no guarantee of how much notice we'd have between being given the fixture list (or the go ahead to carry on this season) and playing the next game.
It's all very confusing and frustrating for everyone concerned, but we should all be grateful that so far we are still have the luxury of being fit and well.
Long may it continue for all of us.
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Could rules concerning construction workers be about to be relaxed?
I see certain sites in London are back in operation tomorrow. They have to stagger their starts, so they do not overwhelm the transport system.
I think if we continue on the new ground, it could be ready for the start of a delayed new season.
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Boston Town, Peterborough or Lincoln for me
Peterborough as it's a direct train to Birmingham!
Lincoln is the most logical choice but only of we can't play in Boston
Would it be cheaper to find improvements to Tattershall Rd to get it up to standard and rent it as opposed to probably a higher rent at posh or Lincoln?
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Posh would be a good solution. But Stamford much more realistic and good parking. Grantham also realistic; but even though it's <10 miles from me it's an absolutely rank atmosphere for fans with no proximity to the pitch.
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Boston Town, Peterborough or Lincoln for me
Peterborough as it's a direct train to Birmingham!
Lincoln is the most logical choice but only of we can't play in Boston
Would it be cheaper to find improvements to Tattershall Rd to get it up to standard and rent it as opposed to probably a higher rent at posh or Lincoln?
It might be cheaper to improve Tattershall Road but there’s surely no chance of getting it done in time?It will almost certainly be Grantham or Lincoln and after 6 months or more with no football we’ll be more than happy to watch anything anywhere.
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Posh would be a good solution. But Stamford much more realistic and good parking. Grantham also realistic; but even though it's <10 miles from me it's an absolutely rank atmosphere for fans with no proximity to the pitch.
Totally agree with you, l really do think Stamford is a good option if it's available and up to standard.
Grantham is a soulless place, and the roads and traffic are just awful around the place.
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Guess we will find out whether will eve be necessary in the upcoming months, judging from other countries social distancing is going to have to be in effect well into 2021 which is going to rule out crowds at football matches.
Any sport at all will have to be behind closed doors and English football cannot survive like that for long, big problems ahead for everyone up and down the pyramid.
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https://www.bostonstandard.co.uk/sport/football/boston-united-have-not-given-kicking-next-season-new-stadium-says-chairman-david-newton-2544763
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https://www.bostonstandard.co.uk/sport/football/boston-united-have-not-given-kicking-next-season-new-stadium-says-chairman-david-newton-2544763
Yet another moment to feel lucky we have David Newton as Chairman. Really doing what he can to make sure we've got a ground sorted for whenever football may start. Has a groundshare in place just in case, working to get the new stadium finished as soon as possible to ideally play there and exploring option of York Street extension.
Hopefully we'll here from National League in next few days whether they intend to finish this season.