Updated..Yesterday's Meeting

[onceknownasrab]

Works very well at Norwich. 23 match days a year out of 365, come on let's be serious, it's actually a very good idea.

If it is only 23 match days then we have no other use for the stadium. They seem to believe there will be all manner of events to utilise the ground. Maybe its a good one I don't know, but if its so good have they got a hotel on board or are they all dubious?

 

[bluebrian]

The only question that seems to matter as far as I can see is where are we with the purchase of the parade of shops and flats?

I think this is why RM's hand has been forced by Sainsburys - I don't think he wants things to move forward as quickly as they are. I think he was stalling on the purchase and was waiting for the banks/markets etc to start lending properly again but Sainsburys have forced him to go with it all now or they will not proceed.

 

[Norfolkshrimp]

If it is only 23 match days then we have no other use for the stadium. They seem to believe there will be all manner of events to utilise the ground. Maybe its a good one I don't know, but if its so good have they got a hotel on board or are they all dubious?

Airport expanding, seafront redevelopment, only 40 miles from London etc.

If it works here in carrot cruncher land it will work in Essex trust me.

 

[Beefy]

Hotels are going bust all over the place, which is the problem.

Having a decent hotel at the ground is a good idea, as hotels are the type of business which are active 365 days a year (exactly what we want), but of course people need to want to stay there. A couple of years down the line, when the airport is flying at capacity, when Southend celebrates its City status, when the Football Club is playing Championship football and one of the largest casinos in the Country is on the doorstep then I'd have thought that a hotel there could be quite desirable.

Of course if those things don't happen....

 

[Norfolkshrimp]

I think this is why RM's hand has been forced by Sainsburys - I don't think he wants things to move forward as quickly as they are. I think he was stalling on the purchase and was waiting for the banks/markets etc to start lending properly again but Sainsburys have forced him to go with it all now or they will not proceed.

What bank would ever lend to RM with his credit rating in the future ? No chance, the bloke is dead as a businessman and is clinging to SUFC in the hope he gets his stadium payday but with his track record he'll balls that up too.

Better for everyone if he just ****es off now and let's someone with half a brain take the project on.

 

[Norfolkshrimp]

Hotels are going bust all over the place, which is the problem.

Having a decent hotel at the ground is a good idea, as hotels are the type of business which are active 365 days a year (exactly what we want), but of course people need to want to stay there. A couple of years down the line, when the airport is flying at capacity, when Southend celebrates its City status, when the Football Club is playing Championship football and one of the largest casinos in the Country is on the doorstep then I'd have thought that a hotel there could be quite desirable.

Of course if those things don't happen....

Depends what you mean, small hotels may be going bust but the likes of Whitbread are making a fortune with Premier Inns, let's hope a big chain want to do a deal but then again who in their right mind would do business with RM ?

 

[EastStandBlue]

Depends what you mean, small hotels may be going bust but the likes of Whitbread are making a fortune with Premier Inns, let's hope a big chain want to do a deal but then again who in their right mind would do business with RM ?

Would a significant chain want to get involved with the stadium hotel, though? Would they want to act under the caveat that every other Saturday for ten months of the year they can't let guests check-in till circa 8pm and the disturbance midweek/friday night games would cause?

 

[Beefy]

I'm sure plenty of people have done and would do business with RM but I don't think anyone would want to sign a contract for this sort of commitment until the first brick is laid on the ground.

 

[Beefy]

Would a significant chain want to get involved with the stadium hotel, though? Would they want to act under the caveat that every other Saturday for ten months of the year they can't let guests check-in till circa 8pm and the disturbance midweek/friday night games would cause?

It'll be custom built so I'm sure it'll be sound-proofed. If anything I'd expect it to be a selling point.

There's a very good hotel a couple of doors down from my flat which has a nightclub inside it. I've stayed in hotels in very busy areas of London, New York, Las Vegas (and Bas Vegas for that matter). All are areas with as much noise as a football club.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Depends what you mean, small hotels may be going bust but the likes of Whitbread are making a fortune with Premier Inns, let's hope a big chain want to do a deal but then again who in their right mind would do business with RM ?

I do, as do the other 4,500 who go to home games every other week.

He's got a product I want (Southend United tickets). He's also got something that Sainsburys wants (Roots Hall and the surrounding site). I therefore do business with him, and Sainsburys do business with him. If someone is looking to develop a hotel they'll do business with him.

 

[bluebrian]

I'm sure plenty of people have done and would do business with RM but I don't think anyone would want to sign a contract for this sort of commitment until the first brick is laid on the ground.

I think RM said along time ago that he may give the stadium to the club/town/council. Once he has the deals done re FF and RH and the 3 stands are built he will hand it over and say I kept my side of the deal as best I could - we didnt fold as a club and i kept us going but I can't find the financing for the 4th stand - here you go take it on as a community stadium - good luck I am off to Barbados.

 

[EastStandBlue]

It'll be custom built so I'm sure it'll be sound-proofed. If anything I'd expect it to be a selling point.

There's a very good hotel a couple of doors down from my flat which has a nightclub inside it. I've stayed in hotels in very busy areas of London, New York, Las Vegas (and Bas Vegas for that matter). All are areas with as much noise as a football club.

Aren't the hotel rooms converted into match-day suites? That was my understanding of it anyway.

 

[Beefy]

Aren't the hotel rooms converted into match-day suites? That was my understanding of it anyway.

Ones facing the pitch will be. I'm sure that there'll be a lot of rooms in the hotel which will remain just rooms on match day.

 

[bluebrian]

I don't think anyone should get hung up on finding a suitable backer for the hotel. Sainsburys have forced this through - not RM - he wanted to tread water for as long as possible. Sainsburys have pushed it because they are scared of Tesco's control of the town what with their new flagship store being given planning permission. I bet Sainsburys wish they had got hold of that site!! RM will not make his money from the stadium it will be purely on the land deals and the sale of property - not rental income.

 

[Norfolkshrimp]

Would a significant chain want to get involved with the stadium hotel, though? Would they want to act under the caveat that every other Saturday for ten months of the year they can't let guests check-in till circa 8pm and the disturbance midweek/friday night games would cause?

I've already stated it works very well at Norwich so don't see the problem. Some details below;

Holiday Inn Hotel

The club had two options on how to fill the corner between The Barclay and the Jarrold Stand. The obvious choice, filling it with seats (like the other corner infills) was rejected, due to possible segregation problems that might arise (such a stand would enclose the away supporters with home fans on each side).

It was therefore decided to complete the ground's corners with a hotel. It was hoped that the potentially a hotel offered greater revenue opportunities compared to ticket sales. A contract was signed with the Holiday Inn hotel chain in 2005, and construction commenced in 2006. The hotel opened in 2007 and allows customers with pitch-facing rooms to watch matches. These rooms are, however, subject to ground regulations on match days.

http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/norwich/nwicr/hoteldetail

 

[Kent Shrimper]

Hotels are going bust all over the place, which is the problem.

Having a decent hotel at the ground is a good idea, as hotels are the type of business which are active 365 days a year (exactly what we want), but of course people need to want to stay there. A couple of years down the line, when the airport is flying at capacity, when Southend celebrates its City status, when the Football Club is playing Championship football and one of the largest casinos in the Country is on the doorstep then I'd have thought that a hotel there could be quite desirable.

Of course if those things don't happen....

Bit of a sweeping statement on hotels going bust all over the place to be honest beefy.

I just attended a trade show over 2 days at the Ricoh, Deveres run there hotel and they have a Casino. The whole event took place there, the exhibition with over 300 suppliers, the awards ceremony / evening dinner, people took advantage of the casino and the hotel which are exec boxes for games were fully booked. The attendees came from across the country. I actually think there is a demand for this type of venue in Southend now as there isnt any significant exhibition / conferencing facilities.

 

[Beefy]

Fair point. On the other hand I see a lot of hotels in my line of work which have gone bust in recent times.

I guess like anything a hotel needs a USP. There's a lot of potential in this hotel at this place for the right investor, but it's certainly not the case that anyone can just build a bunch of rooms, sit back and watch the cash come in.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Bit of a sweeping statement on hotels going bust all over the place to be honest beefy.

I just attended a trade show over 2 days at the Ricoh, Deveres run there hotel and they have a Casino. The whole event took place there, the exhibition with over 300 suppliers, the awards ceremony / evening dinner, people took advantage of the casino and the hotel which are exec boxes for games were fully booked. The attendees came from across the country. I actually think there is a demand for this type of venue in Southend now as there isnt any significant exhibition / conferencing facilities.

Whats happening with that hotel that was supposed to built by the old gasworks? Did they recently submit a new application?

 

[Pubey]

Bit of a sweeping statement on hotels going bust all over the place to be honest beefy.

I just attended a trade show over 2 days at the Ricoh, Deveres run there hotel and they have a Casino. The whole event took place there, the exhibition with over 300 suppliers, the awards ceremony / evening dinner, people took advantage of the casino and the hotel which are exec boxes for games were fully booked. The attendees came from across the country. I actually think there is a demand for this type of venue in Southend now as there isnt any significant exhibition / conferencing facilities.

The Ricoh is what I've always had in my mind really. The facilities, and the casino especially are absolutely superb. As long as it has decent transport connections (which the Ricoh doesn't) then I don't see why it can't be a successful development. Southend needs the retail development I think, along with great tourism attractions and hotel beds.

 

[pickledseal]

I remember my dad used to struggle to get hotels in Southend for customers a few years back.
My friend Chris who has worked down here a few times has also struggled when not booking a while in advance.
No idea who the **** these people are who want to stay in Southend BUT the demand is there!