Re: Future of Odsal : Fri Sep 07, 2018 1:41 pm  

...and the RFL are off to Manchester. Why wouldn't they want to off-load it now. There is no need for the plan b

Re: Future of Odsal : Fri Sep 07, 2018 2:11 pm  

belcki wrote:

On 20 August 2017 BB's Ferocious Aardvark said and we paraphrase his words for emphasis .... "I've been banging on about this for a while. The reason the RFL are up to something, and why they acquired the lease on Odsal in the first place .... (The) Bulls aren't important to them (i.e. the RFL) after 2019 when the rugby playing covenant expires, but (the Bulls) have a sublease so can't be booted (out)".

Ferocious Aardvark may be somewhat correct, but what proof (if any) does he, or any forum member for that matter, have of the time dependant covenant in the Odsal stadium head lease that he refers to above?

Spring 2019 is after all not far away. And what use is a sublease to us Bulls fans anyway if our iconic Odsal stadium can't, or won't, be used to play rugby league on post Spring 2019?
If Odsal stadium is to be redeveloped without rugby league being played there, then why would all this be kept under wraps, and have other more higher value development options from other external well funded parties been considered?

The time is surely nigh for open public consultation in regard to the future of Odsal stadium; such consultation is of less use after 'the act'.

The Head Lease, which the RFL now own, stipulates that until 31 May 2019 the place has to be used for playing first team rugby football.
After that the tenant (RFL) can use it for anything they want subject only to planning consent.
That lease runs out in October 2152.

The "old" Bulls underlease from the RFL was for 30 years from 2011 so ends (i.e. would have ended) at the end of 2041.
So far as I know, nobody knows the details of the present club's lease apart from insiders, so it may be as per the old underlease, or it might not, I can't say.
Bearing that in mind, under the old underlease, RFL could give Bulls notice at any time, if RFL wanted to redevelop the ground
But would have to provide us with an alternative stadium with due bells and whistles, a min 18K capacity, within 4 miles.

Random unconnected factoid: As the crow flies, VP is around 3 miles from Odsal.

[Bulliac]

Re: Future of Odsal : Fri Sep 07, 2018 3:00 pm  

I think that if the RFL were to even consider kicking the rugby club out of Odsal in order to sell the land to mammon the whole game would be up in arms. Considering the raison d'être behind them taking the lease in the first place was (as stated) to ensure that such a thing couldn't possibly happen. Much as I have said I don't rate the RFL all that highly, I don't believe they are quite down to the same level of mendacity as Boris and the brexiters.

Mind, I've always held to the view that "blessed is he who doth not expect" too, so maybe I should think again.

Re: Future of Odsal : Fri Sep 07, 2018 10:49 pm  

whole game would be up in arms.
No they wouldnt

[Bulliac]

Re: Future of Odsal : Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:25 am  

bentleyman wrote:

whole game would be up in arms.
No they wouldnt

Well...maybe not! But I'd guess that even they would realise they had no credibility left if they were to do such a thing.

Re: Future of Odsal : Sat Sep 08, 2018 1:26 pm  

Bulliac wrote:

Well...maybe not! But I'd guess that even they would realise they had no credibility left if they were to do such a thing.

They have credibility?

The main 'problem' is that, from what we were led to believer, the whole purchase of Odsal was driven by Nigel Wood (for whatever reason). Apparently Rimmer didn't (doesn't?) feel the same way. And with Wood now consigned to history...

Re: Future of Odsal : Sat Sep 08, 2018 1:45 pm  

Odsal is an absolutely brilliant venue, the best in the North and unique, but sadly times have moved on a few decades and its many and amazing qualities don't compensate for the state it is in, nor is there any chance whatsoever of anyone spending the millions needed to upgrade it. We all know what facilities it needs to bring it anywhere near modern standards, and we all know it won't get them.

Re: Future of Odsal : Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:11 pm  

As per Paul Walker post ... "... the whole purchase of Odsal was driven by Nigel Wood (for whatever reason). Apparently Rimmer didn't (doesn't?) feel the same way. And with Wood now consigned to history.."

In regard to the above, Rimmer and Wood are one and the same. Wood is not consigned to history. He is omnipresent at Odsal and is often seen in the company of Bradford Council's most senior politicians such as the Council Leader and CP's Kersten England (the Council Chief Executive).

Ferocious says in the post immediately above that there is no chance of anyone spending millions on upgrading Odsal. With respect you are wrong mate. There are plenty of people.

As for the Odsal head lease ..... watch this space !

After all we've been through, and seem to be going through again, us fans deserve a guarantee from the RFL, any new leaseholder, Bradford Council and whoever holds the licence to play rugby league in the name of the Bradford Bulls that Odsal stadium will in the future be used (amongst other things) for rugby league .... ideally into perpetuity.

Re: Future of Odsal : Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:45 pm  

belcki wrote:

Ferocious says in the post immediately above that there is no chance of anyone spending millions on upgrading Odsal. With respect you are wrong mate. There are plenty of people.

I'm not. It has had plans for multi-million development since Adam was a lad. It never came off then, and now the economy is screwed the chances are nil.

Course, it's a very valuable site for other things, but nobody's going to waste millions on a better stadium for rugby. Hell, the RFL have the long lease, and even they don't want to move there.

As for the Odsal head lease ..... watch this space !

Sorry, but a pointless comment.

After all we've been through, and seem to be going through again, us fans deserve a guarantee from the RFL, any new leaseholder, Bradford Council and whoever holds the licence to play rugby league in the name of the Bradford Bulls that Odsal stadium will in the future be used (amongst other things) for rugby league .... ideally into perpetuity.

Thing is, "we" seem to number around 3,000 at the moment and are literally insignificant. )f the inner Bradford area, this means that 99.95% of the population don't go. So can't be that bothered. That stat doesn't change much even if you add the 1k or so who watch for free on Proper Sport.

Only the illustrious histories of Odsal and the old Bulls remain. IMHO we "deserve" nothing from anyone. It's just a game and a team, and up to the owners and fans to make it into whatever. Nobody else. The council may have some vested interests, and I can understand they are in a difficult position (and have been for decades). But "deserve"? Don't think so.

Re: Future of Odsal : Mon Sep 10, 2018 6:33 am  

Noting the different leases mentioned, on the original we would have had 30 years left...can anyone one see RL surviving THAT long with the way the game is being run? Even thinking ahead to May 2019 it would be difficult to predict the game being much, if any, better off!