: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:17 pm  

chubbs1981 wrote:

as pointed out they can't they only own the lease. but if they did who cares with gate recipits for foosball starting to fall due to financial climate and the stadiums being empty for 4-5 months of the year who wouldn't want a SL team to set up shop in their yard!

its rent money! this deal would appear to free up the crusaders to be able to twist the arm of the local planning authority to push for a new stadium. the you'll let us build it or we'll go somewhere else routine. and whast more they can do it at minimal notice too.

Yes, there are a few options to be open to them and it could force the hand of Bridgend Council to push plans through in this instance. Let's hope so. Bridgend FC are also talking of improving the Brewery Field. The beauty of the Crusaders is the fact they can do this and play people off one another as it is a South Welsh thing and not confined to one area. I for one do not want to go from Bridgend but if the powers that be at the club can broker a deal with Bridgend Council by threatening to take away Super League then it will only benefit the club.

For example, if they got into talks about the stadium with the council and they were denied this they could move to....

Cardiff Arms Park








For example. This would see them having better facilities than a lot of existing Super League clubs as it has hospitality boxes at both ends of the ground and is in a prime location, as can be seen in the last photo as it is on the side of the Millennium Stadium.

Just to reiterate I don't think many if any fans want to leave Bridgend and the ideal situation for me would be an improved BF or new ground construction but if the worst were to happen they could negotiate with people such as those at the Arms Park for a short term solution prior to getting something a little more concrete. There would be room for another team playing there too as Cardiff Blues are moving to the New Cardiff Stadium and it would be much the same set up of Crusaders and Bridgend RFC have at the moment.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:29 pm  

A good post above...you now get the jist of what will probably happen. There are those in Bridgend that have no appreciation of just how big SL is and unless they take the CC seriously they could loose what could be a major asset to the town. Furthermore you can forget the new stadium as who is going to play there .....the Ravens with their 250 supporters...no chance. Unless EVERYONE gets behind the CC the Brewery Field will become an expensive eyesore, there will be no new stadium development and the towns biggest sporting asset ,the CC, will be playing elsewhere. Mark my words Samuel is now totally focused on making the CC a brand name and it would be a shame if it were established in a place other than Bridgend.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:45 pm  

moving to cardiff has got to be a mistake given the competition

with top level union leaving brigend better to stay there.

: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:53 pm  

dally messenger wrote:

moving to cardiff has got to be a mistake given the competition

with top level union leaving brigend better to stay there.

I agree but now LS has sold the lease to the Brewery Field it opens a lot more opportunities that were not there before.

He now has a bargaining tool to push through the stadium plans. Whether Bridgend Council agree to it or not LS has the choice of pushing it as fast as he likes and making a decision. If Bridgend are serious about this, which they would be silly not to be, then they will go all out to keep Crusaders in Bridgend.