Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:23 pm  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

Many people in Wigan will find it very disappointing that the Council made little effort to support the Lenaghan consortium and help secure the future of the stadium for the people of Wigan as was the original intention in 1994 and not allow it to be owned by people who might only be interested in selling it on for a profit if the financial situation of the Latics further declines as a result of the pandemic situation.

But, what else can you expect from a Council who are still living in the days of the horse and cart with councillors only interested in the allowances, expenses and fact finding jaunts they enjoy.

From what I can see, it would appear that the new Spanish owners have secured the Latics, Stadium, Christopher Park etc on the cheap as a result of the sale being handled by a administration company who have been a disgrace in the way it has gone on over the past few weeks.

Supporters of other big clubs like Leeds, St Helens, Warrington etc must be enjoying the situation where the most famous Rugby League club in the game does not play since the great days of Central Park in a stadium of its own and has to pay a rent to a small football club.

Why should the Council get involved using taxpayers money to prop up a commercial enterprise? How would they square that with the many people in the borough who have no interest in sport and particularly those in the east of the borough who have little love of Wigan RL or Latics. Ten years of Tory cuts has seen their budget cut by over 40% and it struggles to provide essential services as a result. You want the Council to lash a few million quid around it hasn't got at the expense of Children's Services or Care Homes. Typical lazy attack on a Labour controlled Council. You want to direct your ire at Westminster pal.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:36 pm  

Jukesays wrote:

I'm not saying it Shouldn't - But what makes you think that it definitely "Should"

Every Business/property etc. has costs associated with it, and facilities built into it to bring in income, how you minimise those costs and maximise the income is what makes it successful or not

Warrington rent out a substantial part of their stadium to the NHS, I'm sure it's proving very successful, we seem to only have Riglettos??? and currently, and over the last few years since austerity etc. I'm guessing income revenue from that and probably the Rugby have reduced.

Just saying "A normal stadium would make money" isn't that simple
I'd be interested what Saints do with their stadium, what income have they been generating prior to Covid and if that outweighs the costs of running it? What is the income generated actual compared to Forecasts?
But how also has it been affected by Covid?

Leeds have pumped tens of millions in, I am sure they will have had projections that showed how they were planning to make that money back, Covid will have blasted those projections, but how & when do Leeds get that back on track and what problems does it create in the interim.

I'm convinced that IFL probably didn't want the stadium, and would be happy with the current arrangement as long as the people come in don't significantly change the arrangement details, however he may have had his hand forced to try & aquire it if no-one else would offer that security or came in at all.

Non-gameday use is a huge income generator at Leeds - it's basically an events business with a Rugby League club bolted on to it. Not quite the same in St Helens and Warrington as they don't have the same local business markets but they will make tidy amounts that help to pay for the stadia and support the club. Certainly the grounds aren't money pits.

Obviously right now that's not a good place to be, but in the long run having supporting income streams like this is the best way to support the RL club's own core finances.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:42 pm  

you also have to remember cost, Warrington didnt pay for thier stadium, it was part of the deal with tesco, stains got the land free and help to build again from tesco

if the DW costs 2.5 million to buy its a bargian, but as has been stated by people with much better knowlegde of the club than me it needs upwards of £4m spending on it, 6.5-7m is a huge whole to fill with weddings and other events

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:06 pm  

Lazy J wrote:

you also have to remember cost, Warrington didnt pay for thier stadium, it was part of the deal with tesco, stains got the land free and help to build again from tesco

if the DW costs 2.5 million to buy its a bargian, but as has been stated by people with much better knowlegde of the club than me it needs upwards of £4m spending on it, 6.5-7m is a huge whole to fill with weddings and other events

It's business meetings and conferences that generate the real money rather than weddings. But you also have the saved rent and full operational control of your future.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:24 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

It's business meetings and conferences that generate the real money rather than weddings. But you also have the saved rent and full operational control of your future.

I'm not sure it's a great meeting or conference venue either though. Not that near a motorway junction or train station and competing with Manchester and Liverpool.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:30 pm  

One thing that has come to the fore during covid is the use of the likes of Zoom and Teams, this will have a big effect on the conferencing industry and will probably become "the norm"

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:51 pm  

Lazy J wrote:

you also have to remember cost, Warrington didnt pay for thier stadium, it was part of the deal with tesco, stains got the land free and help to build again from tesco

if the DW costs 2.5 million to buy its a bargian, but as has been stated by people with much better knowlegde of the club than me it needs upwards of £4m spending on it, 6.5-7m is a huge whole to fill with weddings and other events

What about the £12m Tesco paid for Central Park? Which rather irritated Whelan.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 2:08 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

It's business meetings and conferences that generate the real money rather than weddings. But you also have the saved rent and full operational control of your future.

but in that time its getting older, the infastructure will need upgarding, its a 20 year old structure, the concourses arent really fit for purpose anymore, spending all half time queing to get a coffee or a beer isnt really a 21st century experience. it needs new scoreboards, the seats and steps are getting worn, its not that accesible for a 21st century ground but generally iits been a bit neglected and needs bringing upto date, its all expense, and with a bill of £6m before you start it takes some finding. it would be lovely to own it, from a prestige point of view as its one of the better ground in the league. But with wigans location its not goig to draw the conferences etc that headingly would in a city centre with a cricket ground attached. it would be interesting to see the accouts for saints and how much in reality comes in from the ground.

In reality the DW its too big, its nice to have the capacity, but we didnt sell it out for a world club match, so investing in a stadium that needs work and is too big is a financial gamble, and in the current climate not a very apealing one. if it was bought for next to nothing from liquidators thats another issue, but at the pric quoted it doesnt make sense,

the other issue and its a large one, is will the fans return in the numbers they did? attending the match is a habit, and once your out of that habit you quickly fill the time with other hobbies etc. i hope that fans return in huge numbers but i have my doubts, the sport itself as at a crossroads, some clubs may not survive unless fans can be at matches soon.

All in all i can see why the deal we have is suddenly looking very appealing to the club.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 2:13 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

What about the £12m Tesco paid for Central Park? Which rather irritated Whelan.

that went to the club, to cover the debts of the whitbread stand and some strange decisions in the early nineties that was then bought by whelan, so in a round about way helped pay for the stadium

the warrington deal was different they were given the stadium rather than cash, as the council wrote it into the planning consent which with hinsight was a deal we should have pursued, there was talk at the time of a ground at marus bridge by wheatlea park, but that never materialised

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Oct 02, 2020 2:21 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

What about the £12m Tesco paid for Central Park? Which rather irritated Whelan.

That paid the debts. We didn't pay a single penny for the stadium but then again neither did Latics.

The stadium was signed off and work was underway before we even knew where we were playing