Can we keep Odsal as is and spend the money on playing staff instead

Any objections to this getting merged with the sticky?

I object. nah not really

Good.

Ooooh good one.

I'll remember that next time I try to negotiate through Bradfords more er, "downmarket" areas.

Lest you forget, us s in Keighley pay rates into Bradfords coffers.

I cant see City ever moving to Odsal. VP is a better developed stadium and the emotional ties are just too great for their supporters.

I personally wouldnt be too bothered if the Bulls moved to VP, PROVIDED it was a genuine ground share (with joint branding). When we were there in 2001 and 2002 it just didnt feel like our home ground. Get over that problem and the economics seem to be overwhelming.

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/3988956.Odsal_Sports_Village__must_be_done_by_2011_/Link[/url

I'm bemused by the Uni & College accommodation strategies. Unless things have changed dramatically the Uni is in the process of demolishing all its halls of residence & entering rental agreements with the private sector. Unless Todd means general property in the term accommodation; even then the Uni is consolidating on the main campus. The biggest challenge the Uni faces is attracting new students due to the perceived 'Bradford factor'. It does well in the overseas studnet market but that is very volatile, the majority of the rest are home based Asian students who are traditionally under represented in HE. This makes the extra curricular side very different to a traditional Uni in that they tend to go home every night.
The College, I thought, was just finishing its relocation, apart from the much debated refurbishment of the Odeon site.

[url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/3958/HOST%20OF%20PARTNERS%20SUPPORT%20ODSAL%20SPORTS%20VILLAGESlightly confused story on the Bulls ste[/url

A lot of words but doesn't really say much.

Or Bradford Bulls attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by changing their energy source to hot-air

[url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbulls/sportbullsheadlines/4012439.Hood__Here_s_to_a_happy_new_year/Hood on the OSV[/url

Key bits...


Suddenly sounds a lot more drastic than just stcking a roof on the popular side. Where's this come from, or am I just behind the times?

tbh think a lot of that is an attempt to make the project sound alot bigger than the bulls and more inclusive of the other sports involved, which is something I've always said they should do. Stuff like turning pitch etc and allseater/part seater means where at the whim of a larger group of sports and not merely dictating what we want although personally dont see much point turning pitch and would welcome all-seater ( no terracing has always been my biggest problem with VP). Whilst a hotel would undoubtedly help with build costs I dont think theres the demand in the area to justify it. Theres a big one at the top of the 606 which wasn't there last time it was mooted to build a hotel at rooley lane end. Still any news is positive and at least things are moving. First time theres been any definite noises about having to play elsewhere next year too.

The kind of things that Hood talks about such as the stadium being all seater or the pitch being moved 90 degrees suggests that the old plans for the OSV that just entailed a new popular side stand could be superceded.

It's hard to keep up so it'd be good to get an update from Hood at the fans forum. Will a re-design of the proposed development mean further feasibility studies are necessary? That would cause further delay. Would we be certain to go to VP while work is underway? If this plan fails is that it for Odsal?

While various partners are making encouraging noises I'm still unclear where the money for any re-development will come from. As such I think we need to be cautious.

To be fair to Mr Hood and all involved I think the bits about moving the ground around etc are just statements of the obvious. With money (hopefully) coming from various sources it`s pretty obvious that there will be various shades of opinion on what the finished article will look like.

There is no statement of intent to do (or sanction) anything in particular, nor even any suggestion that any particular plan has been proposed, just an acceptance that we can`t rule out anything and have a veto on things we might not be totally happy with; if we want the ground improving then there [imaybe [/i the odd con to go with the pros.

Quite statesmanlike, IMHO.

My concern is that although various partners have come out with warm words of support there's nothing further. Meanwhile Odsal continues to drain the club's finances.

Hopefully there will be some indication of a timescale of re-development soon.

they were talking about the contract going out to tender early feb so we should hear something definite in next few weeks.

Sounds omonouse! Is this a cunning plan by Hood to get us down to Valley Parade again, leaving Odsal to rot? We wont get the cash from the councill like we did last time to improve the stadium, meaning we either stay at Valley Parade or go to another city!

I honnestly can't see Odsal getting re-generated, who wants to spend money on granduas stadium and sporting facilitys on a hole like Bradford? As soon as people face facts that we live in a dead city and realise nowts going to happen at Odsal the club can move on, iether to Valley Parade or out of the city completely (the latter wouldnt worry a lot of Bulls fans)

Its not looking bright if your a Bradford RL fan!

The first priority is to have a club to support and if that means moving to VP then we'll have to wear it.

Gawd. The fact that the Jungle is just 15 minutes down the road begins to become more and more prominent in my mind.

From the Fan Forum thread:

I'll believe it when the thing is built and finished.

Me too. I can't deny that there are huge efforts being made to make it happen though.
A lot of organisations and individuals are working hard on the scheme, and they seem to think it will actually happen.

The question I have always asked is about finance.

Surprisingly the scheme hinted at last night was potentially the biggest one in the history of all the grim list of failed pipe-dreams to have been associated with Odsal.

Where does the money come from? Well perhaps it's more a question of WHEN. 2012 is on the horizon and there is a lot of money swirling around for sports schemes.
The government are making it a top priority to invest in health and community cohesion. Money is available in huge quantities and doesn’t seem to be too affected by the drain in finances in other areas.

Perhaps this is exactly the right time to be coming up with a sports scheme which happens to include a stadium for us. Perhaps schemes that would have been pie in the sky 20 years ago can now actually be realised.

Personally I’ll believe it when I walk through those new gates into a re-generated stadium! I am hopeful though.

The way Mr Todd from Bradford college was selling the OSV last night at the FF was that it would be a large sporting and educational centre which would have facilities for all members of the bradford community and there would also be a professional sport team stadium along with it. I think that's what just might swing it for us in that it's not asking for money to give a private investor something for them and them alone.

I still hold tight to my reservations regarding Odsal redevelopment but I do think there's a light at the end of the tunnel

Bigger than an 80,000 capacity covered dome?